Mildew growth is an extremely common occurence, and yet most people never think of it until it happens to them. And even when many people encounter mildew or mold, they may be fed incorrect information from unprofessional sources about what it is and how to deal with it. On the internet, everyone seems to have an opinion on the question “is mildew dangerous?” Unfortunately, almost none of them are actual mold and mildew experts, and their information is often incorrect. That’s why we’re here to clear up the issue.
We’re Cleaner Guys, a professional mold remediation company in rainy Western Washington State. We have more than 20 years of experience in the field, cleaning up actual mold and mildew! As professionals, we have also gone through extensive training and education on the nature of mold and how to properly treat it. We can give you real professional answers on what mildew is, whether it’s dangerous, and how to treat it. Read on!
Table of Contents
- What Is the Difference Between Mildew and Mold?
- How to Tell Mildew and Mold Apart
- Is Mildew Dangerous?
- How to Clean Mildew
- How to Prevent Mildew from Coming Back
What Is the Difference Between Mildew and Mold?
Essentially, mildew is a subspecies of mold that grows shallowly on the top layer of surfaces, while other types of mold spread their roots deep below the surface. While many people lump mildew and mold together as “basically the same thing”, the difference in how they grow is actually very significant! It directly affects how you clean the mildew or mold — and whether you even can clean it yourself.
Because mildew likes to root shallowly on the top layers of surfaces, it is by far the easiest and safest type of mold to clean yourself! Other species of mold, on the other hand, like to spread their roots deep into whatever material they’re growing on. This means that most mold that is not mildew is very difficult to clean yourself. Almost no cleaning chemicals can penetrate deeply enough into drywall or wood to reach all the roots of a mold infestation! Usually, the only safe and effective way to get rid of mold that’s not mildew is to completely remove and replace the material it’s growing on.
If you’re dealing with mildew instead of mold, congratulations! Cleaning it is going to be a lot easier for you. But how do you know whether you’re dealing with mildew or mold?
How to Tell Mildew and Mold Apart
Mildew and mold look very similar, as they’re from the same species, but there are ways you can tell them apart. Mildew generally looks like tight clusters of very small dots, usually black, brown, or white. The dot clusters can be so tight, they don’t even look like dots. Its texture is usually slightly slimy and/or powdery. Mildew is most commonly found on hard, inorganic, non-porous surfaces, like plastic, tile, ceramic, and the like. Showers and toilets are the most common locations for mildew growth.
Mold, on the other hand, usually looks like looser clusters of large spots of varying sizes. It can be green, yellow, black, brown, grey, and even reddish, and is usually fuzzy, sometimes slimy. Mold that isn’t mildew likes to root deeply into the materials it grows on, so it prefers porous and organic materials, like drywall, wood, and textiles like carpet.
If you’ve found black or brown speckled growth in your shower, your tub, your toilet, or on your kitchen or bathroom tile, it’s almost certainly mildew. On the other hand, if you’ve found green, yellow, black, brown, or grey fuzzy spots in any other area of your home, like on the walls, wood, or carpet of a bedroom or living room, then you’re almost certainly dealing with mold, NOT mildew.
If you’ve determined that you’re dealing with mold, you should switch over now to our full article on dealing with mold! The methods for dealing with mold and mildew are very different — and the degree to which they are dangerous is also very different.
Is Mildew Dangerous?
While mildew is rarely seriously dangerous, it is not good for anyone’s health, because it can potentially cause mold sickness. Because it is not good for your health, it should be removed immediately.
So, why do we say that mildew is “rarely” seriously dangerous? No one likes that lack of a definitive “no”! It is because the spores that mildew and mold release can cause mold sickness in some, and mold sickness can potentially be very dangerous for those with severe health conditions, especially respiratory ones. Mildew and mold spores float around in the air, and while it’s not healthy for anyone to inhale them, most people will not experience anything more serious than mold sickness symptoms. Mold sickness symptoms can include a perpetually runny or irritated nasal passage, a perpetual cough, headaches, poor sleep, and irritation of the eyes or skin.
However, for those who are immunocompromised — such as infants, the elderly, and those with cancer — and for those with severe respiratory illnesses, like asthma, inhaling spores from mildew and mold can cause much stronger reactions, and may even be very dangerous for them!
