How To Detect Mold Hidden In Your Home
We all know that familiar musky smell of mold. Maybe you’ve been smelling it around your home or maybe you’ve noticed that you are coughing and sneezing more than usual. In homes, hidden mold is often a concerning prospect. Mold is tiny, microscopic to be exact, and can hide nearly anywhere. It lurks in cracks, crevices, and nooks that we never have a reason to look at. However, tracking down that hidden mold is an important thing to do. Letting it grow and spread can leave you with a costly removal project down the road, not to mention the health risks. Why Can’t I See The Mold In My Home? Well, unless you’re a rat or [...]
How to Detect and Kill Mold on Carpet
Can Mold In Carpets Be Dangerous? Mold may not be easily visible on a carpet’s surface, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. And unfortunately, mold is nearly impossible to exterminate. Even if it appears mold has been removed, it’s most likely still there because carpet is porous, and microscopic mold spores can find their way into the holes of carpeting and grow again. Health problems from mold vary from person to person, but those who are most likely to be affected by exposure to mold are infants, small children, the elderly, people who have asthma, people with disorders affecting the immune system, and individuals who are undergoing medical procedures or who are taking medicines. Healthy [...]
Is Mildew & Mold The Same Thing?
What Is The Difference Between Mold vs Mildew? Many people find it difficult to tell a difference between mold and mildew. They look similar, smell similar, and grow in similar places. Right now you may even me saying, “Wait there’s a difference?”. These two fairly common fungi are found in homes all across America on a daily basis. They thrive in damp environments and can sneak up on a person if left untreated. Being able to determine the difference between mold and mildew is key in being able to remove the fungus from your home. Each one needs to be treated in a different way to effectively remove it. Learning to tell a difference between mold [...]
What Is Efflorescence? It’s White & Chalky On Walls & Floors…But Is It Mold?
What Is Efflorescence And Why Is It Confused With Mold? Efflorescence is a crystalline deposit of salts that are generally white and chalky and can be seen on surfaces such as stone, stucco, brick, and concrete. It’s a pretty common substance that is often confused with mold, but mold is usually green, blue, or black (though it can indeed be white). Efflorescence occurs when salts are deposited on the surface of walls, floors, or ceilings due to water that finds its way through brick and concrete and then evaporates, leaving salt behind. It’s commonly found in newly constructed structures or in buildings with water leaks. Varied surfaces and different areas of the country can produce different [...]
How Do I Get Rid Of Mold In Basement Areas?
It’s important to keep an eye on mold growing in your basement and taking steps to remove it if necessary. Many have heard of the various health issues that can arise from exposure to mold, which ranges from mild respiratory issues and allergic reactions to life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia and bleeding in the lungs. Mold growth in the basement can spread to other areas of the home, which may mean paying for costly mold remediation down the road. So addressing mold issues in an area of the house you may not think about often--your basement--can potentially protect your family’s health and home environment. Below are some measures to take to do that. Why Is Mold [...]
What Is Yellow Mold?
Mold comes in all shapes and sizes and is a common problem for homeowners, especially those in older homes or wet climates. Most people assume that mold is always black, or the blueish-green color, but with over 300 strains of mold discovered it comes in many different colors. Yellow mold may be surprising to find but it, just like any other mold, should be removed promptly from any home. Most people have questions when it comes to yellow mold and want to know more about this oddly colored find. Where is yellow mold found? Yellow mold can be found in a variety of places and it grows on many different surfaces. Unlike some molds that only [...]
What Is Stachybotrys Mold?
What Is Stachybotrys Mold Stachybotrys is a family of mold that is present inside and outside of the home. Stachybotrys decays organic matter like leaves or dead plants. Just one type of Stachybotrys—Stachybotrys atra—grows indoor. What Does Stachybotrys Mold Look Like? Stachybotrys can be dark brown or black and can have a slimy, or sooty consistency. Depending on the level of moisture it grows in, it can have like grayish white strands. It also looks like plenty of other molds, so testing is essential for proper identification. Also, like other molds, Stachybotrys needs the proper conditions to thrive—moisture, nutrients, temperature, and time are all necessary factors in its proliferation. Standing water or humidity of 90% or [...]
What Is Trichoderma Mold?
