Every home is designed to keep moisture out, but none of them succeed at keeping every tiny bit of moisture out of our homes. As a result, mold and mildew can form in small amounts throughout your home.
Most of the time, this is nothing to worry about as long as it does not appear to be growing, or thriving, and you take the time to clean the mold or mildew from your home, and take measures to prevent it in the future.
There are thousands of types of mold and mildew, making it nearly impossible to be sure at times if your small problem is something to worry about. This brings up the question, “what is mold and how does it compare to mildew?”
- How are the two different from each other?
- Which one should you be more worried about in your home?
- Are they dangerous?
In this article, we will give you all of these answers, and many more.
By the end of this article, you will understand:
- The difference between mold and mildew
- What types you need to look out for
- Where to find them
- How to prevent mold and mildew growth in your home
Let’s get started.
What is the difference between mold and mildew?
There are some key differences between these two, and knowing them will help you to design an effective strategy for removal and prevention.
Mildew
Mildew is a form of mold but unlike mold, it can only grow on the surface of materials. Usually, it is found growing on surfaces like plants, compost, tile surfaces or grout, even glass. Mildew is typically flat, so it can be hard to spot when compared to mold. Because it doesn't penetrate surfaces, mildew is much easier to clean and considerately just be wiped away.
Most mildew can be easily removed, as they do not grow as fast or proliferate as fast as mold spores. On top of this, mildew is less hardy than mold, and can easily be blown or wiped away for good, whereas mold can easily hide away in hard to reach surfaces, and can be tough to tell if it is fully removed.
Mold
Mold is a fungus that comes in many forms. Typically you see it form in a green or black patch. Mold in its many forms can penetrate the surface of whatever material it is affecting. Mold will grow inside permanent structures like your walls and is much more challenging to remove as a result.
Different types of mold come in many forms and can cause a variety of health symptoms. Some types of mold are allergenic in nature, causing allergic reactions. Others might cause very little harm to most people except for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions. But some types of mold are very toxic, such as black mold.
How do mold and mildew grow?
Mildew and mold each grow under similar conditions. They thrive in environments which have a lot of:
- Moisture
- Dampness
- Stale air
- Darkness
However, there are a few differences in the way that they grow.
Mildew
Most of the time mildew will grow on plants and crops, but it can also grow indoors. If you've ever had a small garden, you have probably noticed the white spots that affect plants near the end of the season when moisture levels get very high and sun exposure is limited.
Mold
Similarly, mold grows in areas where there is a great deal of stale air, resulting from bad air circulation, as well as limited light and excessive moisture. If you have a leak in your basement for example where there is no natural sunlight and the temperature is quite cold, that leak could leave a puddle of water which slowly evaporates into the air and increases the amount of moisture you have in the air. All of it can very quickly lead to mold growth.
What do they look like?
Mold and mildew take on different appearances based on the type, or species.
Mildew
Mildew can usually be spotted by its powdery appearance, usually found on plants. It is white and gray and it appears in little circular splotches that change color as the fungus grows, eventually becoming brown or black. Downy mildew starts out as yellow spots and eventually those yellow spots turn brown in color.
Mold
Mold contains over 10,000 species according to the CDC. All of these species fit into 5 main types. The type of mold dictates the appearance and the effect on humans. Generally speaking, it will be dark green or brown, and grows in splotchy textures that can be fuzzy to the touch.
Is mildew dangerous to humans?
The effects on humans caused by mildew are rather limited. Mildew exposure can beget respiratory symptoms like asthma and other common allergic reaction.
Headaches, congestion, coughing, wheezing, and skin irritation are all signs of limited exposure to mildew and mold.
What about mold?
The more prolonged your exposure to mold, and any pre-existing conditions you might have, the more severe your symptoms can be.
Toxic forms of mold reap the worst effects on humans and can cause damage to the brain, the intestinal lining, and the lungs eventually leading to things like pulmonary bleeding, neurotoxicity, and permanent respiratory damage.
2 Common Types of Mildew
When it comes to mildew, there are two main types, which can easily be distinguished by their appearance.
Powdery
You will typically see powdery mildew in the form of splotches that dot outdoor or indoor plants. However it can be seen inside the home. These splotches might start as a gray or white pattern but they eventually turn color as the fungus continues to grow.
Downy
This is something you might also see in agriculture. Similar to the powdery mildew, downy mildew starts off in the form of spots that change in color as they grow. This particular type of mildew starts out as yellow spots that eventually become brown.
5 Common Types of Mold
As mentioned there are five main types of mold that commonly grow inside American households.
1. Alternaria
Alternaria typically grows in these areas of your house:
- Inside walls
- Inside showers
- Under sinks
- Around windows
You might see this particular type of mold growth if your house has recently suffered water damage. It has a wool type texture and is typically black, dark brown, or gray in color. Prolonged exposure can cause asthma attacks and similar allergic reactions.
2. Aspergillus
This type of mold grows is also common inside homes, especially on:
- Walls
- Paper products
- Clothing
It is found in warmer areas with high moisture levels in the air. It looks brown, dark green, black, and sometimes also has various shades of yellow and white around the groupings of color. This particular type of mold can cause allergic reactions and respiratory infection. People who have weakened immune systems can suffer from inflammation in the lungs.
