Mold & Mildew Cleanup in Port Ludlow, WA

Why does mildew keep coming back on our windows and in the bathroom?

Port Ludlow grew up as a resort and master-planned community on Port Ludlow Bay after the Hood Canal Bridge opened in 1960, and water covers about 18 percent of its census area. Homes near the bay and marina sit in moist air much of the year. Through the wet season, warm indoor air carries moisture from showers, cooking and breathing to the coldest surfaces in the house, usually window glass and the corners of exterior walls, where it condenses and lingers. A bath fan that is undersized or switched off right after a shower leaves the ceiling damp for hours. Fix those two things, and most recurring mildew slows down or stops.

We're away for weeks at a time. Does that matter?

It can. A house with the heat turned down and no one opening doors or running fans has no way to move moisture out. Closets, linen cupboards and upholstered furniture take it up, and a musty smell is often the first thing you notice when you get back. Before leaving, keep the heat at a moderate setting, leave interior doors and closet doors open, and consider a dehumidifier with a drain hose set below 60 percent. When you return, check window corners, under sinks and behind furniture on outside walls.

When should I call a professional?

When the growth covers more than about 10 square feet, the drywall feels soft, carpet or insulation is involved, or cleaning doesn't hold. A company should look for the source, contain the area and remove what can't be cleaned. Washington has no state mold license, so check the company on L&I's Verify a Contractor tool. Jefferson County notes that standard homeowners policies don't cover flood damage and that residents can buy separate flood insurance through the national program.

A local note

Port Ludlow is unincorporated, so rebuilding permits come from the Jefferson County Department of Community Development Building Division. The county's Code Compliance takes building and health code concerns through an online form, working with Environmental Public Health; anonymous complaints aren't accepted.