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Differences Between Mildew & Mold - FAQs
Q&A on Products labeled "mildewcide" & reports of "mildew" in buildings
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about mildew reported in buildings and found on plants.
Q&A on photos showing the difference between mold & mildew?
This article series explains the difference between mildew and mold (or other forms of mold).
Our page top photograph shows mildew growing on a jasmine plant at a Vassar College home in Poughkeepsie, New York. More photographs of mildew are included in this article series.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Photos & Q&A on the Difference between Mold & Mildew
These questions & answers about the distinction between mildew and mold and why you might care were posted originally at MILDEW PHOTOGRAPHS - an article worth a look.
Mildew is a proper subset of the broader mold family. It is a plant parasite. Mildew grows on plants not drywall.
The photo shows greenish and other light molds growing on what looks like a drywall ceiling. This isn't mildew.
On 2018-08-15 by (mod) - should I worry about this mildew in my A/C unit?
Your photos show green mold on a ceiling and black and white modl on wood framing. It appears that A/C condensate is leaking into the ceilign or there is some other leak above or near those areas of mold growth. It's mold, not mildew.
Looks as if you need to
- remove the mold (it's not actually mildew) - small areas of mold contamination (under 30 sq.ft. of contiguous mold contamination) can usually be removed as a handyman job, but where there have been leaks into a ceiling one needs to be extra alert for a larger area of contaminated insulation or drywall .
- fix the leak
- check for rot or damage
- check that mold isn't being picked-up and blown about by the AC system
On 2018-08-15 by Anonymous
This is in my workplace under AC unit. Cause for concern? I have been having asthmatic symptoms and “chest cold” for almost two months.
On 2018-07-24 by (mod) - yellow bulge possibly a fungal body on plastic-coated fabric
Anon:
That might be a fungal growth, or something else, but it certainly is not mildew.
On 2018-07-24 by Anonymous
On 2016-10-01 by (mod) - feel better when out of a moldy building? that's diagnostic.
Jerome
It's always diagnostic to go away from a moldy home for a time as on return our sense of smell that had been turned off by constant exposure to MVOCs will usually have re-sensitized itself and we get a more realistic idea of the smell and the problem.
If your home has a basement or crawl area you'll want to both dry those areas out and to put down a moisture barrier over dirt to stop pumping moisture into the building. Until that's done you'll not have much success at removing and keeping smelly, possibly harmful mold out of your home.
Search InspectApedia.com for WET BASEMENT CURES to see some detailed suggestions.
On 2016-10-01 by Jerome
The house has a mold or mildew smell that gets into our clothes, etc. Every winter, during rains, water collects under the house which we pump out, but the soil remains moist
. I suspect this is the source but preventing it from occurring might prove to be extremely expensive. I had the opportunity to be away from the house for 2 weeks and on the return trip home, I happened to smell the hat from home and it was overwhelming. Once home for a while, I smell nothing but know better now.
On 2016-09-08 by (mod) - What is acceptable Stachybotrys score
Anon:
Really? Stachybotrys chartarum spores are sticky, big, and not normally found in air at more than incidental levels. It's a water-loving mold that adores drywall, cardboard, paper and some other surfaces. So clumps, clusters, of such spores, even if the total found indoors were quantitatively low, would be important to understand.
If the finding were after a big mold cleanup job I might think they're incidental OR that the work wasn't done properly. If found before any mold cleanup job, I'd be suspicious.
But there's something more important that you must understand in order to be protected against simply forking over your money to people who might offer profitable but useless "mold testing" services:
"Spore traps" and "air tests" are fundamentally unreliable as a building screen for mold contamination, in particular when the numbers are low. Very high numbers, tens of thousands of spores of indoor mold per litre of air are indeed likely to indicate that there's a problem, but low numbers can simply be dead wrong.
Worse: people may spend a lot to have a "mold tester" person say "yep you've got a problem ... somewhere". Then they have to spend a lot all over again to find out where the problem is, what cleanup is needed, and what causes of mold contamination need to be corrected.
Simply walking across a carpet, waving a notebook in the air, opening or closing a door, etc. can change the level of airborne particles by 1-4 orders of magnitude. That's *magnitude*.
What's needed is an expert visual inspection, review of building materials, construction history, leak history, moisture or leak clues, occupant complaints, and other factors, and the result needed is not just "looks good to me" or "looks bad to me" or some other baloney, but rather an explicit statement: Here's the problem , here's where it's located, here's the amount of cleanup needed, and here's the cause of the problem that must be fixed
OR
A statement that the thorough inspection (possibly supplemented by a few screening tests if appropariate) did, or did NOT find evidence that justifies further investigation.
Airborne mold tests alone are not useful.
IF you hired someone who got paid to collect a sample, send it to a lab, and who threw the "mold test report" over the wall to you with no more help than that, I would suggest you insist on a full refund of whatever you paid to that person.
See MOLD EXPOSURE STANDARDS for details.
