Mold and mildew are habitual troublemakers, taking over and wreaking havoc in homes all over Calgary. We’re often asked, what’s the difference between mold and mildew? Both are part of the fungi family and are quite similar to one another, but they do have a few key differences. The contractors here at24/7 Restoration want you to be able to spot the difference between mold and mildew, so you can act accordingly.
Vanity
Blue, black, white, green, yellow, grey and brown; mold appears in several aspects of the colour spectrum. An added bonus, mold tends to be fuzzy, and no, that’s not a good thing.
Mildew can appear powdery and changes from a white colour to a yellow or black. It can also appear downy; in which case, it progresses from a yellow colour to brown.
Health & Wellness
Both mildew and mold can have negative health effects on your body, primarily the following:
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Respiratory complications
- Headaches
Mold can have even greater effects on your health, in addition to the complications mentioned above, mold spores can also cause sinus infections, pneumonia, allergic reactions, skin irritation, fatigue and inflammation.
Troublemaker
As we just mentioned, both mold and mildew cause several health problems; however, it doesn’t stop there. Mildew primarily damages plant life and crops. On the other hand, mold has far more destructive qualities. Mold essentially destroys whatever material it grows on, ultimately weakening structural integrity. For example, if you have mold growing on a wooden beam, its own growth will eventually eat away at the wood completely, to the point where the beam would rot, becoming soft and could possibly snap at multiple points.
Cleaning
If you spot mold or mildew in your home, you need to show it the exit door! 24/7 Restoration recommends you use antimicrobial cleaning agents that will clean and disinfect any small area with mold/mildew growth. Now that you know that both can cause harmful effects to your body, use masks and have proper ventilation when removing mold and mildew. As nice as the colours look, don’t use your bare hands when cleaning mold or mildew; we highly recommend you use rubber gloves and make sure you don’t have any contact with your skin.
Cleaning areas smaller than one square meter of mold or mildew is within your capabilities; however, don’t underestimate the resiliency and growth of mold. When it’s not removed properly, mold can grow back with a vengeance!
If you have mold or mildew growth of over one square meter or suspect that it’s about to take over your home, call 24/7 Restoration in Calgary at (403) 247-4365.
