How Do I Know What Kind of Mold I Have?

Mold is a common issue that can occur in just about any indoor space. However, seeing this substance appear in your home can still be alarming. Mold looks unsightly and also has the potential to make you and your home’s wellbeing. For this reason, you should opt to have any mold you see in your home removed as quickly as possible.

There are many different types of mold out there, and knowing which one is in your home is crucial. In this guide we hope to answer the question, “How do you identify and remove mold?”

How Do You Identify Mold?

There are over 100,000 types of mold out there. Some of these are dangerous while others are not. If you spot mold in your home it is likely one of the following three types:

Aspergillus

This type of mold is usually green and yellow in color. It shows up as circular spots and can be found in carpets, walls, and mattresses that are kept in humid environments. Getting rid of Aspergillus is important because prolonged exposure to this mold can cause coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and fatigue.

Cladosporium

Cladosporium is considered one of the stealthier mold types because it can be difficult to spot. If you happen to stumble onto patches of Cladosporium, you will notice their distinct green, black, and yellow clusters.

Exposure to Cladosporium can cause symptoms such as hives, dry skin, itchy throat, sneezing, and congestion. Such mold spreads quickly during the Summer and Spring, so you should get it removed as you spot it.

Stachybotrys

Stachybotrys or “black mold”, is probably the most famous type of mold out there. However, this mold fungus is actually relatively uncommon compared to the other mold types we have mentioned. 

Black mold typically grows in cracks in wood and sheetrock. This mold type rarely ever becomes airborne. This means it isn’t likely to impact residents if you find it in your home. If you do happen to come into direct contact with black mold, you may experience symptoms such as chronic fatigue, rashes, and headaches.

How Do I Know I Have Mold?

You might be surprised to learn that mold can be present in your home, even if you can’t see it with the naked eye. This is because mold can accumulate in hidden spaces such as behind pipes or even in your walls. 

If you suspect there is mold in your home, you must contact a Mold Assessment company to test the air and surfaces potentially affected by mold. This company will gather samples and determine if laboratory testing and report are needed, or whether the mold can be identified on the spot.

Is it Possible to Completely Remove Mold?

You might be wondering if it is possible to completely remove mold. This may be possible to achieve in a closed laboratory setting. However, you cannot completely remove mold from certain environments due to mold and mold spores naturally occurring in them. This includes your home.

So if you have tried Googling, “What removes mold permanently”, you will be disappointed to learn that mold almost always comes back. For this reason you will need to periodically clean surfaces and avoid creating humid environments in your home to slow down its growth.

How to Get Rid of Mold on Walls? 

While it isn’t possible to get rid of mold permanently, you can certainly remove it temporarily using different methods. You might be wondering how to remove black mold or how to remove mold from walls.

Mold removal is a task that is best left to professionals with access to the right tools and chemical solutions. However, you can try removing small mold outbreaks on walls by first cleaning the surface with water and detergent. You should use a brush or sponge to really scrub the surface and remove the bulk of the mold. Once this is done, you should let the wall dry.

Next, you should apply a mixture of chlorine bleach and water to the wall surface while wearing gloves. This mixture should consist of 1 cup of chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water and should be applied using a brush or a sponge. Allow this mixture to stay on your wall for five minutes before scrubbing and rinsing it off. Finally, you can allow your wall to dry.

How to Get Rid of Mold from Fabric

Some types of mold can get onto fabric such as carpets and grow. If you would like to get rid of this mold, you must first take the item outside and remove the excess mold on the surface using a brush. It is important to do this outside to avoid allowing the mold you brush off from settling in your home.

If the fabric is safe to wash in a washing machine, you should apply some laundry detergent to the affected regions and then run it on the hottest washing cycle setting. If the fabric isn’t safe to wash in a washing machine, you will need to wash it with detergent by hand.

How to Get Rid of Mold from Shower Tiles

Mold frequently occurs on shower tiles because they are exposed to humid bathroom conditions. You can remove such mold by first spraying it with a bleach-water solution and waiting a few minutes. Then you simply need to rinse the surface.

Hire a Professional to Get Rid of Mold

As you can see, there are many different types of mold out there. Some of these can be incredibly difficult to get rid of. If you need assistance with mold removal, please contact AdvantaClean of Fort Lauderdale.

Our staff are trained to deal with many types of mold and can remove them to make your home feel mold-free once again. Contact us today for assistance with your mold problem.