The main differences between mold and mildew by luke armstrong published 04 12 2016 updated 03 27 2020 mold and mildew are both types of fungi that are commonly found in the home.
Difference between mold and mildew in carpet.
While mildew is a type of mold few inspectors or cleaning professionals place it on the same level as black or toxic mold.
Mildew is a surface fungi that can easily be identified as a patch of gray or even white fungus that is lying on the surface of a moist area.
Mold and mildew are both types of fungi and are similar in many ways.
The chart below shows some of the major differences.
How to distinguish mold from mildew.
This article explains the difference between mildew and mold or other forms of mold.
Molds include all species of microscopic fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae.
Gray or white fungus is usually mildew which can be easily removed with a special cleaner and a scrubbing brush available from any grocery store or online.
We are often asked about the differences between mold vs mildew and about the best method for cleaning mold and mildew.
But mold and mildew also have striking differences when it comes to size color and texture.
The key difference between mold and mildew is that the mold has a fuzzy appearance and often appears as black green red patches that penetrate beneath the surface while the mildew has a powdery appearance and often appears as grey or white patches that grow only on the surface.
Looking at the color of the fungi is the best was to distinguish mold from mildew.
Mold and mildew are types of fungi.
Mold vs mildew differences.
Instead mildew is relatively innocuous if incredibly unsightly around your home.
Mildew tends to be soft and powdery which makes it relatively easy to dust away.
Mildew refers to certain kinds of mold or fungus.
Mold tends to grows on food whereas mildew is an issue on damp surfaces like bathroom walls basement walls or fabrics.
Typically mold is black or green and mildew is gray or white.
On the other hand mold can be yellow green or black.
As we discuss in this article mildew a sub class of molds is an obligate parasite that grows only on living plants and is generally white in appearance.
Mold grows in the form of multicellular filaments or hyphae while mildew has flat growth.
Mold and mildew are two very similar kinds of fungi which prefer growing on moist and warm places.
Mold tends to have a higher profile and can even become fuzzy while mildew is always flat.