It’s common for homeowners to confuse mold vs. mildew – check below for mold vs. mildew. Although both are fungus, they exhibit certain distinct features that can be used to distinguish them.
Correct identification allows you to embark on accurate treatment measures. I’ve featured some important features which you can use to differentiate between mold and mildew.
Although mold and mildew bear numerous similarities, they exhibit notable differences that can distinguish them. Read Also: Best No See Ums Repellent.
[amazon bestseller=”Best Mold Killer” items=”2″ template=”table”]Mold Vs. Mildew – What Are The Differences?
1. Appearance
Mold: Molds grow on damp surfaces as colonies of irregularly shaped patches. They can be seen on walls, floors, wallpapers, carpet, and wood, among other surfaces.
Depending on the species, the color of mold ranges from black, brown, green, blue, gray, yellow, or white.
Mildew: Mildew appears as a powdery (check fungicide killers) and flattened patch, usually yellowish, gray, or white. With time the color turns to brown and eventually black.
2. Smell – Mold Vs. Mildew
Mold: Molds have a musty and tangy smell that can spread to every corner of your home through the spores.
The smell comes from the mold growth process, which releases microbial compounds into the air.
Mildew: Mildew exhibits a foul and pungent odor that lingers around as long as there’s mildew in the house.
This smell results from mildew growth, which produces gases and releases them into the surrounding air.
3. Where do They Grow?
Mold: Mold is both an indoor and outdoor fungi. Outside the house, mold grows on moist surfaces such as on soil, dust, walls, water pipes, etc.
Mold gets indoors through open spaces or by attaching itself to your body, pets, or items you bring home.
When mold gets indoors, it thrives in moist surfaces such as condenser ducts, under the sink, upholstery, walls, ceiling, paper, etc. If not treated, mold can disfigure surfaces or lead to structural damage.
Mildew: Mildew grows on damps surfaces, especially in the kitchen, bathroom, basement, and upholstery. Spores from mildew can also attach themselves to plants, whether indoors and outdoors.
Plants are susceptible to mildew, especially during warm and humid conditions. Mildew spreads rapidly and may eventually take over the plant. If not treated, it can damage the plant or kill it completely.
Read Also: Best Gnat Repellents
4. Effects on Human Health
Mold: Inhaling too many mold spores can lead to several health complications.
Depending on the species, you might get respiratory problems, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, migraines, fatigue, and inflammation, and so on.
Black molds contain mycotoxins, which are associated with long-term health complications.
Mildew: Inhaling mildew spores may result in health complications such as respiratory infections, coughing, headache, etc. However, complications caused by mildew are less serious than those caused by mold.
Mold and Mildew Testing
You cannot see mold or mildew until it reaches a point where it visible to your eyes. In that case, you can differentiate between the two types of fungi.
Sometimes, mold and mildew can originate from hidden crevices where it continues to grow and reproduce through spores.
That means the surrounding air will be concentrated with spores, which cannot be seen with naked eyes.
Once in the air, these spores are known to cause allergic symptoms, which can sometimes lead to serious medical conditions.
For this reason, households should be regularly tested for these fungi even if there’re no signs of them.
Early discovery enables you to remove the mold or mildew before it spreads to the rest of the house. Below is a guide for testing mold and mildew.
Read Also: 99+ Pictures of Bed Bugs
Types of Tests for Mold and Mildew
There’re three types of tests you can use to check the presence of mold or mild dew in your house.
It’s advisable to use the three methods to get accurate results. They include:
1. Air Testing
This is one of the surest ways of detecting the presence of mold or mildew. In this test, air samples are collected and taken to a lab for inspection.
- Air testing allows you to detect a mold problem before physically locating it.
- Analysis of the results can tell the concentration of spores in the air and the threat it poses to your family.
Air testing can also be done after cleaning to check whether the mold or mildew spores have been reduced to an acceptable level.
