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Home Crawl Space Mold Mold vs Mildew

Mold vs Mildew

Mold and mildew are necessary parts of the biological environment – their role in the ecosystem is to aid with the breakdown of leaves and other plant material, which helps enrich the soil. Their role is to take organic material and break it down. However, in a home environment, this task can cause major problems.

The first main problem with mold and mildew is to the health of your home. Because they both feed on organic matter, they can destroy the material they grow on, which may include the walls, furniture, or other materials in your home.

The second main problem is to your health. Inhaling mold and mildew spores can cause respiratory problems, especially to those who have pre-existing conditions.

Mold and mildew can also cause issues such as odor and can be extremely unsightly. This guide will walk you through the differences between mildew and mold to demonstrate the different treatments required for each, and the impacts both can have on your home. For more information on mildew and mold, see our guide on what is mildew and what is mold.

WHAT ARE MOLD AND MILDEW?

Both mold and mildew are fungi, meaning they are from their own taxonomic kingdom between animals and plants. Unlike plants, fungi don’t contain chlorophyll, and therefore can’t produce their own food from light. Instead, they need to absorb nutrients from their external environment. Fungi take nutrition from organic substances.

Both mold and mildew reproduce either sexually or asexually by generating spores. The spores are released and, if they find a suitable environment, are able to create a new fungal body elsewhere.

Spores can travel by air or by water. Mold and mildew can start to grow within 24-48 hours, and release spores within 3-12 days.

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