If you discover mildew or mold in a building frequented by an immunocompromised, asthmatic, or sick person, it’s best to remove them from the premises immediately and get the mildew or mold taken care of immediately.
However, remember, even if you find mildew or mold in a space that is only occupied by normal healthy adults… it should still be removed right away, because it still isn’t good for your health!
How to Clean Mildew
To clean mildew on a hard, non-porous surface, where it is usually found (like a shower), we recommend spraying it with vinegar or a fungicide, letting it soak for about 10 minutes, and then scrubbing it off while wearing gloves, a mask, and eye protection.
While other publications and chat forums on the internet often recommend bleach for cleaning mildew, we highly advise against using bleach on mold. Those suggestions are generally not from mold experts, and we are. In our experience, bleach is an unnecessarily harsh chemical to use on mildew, and often does not even work that well. The fumes it offgases are not healthy at all to inhale, and it tends to cosmetically damage the surface of whatever it touches.
Vinegar is a much safer, healthier, and more natural alternative, and it works well on most mildew. If you find that vinegar does not kill all your mildew, or you really want the strongest option possible, we would recommend hydrogen peroxide or a good fungicide over bleach. Fungicides are formulated specifically for killing mold, and they usually don’t have the same harshness and unhealthy fumes that bleach does. Our preferred antimicrobial/fungicide is Fiberlock Shockwave. (We are not sponsored by or affiliated with Fiberlock in any way — we simply love their product and use it in our work!)
Safety Note:
Be sure to wear cleaning gloves, a respiratory mask (preferably an N95 mask), and eye protection when cleaning mildew, no matter which cleaning solution you choose! Scrubbing the mildew will stir up and agitate mold spores into the air, and the mask will prevent you from inhaling them. The eye protection will help keep any chemical cleaners from flicking into your eyes and causing irritation. The gloves will prevent your skin from irritation from the mildew.
How to Prevent Mildew from Coming Back
Mildew only grows where there is excess moisture, so if you have mildew, it is almost always caused by lack of ventilation and air movement, or high humidity (often both). This is why bathrooms are by far the most common location for mildew, because that space is wet and humid very regularly from hot showers, and often not ventilated well.
Lack of air movement and high humidity both prevent moisture from evaporating well, which means that in spaces that experience regular moisture or high humidity (like bathrooms), the moisture and condensation don’t evaporate very fast. Mold and mildew require moisture to grow. So if the room with mildew is regularly wet or humid, and stays that way for long periods, this can easily cause mildew.
So, if ventilation, air movement, and humidity are the problem, how do you fix it? Here are our top action steps you can take to prevent mold in your home in the future:
- Always turn on a fan or open a window when bathing — both, if possible!
- Regularly run a standing floor fan or box fan in the bathroom if it doesn’t have a window or a ventilating fan.
- To go the extra mile, get a dehumidifier and run it in the bathroom during and after bathing.
- Use dehumidifiers and/or fans anywhere else in your home that is often very humid! This is especially important in homes and apartments without air conditioning.
- Give the walls of your shower a quick squeegee or dry wipe down after showering — it might be inconvenient, but it’s better than breathing in mold spores while showering!
More Resources
Want even more information about mold and mildew? Wondering if anything changes if you’re in an apartment, or if the mildew or mold is in a house you’re considering buying, or any number of other unique circumstances? We have the answer for you! Check out our full blog archive on mold, or jump to one of our other popular articles below!
How do you deal with mold in an apartment? Is it the landlord’s responsibility, or yours? ➜
What happens if you touch mold with bare skin? ➜
How do you clean mold or mildew in a washing machine? ➜
What about mold or mildew on house plants? How do you get that off? ➜
If you need mold removal or want some mold inspected in your home in Mount Vernon, WA (or almost anywhere in Western Washington), Cleaner Guys is one of the best options around! We’re the only mold removal company around that boasts award-winning customer service, and a price-match guarantee! Call or message us today through the menu at the top of your screen.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. No part of this article is medical or legal advice, and may not be used as such. For all serious medical matters, consult your doctor. For all serious legal matters, consult your legal advisor. This article contains Cleaner Guys’ experience and opinions only.
