7 Areas to Check for Mold in the Home
Areas to Check for Mold in the Home – Mold grows on plants, food, clothing, paper and inside your home.
As part of our ecosystem, we can find mold practically everywhere even we can find Mold in the Home. While this is beneficial in breaking down organic matter, mold is a significant concern in homes.
They can damage household materials, cause bad odors and respiratory problems and trigger allergies. Stachybotrys chartarum or black molds are more dangerous for serious diseases such as acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage than are common to infants.
How can they cause problems?
Mold is not welcome in any home. Externally, they reproduce by releasing floating spores that can land in a favorable environment.
This method allows them to enter through windows, clothing items, shoes, doors, pets, and HVAC units.
Once they find the right moist areas, they grow molds. Molds breed quickly when leaks in your roof, backup sewers, flooding, damp areas, overflow bathtubs and toilets, plumbing problems and high humidity.
Mold spreading throughout your home is bad news because it causes two major problems:
Household Materials
It eats away at drywall, wallpaper, carpet, ceilings and floorboards. While it doesn’t happen overnight, untreated mold over a long period sometimes leads to unrecoverable repairs.
Health
Difficulty breathing, nasal congestion, frequent sneezing, cough, rashes, itchy throat, skin and eye irritation and asthma attacks may occur.
It also increases the risk of infection for people with a compromised immune system and those with cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Where to Check for Mold in the House
Where does mildew or black mold grow in the house? The simple answer is you can find it in any damp area in your home.
If you’ve experienced flooding, noticed peeling wallpaper, a sudden feeling of flu-like symptoms or smelled something bad, it’s time to check out these seven common areas conducive to mold growth. Huh.
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Bathroom
The warm and wet environment of the bathroom invites mold to grow, especially if you don’t have proper ventilation, such as windows and fans.
- In the Shower: Shampoo Bottles, Shower Curtain, Shower Head, Faucet, Tile Grout
- In the sink: toothpaste, toothbrush holder, soap container, under the sink
- In the toilet: behind the toilet, toilet tank, pipe, cleaning supplies
- In the walls and floors: Bathroom rugs, peel-off wallpaper
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Kitchen
Stacked dishes, leftover food, running hot water, and moisture from the stove contribute to mold growth.
- In the kitchen sink: wet sponge, garbage disposal, faucet, leaky pipe down
- In the refrigerator: Finished food, Drip tray, Water dispenser
- In the microwave: spilled food, greasy splatters of cutting boards, behind the stove, trash cans
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Bedroom
Regardless of the controlled humidity inside the bedroom, checking all indoor spaces should also be part of your cleaning protocol.
- in the mattress
- window and window sill
- in heating and air conditioning units
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Living Room
While snacking in front of the TV is fun and houseplants are relaxing, it also paves the way for molds to grow.
- on the couch and curtains
- in plant pots
- in the fireplace
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Walls and Roofs
Mold hides easily beneath the surface of your walls and ceilings. When you see it peeling, don’t try to peel it yourself. Untrained hands could only release more spores.
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Household Appliances and Items
Carpet and upholstery: By trapping dirt and dust, carpet pudding can be a breeding ground for mildew in the home.
Filing Cabinets: If you’ve experienced water damage or high humidity, your papers may be prone to mildew.
Washing Machine: Since it uses water, it is a potential place for mildew to grow, especially if you keep wet clothes inside.
HVAC units: HVAC units require regular maintenance because they control the air inside the home. Fix any leaks found in AC units immediately.
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Garages and Basements
Storage areas in your garage and basement are usually dark. If there is a leak in the roof, mildew can easily enter inside. Cleaning materials, checking places where things don’t often move, around pipes and ducts, and at the sump pump.
How to Check for Mold in the Home
Most of the mold is visible. You can see their velvety and fuzzy appearance with white, yellow, black or green colors. They sometimes look like stains and discoloration.
If you suspect a spot yet aren’t sure whether it’s mildew or dirt, and you experience symptoms associated with mildew, you can test with the following:
Bleach and water: Dilute bleach and water in a ratio of 1:16 and dab it on the wall. If the spot fades and keeps coming back, it’s a fungus.
Screwdriver: Check if the wood is soft or if it is crumbling. If it does, mildew has infected it.
Test Kit: Follow the instructions when collecting the samples in the Petri dish. If no growth is seen after 48 hours, wait 24-48 hours. However, testing for black molds needs to be sent to a lab and verified.
How to prevent mildew
Here are some tips to help keep mold out of your home and get rid of Mold in the Home.
- Use an exhaust fan while taking a bath. After bathing, keep it on for at least 30 more minutes.
- Use a dehumidifier to keep the levels down; Ventilate while cooking.
- Keep all surfaces dry and clean, including gutters.
- Always check for and repair any leaks.
- Change the sponge regularly.
- Remove long-standing food and clean the drip tray.
- Invest in a mold-resistant mattress.
- Clean up large spills on the carpet immediately and allow it to dry thoroughly.
- Do not put wet clothes in the washing machine, and keep the washer door open when not in use.
- Regular maintenance of HVAC units to prevent spores from spreading throughout the home.
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