Mold vs Mildew: What’s the difference?
Mold and mildew are all forms of fungi that share common attributes but also differ in a variety of ways. While the two fungi grow in moist and humid locations, they could influence your health and house otherwise. Understanding the differences between mold and mildew can help you understand how to approach the issue. Keep reading to find out what divides mold from the mildew:
Where They Grow
Both mold and mildew can grow in moist areas in houses and outside. They require an organic food source, such as drywall, wood, plants, or dirt.
Mold can grow on almost any organic surface at a house. Given sufficient time, mold may cause substances to rust and ruin the structural elements of a house. Mildew develops mostly on crops and may kill them or even be eliminated in time. Mildew is also the title of these plant diseases brought on by parasitic fungi.
Look
Mold is generally fuzzy or slimy, whereas mold appears either powdery or downy. Downy mildew is yellowish initially and turns to brown yellow in the future. Powdery mildew is white, then turns black and yellowish when it evolves.
Mold looks like irregularly shaped spots that could have distinct colors — blue, yellow, green, brown, grey, white, or black. Mildew generally grows in a level pattern and looks like gray, white, or yellow stains that turn brown or black with time.
Exposure Symptoms
Mold exposure can lead to many health issues including allergic reactions (coughing, itchy eyes, runny nose, coughing, wheezing, irritation of the throat, migraines, etc.), respiratory problems (difficulty breathing, coughing, and asthma attacks), heart issues, migraines, depression, and much more. Mildew vulnerability poses fewer health risks — coughing, headache, sore throat, and respiratory issues.
Benefits
Some molds are valuable, for instance, Penicillium can be used to create antibiotics and may also be utilized in the production of cheese and kale. Mildew doesn’t have any known benefits.
Prevention and elimination
As mold and mildew thrive in humid environments, it’s very important to maintain your house dry to prevent expansion. Repair leaks, use a dehumidifier to keep humidity at 30-50% and ventilate appliances. Find out more mold prevention hints.
Removing mold and mold yourself may be tough and harmful to your health. For little infected regions — significantly less than 10 square feet — on surfaces such as walls, wash the mold with a combination of household water and detergent. When the affected area is bigger than 10 square feet, the most secure and most effective means to eliminate the mold would be to telephone a mold remediation business. Discover why DIY mold removal isn’t a fantastic idea.
Mildew on crops could be removed by wiping the leaves lightly with a dampened paper towel. After every wipe, freshen the paper towel. Replace the paper towel when all components have touched on the moldy surfaces and cut off some leaves which still have mold observable on them. Click here to learn more.
One of the many types of molds that can grow inside, black mold is among the most notorious. Learn about black mold removal. Speak to your regional PuroClean of Bradenton office for mold remediation providers and water damage restoration.