3. Cladosporium
Unlike most mold, this mold is found in cooler areas. You might find it in:
- Curtains
- Carpets
- Floorboards
- Cabinets
This type of mold is typically an olive green color or black color. Exposure can cause serious respiratory problems.
4. Penicillium
Any material that has come into contact with water and start to grow this form of mold. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Carpets
- Wallpaper
- Insulation
- Mattresses
This type of mold is blue or green in color. It has a very strong musty smell. These spores will spread quickly and cause allergic reactions.
5. Stachybotrys
This particular mold is the most dangerous type of household mold and is referred to by its better known name of black mold. It produces mycotoxins which caused much more severe health problems including:
- Chronic sinus infections
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Asthma
- Respiratory problems
This other very musty odor. You will find it growing in places that are continually damp and dark such as the interior of your air conditioning ducts or around a leaking pipe.
How to Look for Mold and Mildew in Your Home
There are a few common household rooms you will want to look for both mold and mildew. These include:
- Basements
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- Laundry rooms
- Attics
- Crawl spaces
- HVAC systems
Beyond these key rooms you also need to check certain areas in particular:
- Always check basements and cellars after a recent flood.
- Check underneath your kitchen sinks and your bathroom sinks regularly.
- Periodically look underneath and behind your refrigerator.
- Any walls that house plumbing should be examined on a regular basis.
- If you have stacks of newspapers or cardboard boxes, any type of cellulose material, check the stacks to make sure they are not damp or wet especially in colder weather.
- Have your air conditioning unit examined on a regular basis.
- Check around your wall boards and around your windows especially if you notice a leak.
- Look underneath any rugs or carpeting that could become wet.
While mold growth and mildew growth are not limited to these particular places anywhere that there are cellulose materials and moisture present simultaneously is a place you want to check.
Learn More:
4 Tips to Prevent Mold and Mildew Growth in Your Home
The best ways to prevent mold and mildew growth in your home include the following:
1. Always dry any excess moisture in your home
This includes taking simple steps like turning on the bathroom fan after you shower remove the excess moisture in the air or turning on the fan above your stove when you are cooking.
You might not realize it but simply airing out a bathroom by leaving the door open doesn't get rid of the moisture in your home it just disseminates it.
2. Always check for leaks in your home
If you notice there is a small crack in your toilet bowl and water is dripping at a rate of 2 drops per hour, it might not seem like much but eventually that water will cool at the base of the toilet and it can cause mold growth.
The same is true of dark places like under your kitchen sink. Very rarely do people leave those cupboards open for better circulation and light filtration. If there is even the smallest of leaks from the pipes under the sink it will be absorbed by the flooring and as the moisture evaporates in that dark and damp cupboard it will create an environment perfect or mold growth.
3. Have your HVAC systems checked regularly
You don't want mold or mildew to grow inside of your air ducts such that the next time you turn on your heating or your air conditioning, it circulates those mold spores throughout your home.
4. Use a dehumidifier to check on the humidity levels in your home
Even if you keep the dehumidifier in your bedroom, move it around periodically two different rooms in the house to test the levels of humidity. Simple steps like these can help prevent mold and mildew growth everywhere in your home.
Easy Ways to Get Rid of Mold and Mildew
The EPA says that homeowners can clean mold and mildew from areas that are less than 10 square feet in size. Things like mildew present on a bathroom shower wall can be cleaned at home with natural cleaning agents or store-bought mildew removing agents. The same is true of small areas of mold. A simple home remedy is as follows:
- Mix equal parts chlorine bleach with water in a spray bottle. Alternatively mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Cover any solid surfaces like tile or glass or grout with the mixture.
- Let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Wearing gloves and a mask, scrub it away with a brush or soak a sponge in the solution and wipe down the affected area.
- Rinse everything clean.
When cleaning mold or mildew it is imperative that you never clean with all of the windows closed and the doors closed.
Wear some sort of mask and gloves at all times. You don't want to breathe in the spores that you are removing and you certainly don't want them to get on your hands and then track them somewhere else.
What to Do if You Have a Mold or Mildew Problem
If your problem affects a large area of your home, or you cannot tell how much mold is in your home, it's best to call in a professional. Mold removal professionals can give free consultations, and use high tech equipment to uncover the real mold problems in your home and treat them from the source.
Some mold problems can be handled easily, but we always suggest you seek professional help at least to make sure that the mold stays out once it is gone. But how do you find the right solution for your needs? Luckily, we wrote a guide on how to choose the best mold removal service, here.
If you have a mold or mildew problem in the Greater Boston Area, and are looking for help from the best mold removal service around, give Silver Environmental a call. We have over 25 years of experience fighting and exterminating mold from people’s homes.
With nearly perfect ratings, and amazing testimonials, our work speaks for itself. On top of that, we take just as much care in making sure we leave your house the way we found it - clean. Our Dustless Demolition helps our customers to get right back to regular life once our mold removal specialists have left.
For your free mold consultation, give us a call today to speak with an expert. Don’t let mold destroy your home right below your feet, keep it out of your home for good.