The Main Differences Between Mold and Mildew

People often confuse mold with mildew, and it’s easy to see why. Both are a type of fungus that gives off a foul, musty odor, and both are known to grow in warm, moist environments. However, if you are going to properly eliminate mold and mildew from your home, you have to know how to identify which is which so that you can use the correct solution to remove the growth.

Here are the main differences that distinguish mold from mildew.

Where Mildew Grows vs. Where Mold Grows

Mildew tends to grow on the surfaces of wet or damp objects, which makes it easier to see and remove. Mildew tends to accumulate on the walls, floors, and ceilings of rooms with high humidity as well as on leather, fabric, paper, and organic surfaces. Mildew can also be found on crops and plants, including grapes and potatoes.

Mold has more of a tendency to grow underneath surfaces that have gotten wet, but mold can grow on a variety of surfaces if the conditions are right (basically, enough darkness and moisture). Mold can grow in showers, under sinks and toilets, near windows, and on walls, insulation, floors, curtains, furniture, clothes, rugs, and mattresses.

How Mildew Looks vs. How Mold Looks

Mildew is not as diverse as mold in the “looks department.” Mildew tends to be pale yellow, gray, or white and looks downy, fluffy, or powdery in texture. It is also possible for mildew to turn brown or black over time. When mildew first starts to appear, it might look like a bunch of pale spots, but as it grows, it develops into a flat patch.

Mold can grow in a variety of colors, including gray, brown, black, green, yellow, blue, and white. Like mildew, mold can have a somewhat fluffy texture, but it can also have a slimy appearance. Mold begins to appear as a number of spots that can be mismatched in shape and size.

The Effects of Mildew vs. The Effects of Mold

While both mildew and mold have adverse effects on their surroundings, mold is considered the more hazardous of the two. If mildew starts to grow on your food, you’ll have to consider that food inedible, but unlike mold, mildew won’t cause serious damage to a building. Mold can cause the structures on which it grows to rot.

Mold can also cause more serious adverse health effects than mildew. Exposure to mildew spores can trigger symptoms such as a headache, sore throat, cough, or another respiratory issue. While mold can also trigger these symptoms, mold can contribute to other health issues such as joint pain and inflammation, chronic fatigue, depression, dizziness, migraines, and even hearth problems. Children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible to the ill effects of mold spore exposure.

If you suspect that your home has water damage, it’s important to get your home inspected as soon as possible for areas that might allow mold to thrive. At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we’re capable of providing you with a comprehensive water damage evaluation of your home.

5 Ways to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Bathroom

Because of all the moisture it receives from showers and baths, your bathroom is one of the highest-risk areas for mold in your home. Not only is mold unsightly, but it’s also unhealthy and can worsen allergies and respiratory conditions. Fortunately, you can prevent mold growth in your bathroom fairly easily with these tips and tricks.

1. Equip Your Bathroom With a Bath Fan

The key to fighting mold growth in your bathroom in reducing any excess moisture. If your bathroom is not already equipped with a bath fan, it’s highly recommended that you get one installed. A bath fan reduces the moisture in the area around it by literally sucking moisture out of the air.

2. Use a Squeegee After Each Shower and Bath

It may seem tedious, but this an important step in removing excess moisture from your bathroom (approximately 75% of it, in fact). Leave yourself extra time after bathing or showering to squeegee all the sides of the shower and tub.

3. Make Sure Your Bathroom Fan Is the Right Size

In some instances, you may already have a fan, but it is not actually the right size to be effective. You can find out your current fan’s size by looking at its CFM (cubic feet per minute) count, usually printed directly onto the fan itself.

If your ceiling is 8 feet tall, your fan’s CFM should equal:

• [the square footage of your room] x 1.1

If your ceiling is 9 feet tall, your fan’s CFM should equal:

• [the square footage of your room] x 1.5

4. Use the Fan During and After Baths and Showers

Warm baths and showers release a lot of steam into the air, and that moisture can lead to mold. Running your fan during a bath or shower can reduce the amount of moisture on the walls and ceiling that could potentially contribute to mold growth. It’s equally important to run your fan after your baths and showers as well for at least 30 minutes.

5. Seal Your Grout

If you’re like most people, you have tile somewhere in your bathroom. The porous grout between the tiles is particularly susceptible to mold. That’s why another crucial step in mold prevention is making sure that you re-seal your grout on a yearly basis to ensure that it remains waterproof.

Has water damage taken a toll on your home or building? Make sure to schedule an indoor evaluation with our water damage experts as soon as possible: 631-940-8100.

