Mold And Mildew - Two Sides Of The Same Fungi
Mold And Mildew - Two Sides Of The Same Fungi
Ok, mold and mildew don't exactly come from the same type of fungi but they are often interchangeable in terms of when you are talking about growth and clean up. As much as anyone can ascertain, mold and mildew are more descriptions of their physical appearance rather than two totally different fungal organisms.
To get even more confusing, mold and mildew can often grow together side by side although they do occur frequently in particular mediums. For instance, mold can grow on food, walls and other larger, physical structures. Mildew refers to the fungal growth on plants, clothing that has sat too long in your washing machine and the discolorations around your bathtub and on grout.
Textures And Colors Of Mold And Mildew
When it comes to mold and mildew, the textures of these fungal growths are what really make each type distinctive. Most people can easily identify mold because of its fuzzy, thick texture. In addition, most types of mold are black, green, rusty red, blue as well as many variations of these colors. In addition, mold can also be slimy at times, depending on where it is growing and the amount of moisture in its environment.
Of both mold and mildew, mildew is less likely to cause allergic reactions and illness although it does have a similar musty odor as mold. Mildew is typically more of a discoloration such as gray or white and when on hard surfaces or plants, is powdery in texture. If you remember your forgotten laundry in the washing machine, usually just re-washing the clothing is enough to kill the burgeoning mildew while more extreme measures are needed for fabrics with its only colony of visible mildew that has been growing for a while.
Typical Places Where Mold And Mildew Reside
While it is true that mold and mildew do reside side by side in certain areas like the bathtub, more often than not, they are seen as two separate entities. Mildew often grows on forgotten wet fabric, damp or humid affected books, tile grout, shower curtains and various plants.
Mold is more prevalent in moisture-ridden environments such as humid basements, attics where leaky plumbing might go undetected, roofs, behind walls and even under carpets that might have soaked up a lot of water from a flood, broken water heater or even an overflowing toilet.
Between mold and mildew, mold is definitely the worst when it comes to causing health problems. Mold typically produces more spores, which are easily released into the air that you breathe. Black mold and toxic mold are two major fungi that mean serious business and cause quite a few of the mold-related illnesses.
Both mold and mildew can be treated in a similar fashion and that is why you often see cleaners in the grocery stores touting their "cleaning action against both mold and mildew." Most people do not think about the distinction between the two and often think of them as interchangeable. You might say that mold and mildew are two sides of the same fungi.