Are you having a problem with mold or mildew
in your home or commercial property?
Many people will panic when the word “mold” is
mentioned but are OK if “mildew” is present. Little do people know that there
is no difference between Mold and Mildew. Online you may find statements like “Mildew is distinguished from
its closely related counterpart, mold, largely by its color: molds appear in
shades of black, blue, red, and green, whereas mildew is white.” This statement is misleading because some
molds are also white.
The authoritative Ainsworth & Bisby’s Dictionary of the
Fungi has the following definitions for mold and mildew.
Mold: (also spelled as mould):
A micro-fungus having a well-marked mycelium or spore mass,
especially an economically important saprobe.
Mildew:
1.
A plant disease in which the pathogen is seen as a growth on the
surface of the host.
2.
The staining, and frequently the breaking up, of cloth and fibers,
paint, etc., by fungi
and bacteria.
3.
A fungus causing 1 or 2.
From these definitions it is clear that what we see in our homes
or our commercial property is mold. Secondly both mold and mildew are fungi and
the only difference between mildew and mold is that the former is found growing
on plants as a pathogen while the latter is found growing on building materials
and other dead organic materials as a saprobe. In fact some fungi are able to
grow on both living hosts (plants) and also on dead organic material.
Why Do Mold (Mildew) Grow in Your Home?
Mold or mildew if you like develop from minute structures
(“seeds”) called spores. These mold spores are everywhere including
in our homes. You will find them in dust on carpet, window frames, furniture,
walls, ceiling, etc. These spores may not be in large amounts to cause any
health problem. The problem comes if your home has water damage due to:
- Flooding,
- Sewage back-up
from flooding in the area,
- Plumbing or roof leaks,
- Damp basement
or crawlspace,
- Overflows from sinks or bathtub,
- High humidity from steam cooking, dryer vents,
humidifiers, etc.
When the spores are dry in the dust they are dormant but once
they get wet mold develop within 24-48 hours. The mold continues to grow unless
steps are taken to eliminate the source of moisture, and effectively deal with
the mold problem. It is when mold grows in your house, hotel, commercial
property, industrial building due to moisture that you, your family or
employees are at risk of mold exposure.
What to do if you have Mold (Mildew) in Your
Home, or Commercial Property.
If you suspect you have mold in your home, or commercial
property, do not panic. Contact a qualified mold remediation company
that can assess the extent of mold
contamination and recommend the most appropriate way to remove it and to
fix the moisture problem. Do not attempt to remove the mold yourself if you
don’t know what you are dealing with or if you don’t have the right tools to
deal with the mold. The CleanUP Guys is
an industry leader in the Chicago area and suburbs for mold removal, mold
remediation, mold decontamination services.
