Toxic Mold vs Mildew: What’s Lurking in YOUR Bathroom?

Mold and mildew are like fungus siblings: they can look a lot alike, and both prefer areas that are warm and moist. Apart from the important differences between the two, variances that both you and your tenants need to know in order to keep your Hyde Park rental properties decontaminated and safe. Because by educating yourself on how to spot the difference between toxic mold and mildew, you can already prevent a little problem from growing into an expensive nightmare.

There are some unusual kinds of mold and mildew, most of which are not considered toxic or poisonous. And expectations are that your tenant doesn’t know much about mold or mildew, what it appears like, or what to do if they discover it. Mildew, for example, is a common surface fungus that usually looks gray or white. It is spontaneously flat and powdery, recurrently collecting in bathrooms or other areas that are frequently damp. It can obtain a bad smell, mainly if permitted to culminate for a long time. Mildew can usually be removed quite easily by the tenant with a bleach solution and a scrub brush.

Mold, however, is commonly more invasive and a lot harder to get rid of. It normally hides in walls and ceilings, notably those with high humidity levels or water damage. This can make mold hard to spot. Primarily, the first clue that you have a mold problem is the smell. Mold smells musty, a foul odor that doesn’t diminish. Another revealing sign of mold is the color. Molds can blossom in the scope of blacks, greens, and even reds, and may look fuzzy or sometimes slimy.

Toxic mold or Stachybotrys chartarum (also called Stachybotrys atra) is a greenish-black mold that often grows on materials like fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, and lint. It requires constant moisture to form. This breed of mold typically arises after excessive water damage, excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, or flooding. While not everyone will get sick from toxic mold, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) notes that certain people may go through physical diagnostics right after exposure to this strain of mold, involving respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness, skin rashes, infections, and even asthma.

The minute that this type of mold has settled in, it can be difficult and expensive to get rid of. Sturdy surfaces can repeatedly be scoured using a bleach solution, but carpets, wallboard, cabinets, and furniture with mold growing on them must be completely replaced.

This makes catching any potential problems early on extremely important. When it comes to mold problems, your first line of defense is your tenant. The best approach to remain in control of mold is to help your tenant understand what they can do to mitigate mildew and mold growth.

Sadly, mold is tricky and you may not notice the early signs of a problem. This is why every rental home’s routine maintenance should include regular checks for evidence of water damage and mold. If any drawbacks with water leaks, condensation, or flooding are spotted, they should be corrected immediately to curtail the growth of mold. If mold is observed in your rental home, the property has a significant problem with water or moisture that needs to be addressed. Just sanitizing the property may not be adequate if the factors that caused the mold to grow in the first place have not been changed.

When you hire Real Property Management Cache Valley, you’ll be taking advantage of our many services, including regular evaluations and comprehensive checks designed to catch and identify problem areas before they become catastrophic. Our team of experts can help you prevent the spread of mold and mildew in your Hyde Park rental homes, as well make sure that you are informed of the risks and remedies involved. Interested in a free assessment? Contact us online or call us directly at 435-753-5200.