Learn how to identify those pesky spores popping up around your home
Mold and mildew both grow in chronically wet or damp areas.
Mold has a pungent odor, while mildew has a musty odor.
Both can trigger allergy and respiratory symptoms (mold is typically worse).
Vinegar is a natural killer of mold and mildew.
Widespread mold issues in the home require professional remediation.
When a bag of clementines becomes a science project, or a dingy smell overtakes a day-old bath towel, fungi are to blame. Seeing mold or mildew rear their ugly spores is enough to make you lose your lunch (literally, RIP to those clementines).
To make things worse, these growths also carry health risks for some that make it important to deal with them ASAP. But first, it’s necessary to identify what you’re looking at before deciding on a plan of action. Here are the key differences between mold and mildew.
Mold refers to all species of microscopic fungi that grow on organic matter within damp areas. Molds are found all around—essentially anywhere there is air and moisture. They thrive when they are in contact with a food source, such as paper, wood, food, or carpeting, and when there is ample moisture. If left on a food source for long enough, mold will eventually consume it all, destroying it.
Mildew is also a type of fungus. One way to think of mildew is as a baby mold—it's still in the early stages of growth and remains on the surface. Like mold, it also thrives in excessively damp or moist conditions, and is often found in bathrooms or kitchens.
Mildew often has a powdery appearance and is much easier to remove than mold.
Before taking any action against mold or mildew, the first step is identifying which is which. Fortunately, the differences between the two are simple to spot.
Mold is often more varied in its appearance than mildew. It can be fuzzy or slimy and usually appears in large patches on an affected area. Mildew typically looks powdery. It often appears in flat patches. As it first starts to grow, mildew may look like a series of small dots.
Mildew and mold differ in terms of color, too. Mold can come in a rainbow of hues, from green to black while mildew is typically either white or yellow in color. If mildew is left on a surface, it may turn brown.
If you aren't sure whether you're dealing with mold or mildew, a local mold inspector can help you know for sure.
Mold has a strong, pungent odor that’s enough to make you gag. Mildew has more of a musty smell that can make you wrinkle your nose, but it doesn’t invade the senses as much. If the smell is reminiscent of wet, forgotten laundry or a damp basement, then you’re likely smelling mildew rather than mold.
Mold and mildew both grow in areas with a lot of moisture, but mildew is a little more picky than mold. You're likely to find mildew in areas with very high humidity, such as on the wall of a shower or a windowsill. Mildew also likes to grow on plants and may kill a plant if it takes over the plant's leaves.
Mold grows wherever it can find a food source, which could be the food in your kitchen (fruits, vegetables, and bread are common culprits), wood furniture, the walls of your home, or carpeting.
Mildew grows in a superficial pattern, meaning it doesn't penetrate beneath the surface of whatever it's growing on. That makes it way easier to remove than most molds. Mold can typically penetrate the surface of its food source, especially if the material is porous, such as fabric, unfinished drywall, or concrete.
Since mold can lurk under the surface, it's usually harder to fully eradicate. Even after a good scrubbing, there may be mold spores lingering below, ready to grow again.
The effects of mold or mildew vary from person to person. For those who are sensitive to spores or who suffer from allergies or asthma, mold can trigger serious symptoms. Others may experience little to no symptoms at all. In severe cases, especially from prolonged exposure, an individual may experience shortness of breath or even develop a fever.
According to the CDC, the most common mold-related symptoms are:
Stuffy nose
Wheezing
Red or itchy eyes
Itchy or irritated skin
Overall, mold typically affects people far worse than mildew. Most people experience very few or mild symptoms from mildew, aside from being bothered by the smell. However, the spores can still cause symptoms similar to mold, so it’s important to take care of it either way.
You’ve probably heard of black mold before, and you don’t want it lurking around your home. Unlike your typical fuzzy, bumpy mold growths, black mold looks more like flat, black spots. And while it may be tempting to ignore these, you definitely shouldn’t.
Black mold releases mycotoxins, which are toxic substances produced by the fungus. And while no mold is good, the CDC notes that the mold’s color does not appear to indicate a certain danger level. However, black mold can still aggravate allergies and cause respiratory issues, with the biggest risks coming from long-term exposure.
Since it’s not as rounded outward as regular mold, black mold is not as easy to tell apart from mildew. The key difference is color—mildew is lighter and can be gray at its darkest. If you’re looking at large black splotches or sprays of black or green dots, it’s most likely black mold.
How you remove mold or mildew depends on a few things. Mildew is typically the easier clean-up, as you can remove it yourself using cleaning products you most likely already have, such as dish soap, vinegar, or bleach.
Mold is a different story. Since mold can be stubborn and can lurk beneath the surface, it's usually best to hire a local mold remediation service to clean it up for you. Mold remediation is required for areas larger than 10 square feet.
The average mold remediation cost is about $2,230, but the total cost will depend on the size of the infestation and the location of the mold.
If you only have a small area of mold growth, less than 10 square feet, you may be able to remove it on your own, using the same cleaners as you would to remove mildew. To protect yourself, wear gloves, goggles, and a mask when removing mold or mildew.
