7 Types of House Mold That Can Spell Trouble

Mold is a problem that almost every homeowner will face at some point in their life. Since mold grows naturally, it can be difficult to prevent its growth on any porous surface. It’s important to know how to identify the different types of house mold so you can take action when necessary.

There are many different types of molds. Although some people believe that color may be a distinguishing feature, this is not the case. Examining the structure, spore, and growth morphology is the most effective approach to identifying molds without lab access.

Is mold growing in your home right now? Do you know what type it is? In this post, we will discuss different types of mold. After that, you can take proper measurements to remove it or hire professionals.

7 Most Common Types of Household Mold

Here is the list of the most common types of household molds:

1- Acremonium

This type of mold is commonly found in soil, leather products, and damp or decaying leaves. It can also grow indoors, where it thrives on cellulose-containing materials like wood fiberboard wallpaper and paper.

Its common name includes “brown rot”. Although this may not be an aesthetically pleasing mold to see growing around your home, it is not dangerous to humans or animals.

This type of mold stains surfaces brownish-red and has a musty odor. When viewed under the microscope, Acremonium appears with dense branches that form numerous dark reddish spore masses.

To remove this mold, you can use a solution containing one part chlorine bleach to four parts water. Don’t mix it with other cleaning products, as the mixture may produce dangerous fume.

2- Alternaria

Alternaria is a common type of household mold that grows on dust particles, moist surfaces, or food. It also prefers to grow in soil with a high nitrogen content and appears around areas where fertilizers are used frequently.

Alternaria spores are pretty tiny and can be seen with the naked eye, making them easy to transfer from one place to another via wind or interaction with humans and animals.

Under the microscope, Alternaria shows dark blue-green colonies that can change color to olive green on certain media like malt extract agar (MEA). It also produces numerous spores, which appear as minute black dots at maturity. These spores are carried away easily in air currents. Therefore, they easily spread in the environment.

To treat this type of mold, you should use a mixture composed of one part bleach and four parts water for cleaning purposes. Also, try using an all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant on hard surfaces if any are affected by Alternaria spores.

3- Aureobasidium

Aureobasidium is another type of mold found in different environments, including soil, plants, fruits, and vegetables. It also affects indoor surfaces like wood paneling or drywall, which are moist for prolonged periods causes decay.

Aureobasidium appears as dark brown hyphae under a microscope, which is why it is also called black yeast. This type of mold can grow without a host and form colonies with finger-like projections on the surface.

It prefers to live in cooler temperatures (50°F), making it challenging to eliminate indoors. You require a higher temperature to kill this mold. If cleaning surfaces are affected by this type of mold, use bleach mixed with one part water.

Note: The bleach mixture is not suitable for clothing, fabric, or carpeting, so make sure to treat them separately with your preferred cleaning method.

If you are looking for a professional company to help you remove mold in your home, call (561) 886-8241.

4- Chaetomium

Chaetomium is commonly found in soil and on plant debris, where it causes the rotting of woody plants. It can also appear indoors, growing on moist surfaces or carpets. This type of mold has a special cellular structure that allows the fungus to survive extreme conditions such as low water activity, high temperature, acidic pH levels, and high salt concentration.

Chaetomium appears as long chains of pear-shaped conidia which are dark brown to black. Chaetomium can produce mycotoxins, so it should be treated carefully using personal protective equipment (PPE.

The best way to eliminate this mold is by using bleach solutions which can be prepared from water and chlorine. Also, you could use potassium permanganate for removing Chaetomium spores since it has a powerful oxidizing effect on the fungal cell membrane.

5- Cladosporium

Cladosporium is one of the most common types of household mold. It grows on moist surfaces both indoors and outdoors and appears in warm, humid areas like showers or saunas.

Cladosporium has branched aerial mycelia (similar to a mushroom) with dark conidia. The best way to remove it is by using a diluted bleach solution prepared from 1 part water and 2 parts chlorine or hydrogen peroxide mixed in equal proportions.

Note: You should never mix the cleaning solutions since they will produce toxic chlorine gas.

6- Curvularia

Curvularia grows in different locations, such as soil, plants, seeds, and indoor surfaces. Its allergenic spores cause hay fever. It is closely related to Helminthosporium (another type of mold) with dark brown aerial mycelium that looks like cobwebs.

Curvularia has more than one spore type and is frequently classified based on its size and shape under a microscope.

The best way to eliminate this mold is to use a bleach solution. To prepare a mixture, you can use one part water and two parts chlorine. It is also important to note that Curvularia produces mycotoxins. So don’t touch the mold directly with your hands and avoid breathing in its spores by using a face mask or dust/pollen filter for your vacuum cleaner.

7- Stachybotrys

Stachybotrys is a type of mold with deep green to black spores. It grows on wet materials like wood, drywall and fiberboard. It also prefers cooler temperatures, thus making it difficult for the homeowner to treat. Most available cleaning solutions, such as hot water extraction (steam), require higher temperatures.

Stachybotrys appear as chains of oval-shaped spores with dark brown and long appendages. To eliminate this type of mold, you can use a water and hydrogen peroxide mixture.

Conclusion: 

We have discussed the common types of household mold in detail. If you need mold removal or remediation, you should seek professional help, as some types of mold can be dangerous to your health.

If you are looking for a professional company to help get rid of mold in your home, simply contact Mold Testers 561. Our team will carefully analyze and provide a detailed report that includes all the information about mold growth and its removal procedure.

We emphasize doing the job right and as quickly as possible. We know that you want to get back into your home or business, so we work hard to finish every job properly. So what are you waiting for? Give us a call for mold removal today. Also, read the most frequently asked questions about mold.