What Is Trichoderma Mold? Trichoderma is a pervasive form of mold. Like Penicillium, it has some benefits—it is used as a fungicide and plant pathogen in biotechnology and agriculture. However, like all forms of mold, Trichoderma can damage your home and make you sick. Characteristics Of Trichoderma Mold Trichoderma begins its life transparent in color, but becomes white and yellow until it matures and starts to produce spores. At that point, it darkens, becoming green and gray. Some Trichoderma has a sweet scent, like coconut. It's colonies grow fast—they mature within about five days. Trichoderma does best in moderate temperatures, and it does well in all types of climates. It is often found in soil, but [...]
What Is Ulocladium Mold?
Ulocladium is a quick-growing strain of mold that requires more water to proliferate than other strains and usually takes hold when a home has sustained significant water damage. It is usually seen in high moisture areas including bathrooms, basements, and kitchens, and on wallpaper, painted walls, and painted surfaces. Outside, it is found in soil and on decaying plants. What Does Ulocladium Look Like? Ulocladium may vary in color from brown to gray, or greenish-black and it has a texture that feel like suede. It grows with other types of mold including Chaetomium, Fusarium, and Stachybotrys—if you have any of those, you may also want to test for Ulocladium. How Does Ulocladium Damage Your Home? If [...]
What Is Penicillium Mold?
We've all heard of the antibiotic penicillin, but did you know it comes from penicillium mold, which can be found in nearly every home? While penicillin has health benefits, exposure to the mold from which it’s made does not. Like any other mold, it causes damage to your health as well as your home. What Are The Characteristics Of Penicillium Mold? This blue or blue-green colored mold comes in more than 200 known species which multiply and spread quickly from one place to another. It's commonly found growing on fabrics, old mattresses, couch cushions, carpet, plywood and even in the insulation inside walls and proliferates in areas where leaks and improper ventilation occurs. It has long [...]
What is Mucor Mold?
Mucor grows fast which, makes it particularly tough to tackle. Health problems and home damage can spring up quickly— and be irreversible—if Mucor is not dealt with in a timely manner. Characteristics Of Mucor Mold Mucor has a fluffy or cottony texture and is initially white or yellow in color, later becoming gray. It is found everywhere, including in bread and bread products. Although it is typically discovered indoors, it can also grow outdoors as well in hay, soil, stored seeds, and manure. Mucor can develop on plants and rotting fruits and vegetables. An accumulation of house dust in HVAC systems and poorly maintained carpeting can also allow mucor spores to thrive. Health Problems Related To [...]
What Is Fusarium Mold?
Fusarium is a common mold that can be found just about everywhere. It is often found on soil and plants, both indoors and out. It can grow on many types of food, and on many surfaces, particularly those that have suffered water damage. Fusarium can grow and spread at lower temperatures. This type of mold spreads easily to any room. Since it does spread so quickly from place to place, if you discover it in one room, you should scrutinize the rest of the home. Fusarium produces two different kinds of spores. The first can be seen plainly seen on spore traps and tape lifts. They are banana-shaped, and have no distinct color. The second group [...]
What is Cladosporium Mold?
What is Cladosporium Mold? Have you ever noticed specs of what looks like black pepper growing in your toilet tank? It is most likely Cladosporium, one of the most common types of mold. There are over 500 species of the genus, of which the differences can only be detected under a microscope. Characteristics Of Cladosporium Mold Cladosporium Mold spores live indoors and outdoors and are an airborne allergen. It is found in dying and dead plants, in the soil and on food. It thrives—as other molds do—in a damp, dark, nonporous environment such as window frames and the inside of refrigerators and also multiplies quickly in houses with poor ventilation. This type of mold is also [...]
What Is Acremonium Mold
What Are The Characteristics Of Acremonium Mold? Acremonium mold is a toxigenic mold type that evolves in its appearance. It starts out as a small moist mold that turns into a fine powdery substance. Acremonium mold is often pink, grey, orange or white in color. Acremonium grows more slowly than many other kinds of mold, which is great news for homeowners, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be dealt with. However, you are more likely to be able to remove it from an affected area of your home before it spreads throughout the entire house or invades your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system or otherwise develops into a very large and very costly problem. [...]
What Is Alternaria Mold?
Alternaria is one of the most common types of outdoor mold. There are more than 40 known species of it and it is often responsible for leaf spots and degenerative diseases on trees and bushes. A major plant pathogen, it is most commonly found in the environment in spring and summer. The Characteristics Of Alternaria Mold Alternaria mold lingers in the air on dry, windy days. When picked up by a breeze, it can become airborne and enter your home, looking for a warm and humid place to multiply. If it gets in, it can attach to anything, and like other types of mold it can also live and grow in hard to find places, like [...]
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