Dangers of Mold in the Household

Mold is something that is very dangerous and you should do your best to get rid of it. Some just think its an aesthetic print on your walls but it signifies something else. If there's too much mold, your insurance company may suggest that you move out for you safety. 

The mold is something can affect your health. When there's too much of it, the mold can contaminate your lungs. This can lead to the fungus infecting your lungs which will affect your health. This is a long-term effect that can last for years and years. Then you will have to deal with surgeries and recovery from the surgery. There are also a number of allergic reactions that can happen to your body. The fungi can interact with your immune system and cause inflammation. Despite this, Tobacco is still the leader in lung cancer related aliments which is a shocker to some.

Your house is also at risk. Mold often sticks to the wood. Its very unlikely that the mold can stick to brick or plastic. However the pain on the wood makes for a great target. The steam that's built up throughout the house can make it easy for the mold to grow and contaminate your home. There are some methods you can use to damage the mold in its early states. Bleach is a great cleaner and it makes sure that the mold will temporarily stop spreading. This is also the most common method that you will find.

With those things being said there are also some after affects and things that will be done. If you find yourself in a house with a lot of mold, you may be forced to wear a mask that affects your breathing paths. You will also need someone to do service on your home because they have special detergents. In extreme cases you have to burn the house to kill the mold the mold because that's the only option. However this is a last result and shouldn't be done if you have other options. You can talk to your insurance company for more details.

Mold isn't something to put off if you notice it. Any visual or scent queues of mold should be addressed. If you find yourself with water damage or notice any inside moisture build up in your walls or floorboards, be sure to give us a call for inspection. We offer a non-destructive method of checking for water damage, please give us a call at 631-940-8100 or visit our site to learn more.  http://gogreenprocleaning.com/water-damage-suffolk-county.php

FAQs About Mold

 

Mold comes in many shapes and sizes – from a green fuzz on your bread to black slime in your shower. It is important to know some basic information about mold so that you can identify it and remove it in order to protect your home and family.

The experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration answer some of your most frequently asked questions about mold...

What is mold?

Mold is a type of fungus that can grow virtually anywhere moisture is present. No one knows exactly how many different types of mold exist, but some estimate the number to be over 300,000.

What are the health effects of mold?

Mold spreads and grows by reproducing microscopic spores, which can unknowingly be inhaled by humans. When we come in contact with these spores, we can experience allergy-like side effects such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, headaches, and fever. Mold has also been linked to long-term respiratory problems.

What causes mold to grow?

Mold requires three things to grow: oxygen, moisture, and nutrition. Since oxygen is found (nearly) everywhere on Earth and mold can “eat” a variety of organic particles (such as dust, cellulose, and dirt), places with excess moisture are the most prone to mold growth.

Where are places that mold grows in the home?

Since moisture is necessary for mold to grow, the most common problem areas around the home are those that tend to have high moisture levels. They include:

• Bathroom – on the walls or in the shower especially
• Basements & crawl spaces
• Attics and roofs
• Underneath carpeting
• Window, refrigerator, washing machine, and dishwasher seals
• HVAC air ducts
  
  

How can I remove mold from my home?

If you spot mold growing in your home, do not try to remove it yourself. Special tools are needed to thoroughly eliminate the mold, and attempting a DIY removal just puts you at risk for spreading the mold and becoming sick.

If you live on Long Island and have a mold problem in your home or business, call the professional mold removers at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. Visit our website for more information, or call us for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

Health Effects of Mold

Mold is more than just a gross fungus that grows on your old food. In fact, it can grow virtually anywhere that moisture is present – indoors or out. Mold can pose a threat to the structural integrity of your home, as well as to your family's health.

No one knows just how many types of mold exist, but estimates range from about five thousand to over three hundred thousand. One thing is for sure; mold grows by reproducing microscopic spores, which spread throughout the air. These spores can survive dry, harsh conditions, but won't develop into a fungus unless there is moisture present.

Common places you may find mold growing in your home include the bathroom, basement, and washing machine seals – all places with excess moisture. The key to preventing mold is by limiting moisture in your home through the use exhaust fans, dehumidifiers, ventilation systems, etc.

You should make a conscious to prevent mold from growing in your home, and seek professional help immediately if you do notice it. Besides the structural damage it can cause to your support beams, exposure mold can also cause a wide array of side effects, including:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy eyes
• Irritated skin, eyes, throat
• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea
• Respiratory infections

If you spot mold growing in your Long Island home, call the mold removal experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. We will make your home safe again using our effective and environmentally-friendly removal process. Visit our website for more information or call us at (631) 940-8100.