Do you know the difference between mold and mildew? Here's what you need to know so that you can keep your home safe.

Right from the start, it’s important to realize that mold and mildew aren’t two different things. Mold and air quality expert Michael Rubino puts this fact in no uncertain terms: “Mildew is just a variety of mold. It’s not a separate entity.”

So why does this group of pathogens that you find growing both inside and outside the house have two separate names? Well, it’s a bit like freshly brewed vs. instant coffee. They’re both types of coffee, but any discerning individual who enjoys a daily cup would never mistake one for the other. I like to think of instant coffee as “coffee lite:” It’s easy to make and tastes like coffee, but it has none of the depth and fragrance of the freshly brewed variety.

In the same vein, mildew is a bit like “mold lite.” It lacks the toxicity of actual mold, it doesn’t have deep roots, and it’s easier to clean up. It’s an irritant, though, and like mold, it isn’t something you want to have around the house. “Both need to be prevented from growing indoors to avoid negatively impacting the indoor air quality and causing unwanted exposure,” warns Rubino.

Here’s how to tell if you have a mold or mildew infestation and what to do about it.

Read More Here: https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/mildew-vs-mold/