A couple of weeks ago I needed a frame for a photo, went to my frame stash in the basement, and was dismayed that the first frame I pulled out had patches of mildew on it. After a trip to the store to purchase a new frame, I mentally scheduled cleaning out the cabinet as the first big project for the new year.
(In retrospect, the mildew makes sense. For several months we've had an intermittent musty smell in the basement. When it got really bad I'd run the dehumidifier for a day or so until the smell disappeared. I guess that was just a stopgap measure.)
Last week when I took everything out of the cabinet I discovered the main mildew culprit was an old Polaroid camera bag, which was covered in the powdery white stuff. YUCK! Once the cabinet was empty I wiped everything down with a bleach solution, then divided items into piles to keep, donate, recycle, and throw out.
Many of the frames were standard a 8x10 size and held certificates or family portraits. When I removed the paper it didn't look mildewed, but just in case I'm scanning everything and tossing the originals. Better to be safe than sorry. I kept a handful of unique frames, and put the rest into the donation box. Next time I want a picture frame I'll have to go buy one.
Five years ago today: Vim And Vinegar
Yikes.
ReplyDeleteThat mildew is an insidious intruder!
ReplyDeleteI hate that musty smell!
ReplyDeleteoh dear...well at least you found the mildew.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is I suspect there's more. I'll be (slowly) cleaning my way through the entire basement.
DeleteI discovered some on my closet floor this past summer. Had to throw out a ton of shoes. I still have a slight musty smell that I can't get rid of whenever I open the closet door.
ReplyDeleteOH, NO! Sounds like you'll have another cleaning project after the semester's over.
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