Black mold and mildew can look extremely similar to the untrained eye. A lot of people just assume they’re basically the same thing. Congratulations; you weren’t fooled! The fact that you’ve found this article means you recognize there’s probably a difference. And you’re right.
We’re Cleaner Guys, a professional mold inspection and mold removal company in Washington State with more than 20 years of experience. We’ve written a lot of information on mold, which you can check out here, but in this article, we’re just going to address the specific differences between mildew vs black mold.
Table of Contents
- Is Black Mold Different Than Other Colors of Mold?
- Is Mildew Different Than Mold?
- Mildew vs Black Mold – 3 Key Differences
- Will Mold Go Away
- How to Clean Mildew
- How to Clean Black Mold Off Walls
Is Black Mold Different Than Other Colors of Mold?
Yes, black mold is different than other colors of mold, because one species of black mold is the most highly toxic and dangerous species of mold we know of. Other colors of mold can be allergenic and potentially a health risk, but only the category of black mold contains a life-threateningly dangerous species.
Mold can come in many colors, including green, grey, black, white, yellow, and even red. No mold species is good for you, because most species and colors of mold can cause allergy or cold-like symptoms. But prolonged exposure to Stachybotrys Chartarum — a common species of black mold — can cause nausea, hemorrhaging, bleeding from the lungs and nose, vision impairment, and neurological problems like brain fog and memory loss! [1]
Stachybotrys is such a common form of black mold that it is often made synonymous with black mold, as though all black mold was Stachybotrys. But it’s not true. There are other species of black molds that are not toxic, like Cladosporium and Nigrospora.
However, because Stachybotrys is almost impossible to tell apart from other black molds by sight alone, laypeople should treat all black mold as potentially dangerous.
Is Mildew Different Than Mold?
Mildew is a subspecies of mold, but mold and mildew are not the same thing. Again, we’ve seen some sources on the internet conflate the two as the same thing, but we’re mold professionals, and we can tell you they’re not identical. There are several factors that usually make it fairly easy to tell the difference between mold and mildew at a glance.
- Growth pattern. Mold grows in large spotty patches, while mildew usually grows in small clusters of very tiny dots, sometimes so small or dense they don’t even look like individual dots.
- Texture. Mold is usually fuzzy or grainy to the touch, while mildew is usually more slimy or a bit powdery. Mold can occasionally have a slimy texture too, so don’t rely on this factor alone.
- Color. Mold is usually green, yellow, black, or grey, and is occasionally white or reddish. Mildew, on the other hand, is usually brown, or sometimes grey or white in its early stages.
- Rooting depth. This is the most crucial difference of all. Mold roots deeply, eating its way far into drywall, wood, or whatever organic material it’s feeding on. Whatever mold growth you can see, there’s almost certainly a lot more under the surface that you can’t see. Mildew, on the other hand, is defined by its shallow root growth. It roots so shallowly that it basically grows on the surface, hardly penetrating at all.
This also means that mildew can grow on hard, non-porous surfaces, like tile and plastic, while mold cannot.
All these differences mean that if you find fuzzy, patchy, greenish or black growth on drywall or wood in your home, it’s probably mold.
But if you find dark, brownish, and maybe slimy growth on hard surfaces, like your shower, toilet, or fridge, it’s probably mildew!
Mildew vs Black Mold – 3 Key Differences
While mildew and mold can both look black, you can usually tell which one it is by where it’s growing, how it smells, and how its growth pattern looks.
- Location. Black mold likes to root deeply into organic materials like drywall and wood, while mildew usually grows on top of hard surfaces, like shower tile and plastic. Black mold can occasionally grow on hard surfaces, and mildew can occasionally grow on drywall, but it’s less common. The location of the growth is usually a good indicator of whether it’s more likely black mold or mildew.
- Smell. The odor of toxic black mold (Stachybotrys Chartarum) is very smelly, pungent, and even rotten. Mildew, on the other hand, usually doesn’t have a very strong smell, and is often described as slightly stale or damp. The amount of growth also helps determine the amount of odor. Mildew usually doesn’t get far because people notice it right away in their showers. On the other hand, black mold often spreads far and deep inside walls or cupboards, unseen for weeks or months. It therefore smells much stronger.
- Growth pattern. Black mold usually grows in large patches or spots, sometimes several inches across. Mildew is recognizable by its pattern of clusters of tiny dots.
Will Mold Go Away?
No, mold will not go away on its own; in fact, it will continue to spread until you deal with it. Furthermore, mold only grows where there is excess moisture, so if there is mold on your drywall, it usually means that there is some kind of water damage in the wall or ceiling that’s causing the mold. A pipe leak or water from a previous flood that was never fully dried out is most commonly the cause.
No matter what the cause of the mold is, leaving it and ignoring it will only make it cost more to remove.
How to Clean Mildew
Since mildew grows on the surface and doesn’t root deeply, most average household cleaning chemicals will kill it effectively. We most highly recommend fungicide or vinegar.
Make sure you wear the proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when you clean mildew, including a respiratory mask like an N-95 mask, cleaning gloves, and eye protection.
Put your desired cleaning solution, such as vinegar or fungicide, in a spray bottle, and soak the entire area of mildew growth thoroughly. Let it sit and soak for at least 10 minutes so that the cleaning solution has time to begin breaking down the mildew. Then scrub it off with a cleaning cloth or cleaning brush.
How to Clean Black Mold Off Walls
Cleaning black mold yourself is not advised by professionals, because it usually roots too deeply to wipe off, and it can also be dangerous to try to do it yourself. Mold roots deeply, which makes it very difficult to clean with normal household cleaning methods. In fact, usually, all of the drywall and wood the mold is growing on must be removed and replaced. Only a professional mold removal specialist should attempt this process. Only someone with the proper training can successfully and efficiently remove all moldy materials and make sure that it’s 100% gone.
More importantly, however, one of the common types of black mold is a highly toxic and dangerous species called Stachybotrys Chartarum. It is nearly impossible to tell non-toxic black mold and extremely toxic black mold apart, even for professionals.
We do not recommend that any layperson attempt to remove any amount of black mold by themselves, because they could suffer severe and even life-threatening health effects if it is Stachybotrys Chartarum.
This is why it’s important to determine if you’re dealing with black mold or just mildew; it means the difference between whether you can safely clean it yourself… or not.
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing a mold removal company in Western Washington State, consider Cleaner Guys as a high-quality, well-trusted option. We’re proud to boast award-winning customer service, lower prices than others, and top-notch workmanship! Contact 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.
Source 1: “Mold Prevention: Black Colored Mold vs Toxic Black Mold” – yourmoldsolutions.com