Be sure you also see ACCURACY OF AIR TESTS for MOLD
On 2016-09-08 by Anonymous
What is acceptable Stachybotrys score with 75 liter sample volume?
On 2016-09-08 by Angel Swan
What is an acceptable score for this type of mold using spore trap analysis resultss
On 2016-08-13 by (mod) -
Re-posting without Alex's advertisement.
Alex said:
There is a big difference between mold and mildew, i was reading a post about types of mold tehre i find the difference between both of the mold and mildew
On 2015-11-10 by (mod) - If you smell mold, there is mold nearby.
Ina
If you smell mold, there is mold nearby.
Technically, though you will see the word "mildew" all over the place, there is no mildew in buildings. Mildew is a specific obligate parasitic mold that *only* grows on living plants. So it's mold, but it's not mildew - its some other mold. Why care? Well if your mold expert talks "mildew" you might want someone else.
On 2015-11-10 by Ina DeLoatch
My house floods underneath. The mildew Snell in the house is bad. Smell worse in bathrooms kitchen and wash rooms. Is mold presnt. It's been a year.
Question: mildew keeps coming back after cleaning
(Oct 3, 2011) rockey said:
we are renting my in laws condo out the kids find mold in the kitchen on the cabinets, the mold is blue and this appraired after the cabinet were cleaned with bleach i need help gave there kid a3bedroom2full bathrooms with wash room in the large bathroom i gave them 4 month's rent free plus no money down i am ready to throw them out what do i do
Reply:
Recurrence of mold after cleaning means no one has corrected the cause of mold growth - so cleaning alone won't work.
You need to find and fix the moisture source. By the way what you describe is a mold but it's not mildew.
Question:
(Feb 18, 2012) Michelle said:
I recently found a leak in some pipes inside my bedroom wall. When I opened it up there was a strong stench and a blue-green mold with white fuzzy patches in it. I sprayed it with bleach and put a fan on it to dry the area. There is also some black slimy stuff near the floor and I don't have a clue if it's dangerous. I'm not sure what to do next. I have two kids and I don't want to get anyone sick but we also don't have the money to hire someone if it's not really necessary. Any advice?
Question: mold related illness? It's not just mold on the tub tiles.
x (Sept 19, 2014) Sherry said:
I am in a wheelchair (prolonged serious illness, now in remission) but was healthy/no meds/training to do half-marathon in chair/heading back to work until a few months ago -lung capacity dropped to 30 to 40 percent suddenly/am asthmatic /x-rays abnormal/not prev disease. Note from building (40 yr) owner came informing re-piping entire complex (2 buildings full of elderly, disabled, etc) after years of leaking pipes.
First I heard of leaking pipes - then remembered they cut a hole in hallway wall same time I got ill (16" X 16") and left it open. It smelled bad but did not connect the two. Spoken to neighbor - her ceiling light shorts out all the time and walls are bubbling. She also has something growing on her new caulking around the tub - spots look blackish.
Plumbers say so far they have not come across large areas of mold - they have cut large holes on every floor in hallways which are left open - insulation is full of dust and dirt but that is all I see. I asked owner to have them tarp and tape them each night but have refused.
So far they have not opened walls on the floor where the walls are completely bubbled but they have removed all of the suspended ceiling tiles - they were brown stained and I do not know if this is normal but concrete above looks darker in splotches. The brown stuff (looks like cardboard but I don't know what you call it) around gaps where pipes go is brand new but some of it is already stained. I know this may sound small compared to the things you deal with but the building is full of older people without the financial resources to do much about checking.
According to govt, they are following all the rules. I am a canary in a mine for sure - asthmatic, highly, highly allergic to dust (Drs believe exposure to large quantity might have been the trigger to the illness I almost died from several times), allergic to mold (not just the toxic kind) but there are others who have developed coughs, sore throats, burning eyes, sneezing-do I have cause for concern? If so, what would you suggest?
Reply:
Sherry it sounds to me as if you want an onsite expert to hear your concerns and inspect the building.
While a bit of mold on tub caulk is not likely to explain an illness, there could be other issues at a building that were less obvious to an inexpert observer.
Question:
(Oct 10, 2014) Sarbeth said:
I recently found what looks like mold, black and spattered around in a very humid meeting room. The mangers say it is dust but dust does not have a spatter patter that is concentrated to certain areas? The mold is on a picture rail that runs around the room and has patches of the black spots...this is mold right?
I am highly allergic to all things mold and have often felt unwell when meetings were longer than 2h in that room.
Reply:
See MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT, HIRE ?
...
Continue reading at MILDEW REMOVAL & PREVENTION or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
Mildew Articles
- MILDEW REMOVAL & PREVENTION
- MILDEW on BOOKS?
