People use the words interchangeably, but they are not the same, and the difference tells you how worried to be.
Mildew is a surface mold. It is usually gray, white, or light brown, grows flat on damp surfaces like shower tile, windowsills, and fabric, and wipes off with a cleaner. Mold is the broader, deeper problem. It often looks fuzzy or slimy, comes in green, black, or other colors, and grows into materials like drywall, wood, and insulation rather than just sitting on top.
Mildew is mostly a cosmetic and cleaning issue. You can handle most of it yourself with a household cleaner and better ventilation. Mold that has grown into a material is a structural and health issue, because it is feeding on the material and is tied to a moisture source you have to find and fix. Painting or wiping over that kind of mold does not solve anything.
Handle mildew yourself and improve the airflow that caused it. Call a professional when growth has spread into drywall or wood, keeps returning after cleaning, covers a large area, or comes with a musty smell you cannot trace. Those are signs of a moisture problem that needs to be solved at the source.
Most jobs touch more than one of these. We handle them under one roof.
Tell us what you are seeing or smelling and we will set up a free inspection, then give you a straight answer and a plain quote in writing.
Bruce · the Mold Man · (317) 751-1510