Mildew Vs. Mold: How To Treat & Prevent Both At Home

Mildew often refers to a type of white or gray mold that is light and color and powdery in texture. Aspergillus is a common type of mildew that can produce toxins called mycotoxins2, which can spur allergy-like symptoms.

Mycotoxins have also been associated with neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms2 including pain syndromes, movement disorders, delirium, and disorders of balance and coordination.

It's a common but potentially harmful mildew that we see often in the remediation industry throughout the home—mostly on windows and surrounding frames and sills; on doors and frames leading outside; under bath mats; on shower curtains, often between the liner and the curtain; and on bathroom grout or caulk.

If you spot a one-off case of mildew on hard, nonporous surfaces like metal or glass, you can simply spray it with a mold remover (I recommend this one) and wipe the area down with a microfiber cloth.

Since these areas are enclosed, the roots (hyphae) of mold will not have a chance to grow into them, so a quick clean should take care of things. Always be sure to discard the microfiber towel when you are done. Yep, do not wash it; discard it!

If you spot mildew on surfaces that are semi-porous such as hardwood, you might need to sand the area down to fully remove the rootlike structures of mold. Otherwise, you run the risk of it easily growing back. (Think of mold as a weed: If you just remove the stem, it will continue to grow back. You have to get rid of the roots, too.)

All molds and mildews produce by means of spores. When those spores find an opportunity to grow where there is water or moisture, they will do so.

So if you have mold perpetually growing in your bathroom, it often means you have mold elsewhere in the home that is getting aerosolized and finding the perfect opportunity to grow in that damp space.