If you’ve found signs of mold or mildew in your home, there’s no need to panic; call the Disaster Kleenup Specialists in Monterey, CA, for mold cleanup services. We can inspect and identify the damage, whether you have a small, easily removed patches of white mildew, or need our help in removing more extensive areas of toxic Stachybotrys chartarum, more commonly known as black mold.
Can You Tell Them Apart?
Mildew and mold are both fungi that thrive in dark and damp places, but the former is generally less hazardous to your health and can be easier to eliminate than the latter. From a visual perspective, mildew is usually white, gray, or yellow. It is fluffy or powdery in texture. Mold, on the other hand, is often green or black and may feel slimy or fuzzy to the touch.
Mildew – A Surface Problem
Mildew can grow very quickly – such as when you leave a load of laundry in your washing machine and forget to put it in the dryer. Within a day, you can probably identify the tell-tale smell of mildew as it begins to grow on your wet clothing. Mildew also grows quickly on paper, such as a box of books that got wet in a basement flood after a pipe burst. Bathroom tile is another area where mildew tends to appear.
Mold – A Deeper Issue
Unlike mildew, mold is ordinarily green or black and may feel slimy or fuzzy to the touch. It tends to grow underneath wet surfaces, or on top of food – think cheese or grapes. Black mold can also take root on or under your carpeting and wood floors, inside your walls, and on other areas of your home, turning your haven into a danger zone.
Masking Hidden Problems
You can clean up small areas of mildew with bleach or mildew remover and a scrub brush, but in some cases, surface mildew can mask a deeper mold problem. When in doubt, the experts at Disaster Kleenup Specialists can help identify and get rid of mold, including dangerous black mold throughout your home, so don’t hesitate to call and arrange for your mold inspection.
Exposure Can Make You Sick
Both types of fungi can cause health problems in sensitive individuals, although mildew is generally less harmful than mold. Some of the milder reactions to mildew and mold exposure include allergic symptoms such as
- Sore Throat
- Runny Nose
- Fatigue
- Coughing & Sneezing
- Watery Eyes
- Headache
Symptoms Of Mold Poisoning
Mycotoxicosis is another word for mold poisoning, which can result from long-term exposure to black mold spores. Some of the more insidious symptoms of toxic mold exposure include:
- Mood Changes
- Aches & Pains
- Headaches
- Memory Loss
- Nosebleeds
- Asthma Attacks
- Severe Infection (especially in people with impaired immune symptoms)
As you can see, mold exposure can be hazardous to your health, so it is crucial to deal with it as soon as you suspect a problem.
Mold & Mildew Removal In Monterey
Don’t allow mold and mildew growth to ruin your family’s property or health. Protect yourself from unnecessary and possibly dangerous exposure. If you keep finding mildew or you have damp areas of your house due to floods or leaks, call us at Disaster Kleenup Specialists for mold removal and remediation.