Mould and mildew are both types of fungi that are commonly found in the home. They thrive in moist environments, spread easily, and live on various surfaces, which makes them very difficult to get rid of. If left unattended, however, the harmful microorganisms can quickly affect large areas of your property and may even result in health problems and structural damage.

 

mildew removal and cleaning

Mildew usually grows in a flat pattern and appears either powdery or fluffy

Common Mildew Types

Primarily, mildew is a plant disease that causes great damage to crops and plants. It is classified as powdery and downy:

  • Powdery mildew mainly affects flowering plants and first appears as white or grey patterned splotches that gradually become yellowish brown or black as the fungus grows;
  • Downy mildew is commonly found in agricultural products, such as grapes and potatoes. Its appearance varies depending on the type of surface it grows on, but usually downy mildew starts as yellow spots that eventually turn brown.

 

Common Mould Types

mould clean ups

Mould is usually fuzzy or slimy in appearance. It appears as irregularly shaped spots that can have different colours

Although the number of mould species that can live indoors exceeds 10,000 most household moulds belong to one of the following five types:

  • Alternaria grows on walls, in showers, around windows, under sinks and in various other damp places. It is often found in buildings that have suffered some kind of water damage. Alternaria mould can appear black, grey, or dark brown and has a wooly or down-like texture.
  • Aspergillus is the most common type of mould found indoors. It can look grey, brown, yellow, green, white, or black. Aspergillus mould usually grows on walls, insulation, paper products, and clothing.
  • Unlike many other moulds, Cladosporium can grow in cool areas. It usually appears on fabrics, such as carpets or curtains, and on wood surfaces, like cabinets and floorboards and is generally a black or olive-green colour
  • Penicillium can be found on various materials that have been in contact with water, including carpeting, wallpaper, insulation, and mattresses. It looks blue or green and produces strong musty odours.
  • Stachybotrys chartarum, often referred to as “black mould” because of its colour, is the most dangerous kind of household mould – it produces toxic compounds called mycotoxins that can cause severe health problems, such as allergic symptoms, breathing problems, asthma attacks, chronic sinus infections, fatigue, and depression.

 

Differences Between Mould and Mildew in Appearance

Typically, mould appears black or green while mildew looks grey or white. Yet, there are some more detailed specifics in the appearance of the fungi:

  • Mildew usually grows in a flat pattern and appears either powdery or fluffy. It can be easily identified as a patch of white, grey, or yellowish fungus that is lying on the surface of a moist area. Mildew usually turns black or brown over time;
  • Mould is usually fuzzy or slimy in appearance. It appears as irregularly shaped spots that can have different colours; blue, green, yellow, brown, grey, black, or white. Generally, surfaces that are covered in mould begin to rot if not treated promptly.

 

Specialised Mould Clean Ups and Mould Remediation

Mould can grow on almost any surface, anywhere in your home or business if conditions permit. Even if there is only a small patch evident on the outside of the walls, homeowners and businesses should be concerned at what you cant see on the other side due to the conditions on the interior section of the walling sometimes creating a mould and mildew environmental haven. Regardless of how big or small you mould problem may seem, it is always recommended you employ an experienced and trained team of specialist mould removal experts. Sewage Cleaning Australia has a tried and proven method of mould removal. By following stringent procedures, our team of mould removal experts can ensure the safety of our non-toxic, non-allergenic products and provide ongoing protection to help prevent re-infection of the affected areas.