Most Central VA and Washington DC homeowners think mold and mildew are the same thing. After all, they’re both invasive fungi.
They both grow in wet, humid areas. And they both can cause health issues in certain individuals.
But that’s about where the similarities end. In this article, we explore the differences and similarities between mold and mildew. We compare their appearance, health risks, and methods for removal.
This will give you the info you need to make the best decision for your home and health. Let’s get started.
The fastest and easiest way to identify which type of fungus you have growing in your home is with a simple eye exam. While there are many types of mold and mildew, both require high levels of moisture in order to grow, which usually occurs in places like bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and attics.
You can quickly tell the difference between mold and mildew by their unique appearances and textures. Mold growths are three-dimensional fuzzy patches that protrude upwards away from the surface it is growing on. Mildew, on the other hand, grows completely flat on its preferred surface with no visible or physical texture.
Additionally, mold and mildew both display their own range of colors. Mold growth colors typically range anywhere from orange, green, blue, or red all the way over to shades of gray, white, and black. Mildew growths appear in shades of white, gray, or light brown.
One of the first indications that your home may have a mold or mildew problem is the presence of an unexplained lingering smell or aroma. The presence of a lingering musty or damp smell can be properly identified using our mold testing process. During this process, we will determine once and for all if the smell you are reporting is an issue with mold or mildew or if there is an additional culprit.
Because of the powerful nature of mold spores, mold growths produce a pungent musty smell where it may be present. In fact, you may start to smell invasive mold growths before they are even visible to the naked eye.
Typically, smells associated with mildew are not as strong when compared to mold but are still extremely noticeable.
Mold can be quite a pain to eradicate. That said, mold growths that exceed 10 square feet should be left to your favorite local mold removal company for removal. Because mildew grows superficially on the top of surfaces, it can be easily removed with household cleaners and stiff-bristle brushes. However, since mold grows deep into porous surfaces, it is another animal. If all live and dead mold spores are not completely removed from the infected area, mold is sure to grow back in the exact same spot or can even spread to other areas of the home.
Also, mold and mildew can come back even after full mold remediation if it is not completely removed the first time.
Here’s quick rule of thumb: mold is best left for the mold nerds, while mildew can be tackled on your own.
Certain types of mold are notorious for causing minor and serious health problems in individuals of all ages. As soon as mold growths are visible in your home, removing the mold as fast as possible is your best shot at reducing the risk of developing health issues.
If you have only begun noticing mildew growths, the consequences are typically not as dire. Healthy individuals usually experience little to no symptoms when exposed to mildew, which can cause people with allergies to become stuffy, congested, or experience headaches.
Mold on the other hand can be quite dangerous, especially for people who have immune deficiencies or frequent respiratory issues.
Symptoms of mold exposure include coughing, sneezing, respiratory pain, loss of memory, runny nose, and headaches.
Mold removal is best left to the professionals to ensure all traces of harmful mold spores have been eradicated from the home. If you have begun noticing mildew or mold growths, the time to act is now.
Mold remediation is a vital component in providing a healthy living environment, something we know all Washington D.C and Virginia residents care about.
Are you ready to tackle your mold or mildew problem head-on once and for all? Contact the mold experts today! You can reach our experienced Valor Mold staff by calling (703) 897-7121 Monday-Friday.
We remove mold the right way… and it would be an honor to hear from you.
Your home is in the best hands—our chemical-free remediation has the highest success rate in the industry.
You get the answers you need—our special mold testing provides 99% accurate results on the spot.
You can trust our process—we’ve performed over 300 successful projects since we opened in 2006.
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Valor Mold Removal is a certified and experienced mold testing and remediation company. We are fully insured, fully licensed, and accredited with the Better Business Bureau. We also provide crawl space encapsulation, soda blasting, humidity control, and air quality cleaning.
