MILDEW

Mildew is the formation of black, gray or brown spots or areas on the surface of paint or caulk.

• warm, moist, humid conditions (bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms).
  
• use of an alkyd or oil-based paint, or lower quality latex paint.
  
• failure to prime bare wood before painting.
  
• painting over a surface from which mildew has not been completely removed.

First, test for mildew by applying a few drops of bleach to the area; if it can be bleached away, it is probably mildew. Remove all mildew from the surface by scrubbing with a household mildew remover.Be sure to observe safety precautions:wear rubber gloves and eye protection. Rinse thoroughly. To protect against further mildew, use a top quality acrylic latex paint. These paints tend to have more mildewcide than do lower quality paints and will resist the formation of mildew. Clean the surface as needed with a detergent solution. Consider installing exhaust fans in high moisture areas.

Primer:Spot prime bare areas with PORTERSEPT Interior Acrylic Primer/Finish No. 3900
Finish:One or more coats of Super Premium PORTERSEPT Interior Wall & Trim Paints No. 3929 Flat, 3969 Eggshell, or 3989 Semi-Gloss

Back to Paint Problems and Solutions

Top