Matt Kelly explains that mold and mildew are both fungi, but only some species produce dangerous mycotoxins. Mildew can still release toxins and should be checked if there's a smell. Untreated moisture in basements can lead to colonization by more toxic molds.
Melinda's asking a great question here, which is, what's the difference between mold and mildew? Is mildew just as bad and does it release mycotoxins? So mold and mildew are both fungus. Now, different species of mold release mycotoxins. Not all molds release mycotoxins. Mildew is a fungus and it can release toxins. But it's not always going to be dumping the scary mycotoxins that we read about from, that we know about from like stacking ketomium and Aspergillus, penicillium, Malemia, trichoderma, and all those ones that we're used to knowing how big and bad they are and dangerous. But if there's a smell, if there's mildew, you have to find out why and find it and deal with it, because it can still release toxins of its own. Is it flooring that's sealing off concrete slab that can't breathe? Like, I found that firsthand when we bought this house and I pulled up the luxury vinyl on the new slab floor in the basement, and there was all mildew smell as I pulled those up and moisture marks. It didn't feel damp, but there's all moisture marks there. Actually, if you go to moldproofyourhome.com that's my masterclass on mold proofing your home. The basement flooring unit is there that you video that you can watch for free. So if you are referring to mildew with in relation to basement flooring, go watch that. I'll show you exactly what I found. But that's something you need to find. And some people will just say, well, you know, all basements have mildew or all basements have this smell. No, no, they don't. Only ones with a fungal problem. So if there's a smell, you need to find out where it's coming from and why it's there. Because these problems, while they're small and not as dangerous as like a stacky colony emitting all kinds of mycotoxins, they will. They can may create problems and it can get bigger and worse. And if there is a moisture problem, then you could get colonization of other molds that release very dangerous mycotoxins. So hope that helps.
Melinda, do you have questions about mold in your home or body? Book a consultation with Matt, AKA the Mold man, to guide your home and body to the next level of healing.