2. Surface Testing
Sometimes mold and mildew can be confused with dirt that accumulates on surfaces.
In that case, surface testing can be used to differentiate normal dirt from mold growth.
In this test, samples of the suspected mold are taken using tape, a swab, or any other possible method.
These samples can be analyzed using a DIY test kit or taken to a lab. A simple test can be done at home to check whether the suspected substance is dirt or mold.
In this test, a small amount of house bleach is dabbed on the suspected mold growth. If there’s any mold growth, the blackened area will lighten up after two or three minutes.
3. Culture Test
The test kits you get online are only meant to detect mold or mildew growth without identifying the species.
- However, with a culture test, it is possible to know which species of mold or mildew you’re dealing with.
- A sample of live mold particles is collected from your home and grown in a lab in a culture test.
The aim is to grow the mold into a large colony to facilitate its identification.
How to Clean Mold and Mildew
1. Mildew
Mildew can effectively be cleaned from surfaces using a scrubbing brush and an appropriate cleaning agent.
That’s because it doesn’t penetrate surfaces, as in the case of mold. However, mold is more difficult to remove because it tends to stretch its microscopic filaments into surfaces.
2. Mold
Mold removal ought to be done with care to avoid spreading the spores to other house areas.
- That’s why it’s usually recommended to seek professional help when you have a mold problem.
- If you’re dealing with a small mold or mildew problem, you can clean it yourself.
Before you begin the cleaning process, ensure you wear a protective face mask to don’t inhale spores or fungicide fumes.
Also, wear gloves to prevent the effects of fungi and fungicide on your hands. Below is a guide for removing mold from your home.
Locate and Eliminate Possible Causes of Moisture
Moisture creates a favorable environment for mold and mildew to thrive.
- Thus, eliminating moisture is the foremost intervention for getting rid of these fungi from your home.
- Check all plumbing systems or connections for any leakages and repair any faults. Your local plumber can help you fix leakages.
Proper ventilation helps reduce moisture content in high humidity areas like laundry rooms, kitchen, bathroom, and basement. You can also install dehumidifiers to absorb moisture in the surrounding air.
Drying
With leakages repaired and causes of moisture removed, it’s time to dry your rooms of any remaining moisture.
While your house may have dehumidifiers and fans, they may take time to eliminate moisture from indoor spaces.
In this case, you can hire commercial equipment to achieve thorough drying in a short time.
Remove Materials Affected by Mold
Mold can penetrate deep into some materials, making it difficult to remove. If such items are left in the house, the hidden mold continues to grow and reproduce. This creates a recurrent mold problem that requires regular treatment.
To avoid a recurrent mold problem, it’s advisable to dispose of all materials that have been severely damaged by mold. If possible, seal the items in plastic bags to avoid spreading the spores in unaffected areas.
Quarantine and Clean With a Fungicide
If the fungi are located in certain rooms, seal all open spaces, including doors, windows, and vents, to avoid spreading spores to other rooms. You can use plastic sheets and tapes.
Mold and mildew are fungi that can be effectively removed using the best mold removers – fungicides or commercial-grade disinfectants.
Fungicides work by killing and inhibiting fungal growth and reproduction of spores. Does salt kill fleas?. You can get fungicides from your local store or online.
Using a sprayer treat all the affected areas with the fungicide. Scrub the surfaces with a stiff brush to remove embedded mold or mildew.
Repairing
Usually, removing fungi from surfaces can result in damages such as peeling off paint or varnish.
Such surfaces will need repainting to restore their initial look. Besides, this prevents moisture absorption, thus preventing mold or mildew growth.
Conclusion
Mold and mildew affect both structures and people’s health. They produce spores that spread rapidly through the air.
- If left untreated, these fungi eventually get to any corner of the house with moisture and warmth.
- A minor mold or mildew growth can effectively be removed using readily available fungicides or disinfectants.
However, a full-blown mold or mildew problem might require an expert to help in removal.