Almanac for Homemakers

Guard Shoes and Other Leather from Mildew  "To remove mildew from shoes and other leather goods, wipe a cloth wrung out in dilute alcohol (1 cup denatured or rubbing alcohol to 1 cup water). Dry in a current of air." We have talked about mildew before in this March Post and again in this May Post. So if you remember or just read those posts, we know that mildew is a type of fungus. It's mold. It grows great in areas that have low or no air flow. Spaces that hold humidity. Spaces like your closets. Our Almanac suggests using "Wax Dressing". Using this special wax can prevent moisture and mold from ruining your leather goods. You should read the labels to make sure it is the correct wax for clothing. Here is my favorite part of this book from the 70's. The Almanac suggests using wax dressing that contains fungicide such as hexachlorophene or paranitrophenol. Now, with my research, I have found that hexachlorophene is...

Store Clothing Away Properly to Prevent Mildew "Clothing stored in mothproof containers usually is also safe from mildew" Yesterday was about moths and today is about mildew. I'm getting a little grossed out by my closet right about now. What other hidden dangers is the almanac preparing me for right now? On the plus side, many man made fibers are resilient to mildew growth. What is Mildew? It is mold. Gross gross slimy mold. This usually happens when you have humid areas that just create some moist atmospheres. Since closets are small spaces without air flow, it is a great equation for making mildew. How can you prevent mildew growth? This is the part of my almanac that I love. They suggest using chemicals to protect fabrics while they are stored away. One such is a compound called paradichlorobenzene. You know that when the word is long and hard to pronounce it has to be bad news bears. This compound can help ...