4 Different Types of Mold in Homes and How to Remove Them

Mold is a fungal growth that grows in damp areas with high temperatures. It’s one of the most common causes of damage in American homes.

Some strains of mold are easy to remove. But other strains grow deep within the structures of your house, which can cause thousands of dollars in damage.

It’s important to know the different types of mold and how you can rid your home of these pesky fungal growths. Here are four common mold strains found in the home and how you can remove them.

4 Different Types of Mold in Homes

1. Alternaria Mold

Alternaria mold is dark green in color with a soft texture and it can be found in damp areas such as shower curtains, underneath kitchen sinks and around faucets.

Alternaria mold also occurs after water damage and can grow deep within walls and floorboards. This eats away at the foundation of your home and can cause structures to collapse.

If you find Alternaria mold growing on your walls, contacting experts such as asaprestoration.net is a good idea. It’s not always a situation you can solve on your own. Bring in the experts.

2. Aspergillus

Aspergillus is one of the common types of mold found inside the home. This mold has long spores that form thick layers in various colors. This type of mold grows exceptionally fast on surfaces.

Aspergillus mold can be toxic so it’s important to remove any signs of the fungal growth as soon as you find it. To remove the mold, mix warm water with strong bleach and place it in a spray bottle. The spray bottle will allow you to cover the mold with the solution without touching it.

Leave the bleached solution to soak into the mold for 30 minutes and then wipe it away with a clean cloth.

3. Chaetomium

Chaetomium forms on walls, carpets and floorboards that have been exposed to water. The mold is soft and white in the beginning stages and then turns black over a long period of time.

It’s difficult to locate the mold as it commonly forms inside walls and under carpets. The best way to remove the mold is to hire a deep clean and restoration company.

4. Mucor

You can find Mucor inside damp carpets or around your air conditioning system. It’s grey in color and grows fast. If it’s around your HV/AC system it can disperse the spores into the air and cause health problems.

Simply remove Mucor mold by spraying warm water and bleach onto the problem area and wiping it away with a cloth.

Of course, prevention is an even better cure. Use these helpful mold prevention tips.

A Guide on How to Prevent Mold Growth

There are ways you can prevent mold from growing in areas of your house that have the most moisture. Sometimes, opting for natural building materials and keeping the area dry is the best prevention for mold growth. Take a look at how you can prevent mold growth in various parts of the house.

Mold Prevention in the House

Where there’s moisture there will be mold. So you’ll need to control the moisture in your home by keeping the humidity levels below 55%. To do this, keep your environment dry by installing ceiling fans. A natural way to control humidity is by placing potted plants in your home that absorb moisture such as the Boston fern.

Areas that are prone to getting wet regularly such as pool decks, kitchen floors and showers should be dried & cleaned after use. Alternatively, you can opt for natural stone tiles such as slate or marble in these areas, because they repel mold.

You should encourage optimal airflow through your home and open dusty areas such as closets more frequently to prevent dirt mixing with moisture. Dust and moisture mixed together can lead to mold growth. So open all the windows in your house on sunny days to rid your house of dust and to keep rooms well ventilated.

Prevent Mold Growth on Walls

Walls in dark spaces are prone to mold growth because the lack of sunlight makes it harder for condensation to dry.

Most American homes are built with drywall, which can be difficult to protect from mold in humid environments. A brick wall can make a statement and it’s harder for mold to grow on it. You can use various types of thick enamel paint on brick walls to fill holes and small crevices susceptible to holding dirt and water.

Painted brick walls are easier to maintain and to keep dry. Don’t opt for wallpapers as mold can grow behind the sheets, making mold harder to detect and eradicate before it spreads.

An easier way to keep walls dry is by installing a dehumidifier to control the moisture in the room.

Repelling Mold in Bathrooms

After showering or bathing, open your bathroom windows so the steam can drift out and the air can dry the area. Clean your bathroom regularly with bleach, because the high acidity levels in peroxide detergents kill germs and fungus and prevents them from coming back.

Stop Mold from Growing in your Closet

Closets are confined spaces that don’t get a lot of ventilation. So, to prevent mold from growing in them, lay a sheet of canvas on the closet floor to absorb moisture. Paint your closet walls with a thin coat of paint to close up pores and open the doors regularly for ventilation.

Final Thoughts

Now you know four common types of mold in homes. A room that has a mold problem typically smells musty and damp. You may experience health issues such as sneezing, watery eyes, respiratory infections and chest pain.

If you suspect that you may have mold growing in a room, get professionals to do the job for you because exposure to mold could make you sick. Also, remember that prevention is better than the cure. To prevent mold from growing in your home keep it dry and clean regularly. Know that bleach and disinfectants will help keep fungal growth at bay.

See, you’re not out of options. Stay in control of what goes on in your home!