Mold vs Mildew — What's the Difference and Why It Matters

You have seen them at Home Depot. A $30 kit, a petri dish, some instructions, and a promise to tell you whether your home has mold. Compared to a professional mold inspection, the price difference feels enormous. So the question every NYC and NJ homeowner asks is obvious — can a DIY mold test kit do the same job for a fraction of the cost? The honest answer is: sometimes, but rarely when it actually matters. This guide breaks down exactly what DIY mold test kits can and canno

Living in the five boroughs means dealing with a lot — cramped spaces, loud neighbors, and surprisingly brutal summers. But one problem that doesn't get talked about enough is mold. It shows up behind bathroom tiles, under kitchen sinks, and inside walls where you'd never think to look. And once it takes hold, it doesn't leave quietly. There were over 41,000 HPD mold complaints filed in New York City in fiscal year 2024 alone. That number isn't a fluke — it reflects something

Living in New York City or New Jersey means dealing with a variety of weather conditions, from humid summers to heavy coastal storms. These shifting climates create the perfect environment for an unwelcome houseguest: mold. While a small damp patch in the basement might seem harmless, indoor mold can quietly impact your family's health, damage your property, and compromise your indoor air quality in ways that are not always immediately obvious. Many homeowners do not realiz

Justin H. Joe, PhD, CIH, CSP, CPE & Philip Koh, PharmD The COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted almost every aspect of our society. Many of the secondary effects of this virus are still on the verge of being discovered. One identified risk of contracting COVID-19 is the subsequent manifestation of a co-infection. Research is now showing that patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have a greater risk of fungal infections. These fungal infections are caused by various types of mol

By Justin H. Joe, PhD, CIH, CSP, CPE Recently, there has been an increase in evidence showing a correlation between indoor mold and childhood asthma. Over 6 million children in the United States suffer from this respiratory condition, commonly induced by an environmental trigger. As more pediatricians are becoming aware of this issue of mold, home inspections are on the rise. Identifying this factor in the development of childhood asthma could greatly reduce the occurrence an