Home Meetings Search Sitemap Cleaning Matters
 You are here:   home  Health and Safety  Managing Allergies and Asthma



Mold and mildew make themselves very evident in tile grout and on shower curtains. But there are also three hidden areas where mold and mildew live and release scores of allergenic spores into the air.

  • Around window frames and sills
  • Under sinks
  • Where the tub or shower meets the floor


The key tasks are to clean and then disinfect.
1. Clean

  • painted or aluminum surfaces using a nonabrasive, all-purpose cleaner
  • unpainted wood surfaces using a wood cleaner

2. Disinfect - see "About Disinfecting"


Not only do mold and mildew love moisture, but cockroaches do too. Don't forget to keep under-sink areas clean and dry.


Bathrooms and moisture go hand in hand. But you can break the mold and mildew pattern.

  • Clean and dry areas where the tub or shower meets the floor. Disinfect these areas two to three times a week to control mold and mildew. Use a disinfectant or disinfectant (antibacterial) cleaner.

  • After showering or bathing, wipe down walls and open shower doors or curtains to allow walls to air dry.
  • Clean shower stalls and bathtubs using a nonabrasive, all-purpose or disinfectant (antibacterial) cleaner.
  • There are products for spraying on shower curtains and walls to prevent mildew growth.



Use a mildew remover to remove mildew and its stains.

Look for products that say they control or prevent the growth of mold and mildew: disinfectants or disinfectant (antibacterial) cleaners.

Use a disinfectant or disinfectant (antibacterial) cleaner two to three times a week to prevent mildew's return.

  • Products that disinfect (kill organisms) are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the EPA registration number to verify that the product is a disinfectant.
  • Disinfectant products must be in contact with a surface from 30 seconds to 10 minutes in order to work properly.
  • Read the product label to know how to use the product safely.


Mold and mildew grow in soap scum, too. Use a soap scum remover to keep the "ring around the bathtub" away, and you're also practicing good allergen defense.

[Allergies and Asthma mainpage] [Allergen-Control Plan ] [Launder]
[Control Mold/Mildew ] [Clean Up Food] [Clean Carpets]
[Using Cleaning Products Safely] [Cleaning and the Allergy/Asthma Sufferer]