What is the difference between mold and mildew? Every now and then each home can be affected and homeowners need to be prepared. Both Mold and mildew are fungi are commonly found in the home. Both flourish in warm, damp conditions, spread easily, and live on various surfaces. You can never completely eliminate mold and mildew from your home. Their spores are everywhere, even in your refrigerator. The risk is when these microbes are permitted to grow to the point of visibility. They are then releasing a higher-than-normal amount of spores into the air. If left unattended, the harmful microorganisms can quickly affect large areas of your property and may result in structural damage. Both mold and mildew come with health-related problems, including respiratory issues, allergy symptoms, fatigue, and headaches. While the two may be difficult to tell apart, responding to these household culprits, and the damage they can cause, is an important lesson to learn.
Mold vs Mildew – What is the Difference?
Mildew – can be described as a specific type of mold. It grows on plants, paper and leather. Mildew is drawn to moisture, so your kitchen, bathroom, and possibly basement, are prime targets. Keep an eye out for spots that form in toilets, sinks, tubs, and showers, and on bathroom walls. Mildew usually grows in a flat pattern and appears either powdery or fluffy. It can be easily identified as a patch of white, gray, or yellowish fungus that is lying on the surface of a moist area. Mildew usually turns black or brown over time.
Mold – is most common on rotten food, you know, that container of leftovers hiding out on the lower shelf of your refrigerator for the last two weeks. It grows generally, on organic matter. That’s because mold grows on living sources, which would also include your home’s drywall paper and wood, making ceilings, window sills, and walls welcoming places. It has a specific smell and in the initial stages of growth is invisible. It’s usually fuzzy or slimy in appearance. It appears as irregularly shaped spots and tends to come in hues of brown, black, and green. Oftentimes, surfaces that are covered in mold begin to rot.
Mold vs Mildew – How To Remove Both
Mildew – which is seen as less of a threat than mold, can be cleaned with over-the-counter products, and a scrub brush. Always wear the proper protective gear such as glasses, rubber gloves and face mask and make sure you work in a well-ventilated area. That way, you protect yourself and avoid cross-contamination. Clean all the surrounding areas carefully as well, to ensure that all the fungi have been successfully removed.
Mold – cleaning it is a bit more complicated. Do you do it yourself or hire a contractor? The answer depends on the size of the affected area, the type of surfaces to be treated, and the cause of the mold growth. And then there’s the question of whether or not you took the proper steps and identified all the points of mold growth. It’s a tall task because Mold attaches to the affected materials and penetrates beneath the surfaces and mold spores spread quickly and easily.
To avoid unnecessary hazards to your health, mold remediation professionals recommend not disturbing mold spores without proper ventilation and containment, both services they can provide. The safest and most efficient way to get rid of a mold problem is to call a mold remediation company. An experienced technician will come to your home, assess the situation, ascertain the type of mold, and determine the extent of the damage. The most appropriate actions will be taken to remove the harmful fungi and prevent its appearance in the near future. The experts will help ensure not only the safety of your living environment, but also your peace of mind.
There is no room for errors when removing mold. At the first sign of problem, call Xtreme Home Improvement. We are certified mold remediation specialists and our experts will resolve any mold situation you have. If there are any questions or concerns, feel free to speak with one of our professionals. We’ll walk you through the process, provide an estimate and return your property to a safe and healthy condition.