Basics About White Mold and How you can get rid of it?
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Mold is one of the most common indoor air quality problems in homes. The spores are always present but become problematic when they grow and release allergens. White mold is a type of fungus that can thrive on wet surfaces with access to water or moisture for an extended time.
In this blog post, we will discuss white mold basics. It includes what it looks like, what causes it, and how to prevent white mold growth in your home.
What is White Mold?
Mold will very often have a white appearance when it is in the first developing stage. Later on, it can change colors after generating spores. While some of the molds may remain white completely in their life cycle because of the type of material they live on.
Does not matter what color and type of mold are present in your home; you just have to remove it. Usually, mold has a very negative effect on your home itself, your health, and your possessions. So, when you face such an issue, it is recommended to have a mold remediation company that may take care of this issue and solve it as soon as you see the mold present in your house.
What may white mold look like?
When white molds are at the first developing stage, it is very hard to detect them as their spores are very minute. But as soon as the colonies form, they will appear to you as white spots on the surface.
These white spots may be powdery and filmy. However, it may look similar to mildew at first, but white mold is more harmful and dangerous as it may grow within organic materials along the surface.
What are the causes of white mold?
The cause of white mold is not different from all other types of mold. Generally, mold requires two main things to grow: a moist environment and a food source. Most of the time, moisture is present because of leaks or poorly ventilated areas. However, some common food sources of white mold are drywall, wood, carpeting, and other organic materials. You can also experience mold growth in carpet from water damage.
How dangerous is white mold?
One of the most important things is that white mold health risks may depend on an individual himself. Some people do not have any effects, while some are very allergic to spores.
These allergies may include skin rash, runny nose, and sneezing. If someone has a compromised immune system, these effects might be more serious and dangerous for them. If you notice that you or your family member(s) had long-term exposure to white mold, it is better to consult a physician as soon as possible.
Where in homes is white mold commonly found?
The best conditions for the rapid growth of mold might be darkness and a wet environment with a good food supply.
Attics
Attics can be the best source for white mold as they have a lot of food sources that may include wood and insulation. The moisture required for its growth is provided by different sources such as leaking roofs of houses, different pipe leakages, and poor ventilation.
The removal of mold from attics can be a challenging task for you because of tight spaces. It is recommended to check the attics regularly to know about white mold presence or a musty smell.
Basements
White mold in the basement usually grows on concrete walls, wooden floor joists, and storage of different things such as clothing. Leakage of water through the basement walls generates a moist environment there which highly supports the growth of white mold. Moreover, the combination of outside cold air and hot indoor air of the basement causes condensation. This condensation makes basements the best breeder of white mold.
You may easily get confused between white mold in a basement, and a substance is known as crystalline efflorescence. As both of them usually grow in high humid places. But keep in mind that efflorescence is not a kind of mold.
Efflorescence may be a salt deposit that remains there when moisture makes its way via concrete. The white mold and efflorescence can be identified by washing the affected surface thoroughly with water. If the salt gets dissolved, then it will be efflorescent.
If you are still unsure, you must go for a mold inspection because it can grow inside the walls and floor joists.
Wood and Furniture
You know that white mold can easily penetrate porous surfaces like sheetrock, wood, and furniture. It is commonly found that white mold is growing fastly on woody surfaces such as floor joists in a crawlspace or basement, rafters in an attic, and wooden furniture. All these surfaces are more likely where you may find white mold.
When you find white mold on your wooden furniture several times, you can remove it easily by yourself. But materials that are more porous, like cloth on sofas or chairs, will require a professional cleaner and cleaning. In this regard, check out our guide to remove mold from wood.
Crawlspaces
Crawl Spaces such as basements are the common places where you will find white mold in your home. Poor ventilation, leakage in the pipes, cracks in the foundation, broken gutters, and other sources of moisture may also contribute greatly to growing mold in crawl spaces.
It is better and recommended not to use the crawl space as storage or storeroom as cardboard boxes and other organic materials are a great source for white molds. As mentioned above, the source of moisture should be addressed whenever you remove and remediate the mold.
White Mold on the Clothing
White mold can usually be found on clothing, particularly during the summer season. You have to be sure that your clothing is completely dried before placing it in your cupboard or closet.
Drying clothing in the sun may remove all the moisture as it acts as a natural disinfectant. If your clothing smells musty or may have signs of white mold, you have to apply vinegar and hot water to kill the mold spores.
How can you prevent white mold?
One of the most important factors of keeping the molds away is tom comes down to moisture control. Get them repaired as soon as possible whenever you have a leaky roof, poor ventilation, basement floods, or a malfunctioning appliance.
Along with removing mold, it is also mandatory to tackle the root of a problem. Otherwise, mold will return immediately. It is better to hire a mold professional to do an audit of your house to see where the moisture issue originates.
Aside from keeping your house free of excess humidity, it is also necessary to keep it neat and clean. Because mold requires a food source to grow and flourish. And cardboard, dust, paper, and other organic substances are used as a primary food source for the mold.
How can you get rid of white molds?
The process of removing white molds depends on whether you are allergic to them or not. If you are allergic to them, it is better to hire a professional mold remediation company.
However, if the homeowner is not highly sensitive to them, he can remove the white molds himself, but when their area is less than 10 square feet. For such minor issues, one can use different tools, safety equipment, and cleaners available at different hardware stores.
Whenever the area to be cleaned is larger, or in a hard-to-reach spot such as an attic or basement, it is better to call a mold removal service. By this, you will have the peace of mind that the white mold is thoroughly removed and its cause is also addressed.
Get a Professional Mold Remediation Services
If the mold issue in your house is big enough, hiring a professional mold remediation service is recommended. These professionals may find the molds in the hidden spots to the eye, like in between the walls.
They also have much experience removing the mold from tight spaces such as basements, attic, and crawl spaces. And one of the most amazing things is that your contractor will be able to identify and fix the humidity problem.
So, if you are looking for the best mold remediation services in Boca Raton, Florida, look no further than MoldTesters561. We are one of the best and most professional mold inspection and removal companies in this area. We also offer a free mold inspection and testing service to our clients. Contact us Now!
