Mold vs. Mildew

Most people lump mold and mildew together as the same thing. But these fungi do have several key differences that will be helpful to know when you encounter them.

Similarities:

Both mold and mildew are members of the fungi kingdom. They grow in moist or humid areas, like bathrooms and attics and oftentimes gives off a strong musty odor as they grow. Mold and mildew both produce and emit spores to reproduce and feed on organic materials.

MOLD

mold growing on clementine

Mouldy Clementine” by NotFromUtrecht [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons

MILDEW

mildew on leaf

“Powdery mildew fungi on pumpkin leaves” by Jeff Kubina [CC 4.0]

Definition

The term “mold” encompasses hundreds of thousands of species of fungi with diverse, appearances, habitats and toxicities.

Definition

Mildew is a specific type of mold that grows in high humidity areas and feeds on cellulose and plant materials.

Color

Molds can be just about any color. You’ve probably seen black, white, gray, brown and green molds, but bright reds, yellows, oranges, and blues are common colors too. If the mold growth is widespread, you’ll probably see some combination of these colors spread across the area in question.

Color

Unlike mold, mildew growth has a limited color palette. Most mildew grows in powdery white color that may turn yellow or brown as it matures.

Texture

Most molds will appear fuzzy or velvety, but some may also appear slimy, grainy, or spongey.

Texture

Mildew appears to have a powdery or fluffy texture.

Uses

Some molds, like Penicillium, are used in the production of food and pharmaceutical drugs.

Uses

Mildew has no known beneficial uses.

Where mold grows

Molds can grow just about anywhere there is moisture or high humidity, but send to prefer moisture-sensitive and water-damaged materials.

Where mildew grows

Mildew can often be found indoors growing on textiles, cellulose-materials products, like wallpaper and wood, and other moisture-sensitive materials. While molds can penetrate deep into materials, mildew tends to grow flat on surfaces. Outdoors, mildew can be found growing on crops and other plant materials.

Health Effects

Many molds are common allergens that can worsen asthma symptoms and cause allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, rashes and hives, sinus infections, migraines, extreme fatigue, joint inflammation, severe respiratory disorders, pneumonia and other serious infections. Many symptoms are due to poisonous chemicals called mycotoxins that some molds emit. “Black mold,” like Stachybotrys, can cause even more serious long-term health effects.

Health Effects

Mildew exposure generally causes limited, non-severe allergy symptoms including respiratory irritation, coughing, sore throat and headaches. While symptoms are minimal in humans, mildew growth can seriously damage plants and crops.

Removal

Molds growth tends to penetrate into materials, making it difficult to remove with antimicrobial solutions or cleaning products. In most cases, mold-infected materials must be replaced to completely remove the mold and prevent recurring mold growth. Because some molds are extremely toxic, extreme care needs to be taken to minimize exposure during mold removal.

Removal

Because mildew tends to grow on the surface, it can generally be removed from hard surfaces with an antimicrobial solution. Soft or porous materials are harder to clean and may need to be replaced to completely eliminate growth mildew. If you attempt to remove mildew yourself, make sure you have adequate ventilation and use respiratory protection. Extra care should also be taken to minimize the release and spread of mold spores during cleaning.

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