- MILDEW ERRORS, IT's MOLD
- MILDEW in or on PAINT
- MILDEW PHOTOGRAPHS
- PAPAYA WHITE GROWTH vs DISEASE
- MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
- MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
- MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX
- WHITE MOLD PHOTOS
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MILDEW PHOTOGRAPHS FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to MOLD CONTAMINATION & REMEDIATION
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9
- Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6
- Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
- Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English)
- "Identification of two powdery mildew fungi, Oidium neolycopersici sp. nov. and O. lycopersici, infecting tomato in different parts of the world",
Levente KISS, Roger T. A. COOK, Gregory S. SAENZ, James H. CUNNINGTON, Susumu TAKAMATSU, Ian PASCOE, Marc BARDIN, Philippe C. NICOT, Y. SATO and Amy Y. ROSSMAN, Mycological Research (2001), 105:6:684-697 Cambridge University Press, The British Mycological Society 2001 provides an example of the problem of mildew damage to crops, from which we quote the abstract:
A world-wide study of the Oidium species causing economic damage on tomato has identified two taxa using classical morphological, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The material consisted of a total of 25 tomato powdery mildew isolates and 29 herbarium specimens coming from all continents where tomatoes are grown. A taxon with non-catenate conidia widespread in Europe, Africa, North and South America and Asia was identified as an O. subgen. Pseudoidium species (teleomorph: Erysiphe sect. Erysiphe). Formerly mistaken for O. lycopersicum (or O. lycopersici), it is now recognised as a distinct species, O. neolycopersici sp. nov. A phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) indicated that O. neolycopersici is closely related to Erysiphe macleayae, E. aquilegiae and other Pseudoidium species. Only a taxon with catenate conidia was found on Australian specimens. This was identified as a species of O. subgen. Reticuloidium (teleomorph: Golovinomyces sp.). Phylogenetic analysis of the rDNA ITS sequences showed that this species is closely related to O. longipes infecting eggplant. Because it is most likely to be the same species as the original O. lycopersicum, which was actually first described in Australia, this is here neotypified as O. lycopersici. - "Greenhouse Flower Crop Disease Prevention," USDA, originally from the Cornell University Extension, see www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html Abstract is quoted in part just below:
Greenhouse flower growers are annually faced with the need to manage new diseases caused by powdery mildews and downy mildews that disfigure crops and make them unsaleable. Information is not available to help them determine the source of the epidemics, to control the environment so it is not conducive to disease, to identify less-susceptible crops, or to use the most environmentally responsible chemical protectants. - "Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
- Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens [PDF], Patricia Donald,Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology, Lewis Jett
Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202 - "Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm Below we provide a partial quote from the introduction to this excellent document:
Powdery mildew, Leveillula taurica, became a new and serious threat to British Columbia’s greenhouse bell pepper industry early February, 2003. The disease was found simultaneously in two separate locations near Langley in southern British Columbia. Trace amounts of mildew developed on the foliage of cultivar Zamboni in one operation and 10-80% of the foliage of cultivar Triple Four in an organic operation. Reported pepper fruit yield losses have been 2 to 4 kg/m2. By summer, pepper powdery mildew was reported throughout British Columbia’s pepper greenhouses. Dutch research has shown a direct relationship between per cent mildew infection of the leaves and yield loss. One per cent mildew infection on the leaves results in a one percent yield loss. Studies show that the higher the level of powdery mildew infection the higher the loss of production. An early, heavy infection with mildew had about 30% loss of production compared to a later, lighter infection. Powdery mildew generally has caused 10-15% yield loss in NA greenhouse pepper crops. Greenhouse pepper growers need to follow an intensive disease prevention plan because it is very important that powdery mildew never gets out of hand. Once pepper leaves are infected with powdery mildew it is difficult to control; if left unchecked the crop can be entirely destroyed. Monitor the crop right from the start. Apply preventive fungicide sprays once the disease is detected. Carry out strict hygiene throughout the year and practice a thorough year-end clean up. There are no powdery mildew resistant pepper varieties currently available.
Also see: - First report of powdery mildew of greenhouse pepper caused by Leveillula taurica in British Columbia, Canada. Cerkauskas, R.F. and A. Buonassisi. Plant Disease 87: 1151. 2003.
- First report of powdery mildew of greenhouse pepper caused by Leveillula taurica in Canada. Cerkauskas, R.F. and J. Brown. Plant Disease 83:781. 1999.
- Suppression of powdery mildew on greenhouse-grown cucumber by addition of silicon to hydroponic nutrient solution is inhibited at high temperature. Schuerger, Andrew and W. Hammer. Plant Disease 87:177-185. 2003.
- Thanks to reader Debra H. for discussing this topic and whose questions suggested this clarifying article 11/28/2009
- Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
- A BRIEF GUIDE to MOLD, MOISTURE, and YOUR HOME, [PDF] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
- US EPA - MOLD REMEDIATION in SCHOOLS & COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS - - US EPA
- US EPA - UNA BREVA GUIA a MOHO / HONGO - en Espanol
- A BRIEF GUIDE to MOLD, MOISTURE, and YOUR HOME, [PDF] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
- Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
- Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-
- US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
- Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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