Warm Weather Cleaning: How to Tackle Mold & Mildew and Keep Your Home Fresh

As we gear up for the excitement of summer – backyard gatherings, vacations and longer days – there also comes the challenge of keeping your home clean and guest-ready. Warm weather can create the perfect environment for mold and mildew to build up. Staying on top of regular cleaning not only helps maintain a fresh, inviting space but also helps prevent the buildup of common seasonal issues like mold, mildew and musty odors. With the right understanding of preventative measures, keeping your home clean and ready for summer can be easier than you think.

Mold & Mildew 101: What is Mold & Mildew?

As warmer weather approaches, conditions become ideal for mold and mildew to grow. While "mold" and "mildew" are often used interchangeably, understanding the differences between them is the key to tackling each effectively and properly. While both are fungi, mold is often white in color and can be harder to see on surfaces. Mildew, on the other hand, is typically darker—usually green or black—and is often accompanied by a strong, musty odor, making it easier to identify.

Mold and mildew can be found almost anywhere moisture and oxygen are present, including in the bathroom, on shower walls, on windowsills, in the washing machine, and more.

Mold & Mildew Myths

Vinegar is often considered a natural solution for removing mold and mildew stains, and while it can help with light surface buildup, it doesn't penetrate as deeply and may not fully eliminate mold at the source. In fact, Clorox^® Disinfecting Bleach removes mold stains 5x better than vinegar.

According to Clorox's Principal Scientist, Heather Day, "Bleach is a key ingredient when it comes to removing mold and mildew stains." Bleach is highly effective at removing mold and mildew stains and even effective at killing everyday mold and mildew when used as directed on a variety of hard, non-porous surfaces.

For best results when tackling mold and mildew stains, use a bleach-based cleaner on bleach-safe surfaces, and always follow product label instructions for safe and effective use.

Tips on Mold and Mildew Prevention

The more frequently you clean areas prone to mold and mildew, the less likely you'll need to do intensive scrubbing later. Mold and mildew don't just affect obvious surfaces—they can hide in places often overlooked during regular cleaning. Common trouble spots include around the tub, the rubber seal of a washing machine, and on bathroom walls or ceilings, especially in areas with poor ventilation.

Regular maintenance goes a long way in helping to prevent buildup before it becomes a bigger issue. That's why it's so important to properly clean and disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces. Clorox^® Clean-Up^® Cleaner + Bleach effectively tackles daily messes with ease and disinfects a variety of hard, non-porous surfaces throughout your home.

One commonly overlooked area is the "Pink Ring" in your toilet, which is a type of bacteria called Serratia that can show up in toilets, bathtubs and sinks. While it isn't mold or mildew, it behaves similarly and can be just as frustrating to deal with.

Like mold and mildew, the bacteria that causes the pink ring thrives in moist environments. It's commonly found at the waterline, where it has a steady supply of moisture to support growth. To effectively tackle pink ring stains, the Clorox^® ToiletWand^® is an all-in-one system with scrubbing pads pre-loaded with a powerful cleaning solution that kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria and powers through hard water and lime stains when used as directed.

Mold and mildew stains can also build up on soft surfaces if proper preventative steps aren't taken. For example, leaving damp laundry sitting in the washer or in a basket for too long can lead to mold and mildew stains on clothing and fabrics.

Clorox^® Disinfecting Bleach can be used to address the issue of mold and mildew stains on bleach-safe laundry. Wash items immediately in hot water using detergent and 1/3 cup Clorox^® Disinfecting Bleach. Always check an item's care label before laundering with bleach.

You can even run a cycle with Clorox^® Disinfecting Bleach in your empty washing machine to help keep musty smells caused by mold and mildew at bay. Add bleach to the machine's bleach dispenser up to the "max fill" line and run an "extra rinse" cycle on the hottest water temperature available to help tackle mold and mildew smells.

Taking a proactive, informed approach can help keep your home clean year-round. For more tips on how to clean tough jobs in the bathroom and beyond, visit Clorox.com.