A Look at the Most Common Types of Household Mold
Mold is a fungus that grows when excess moisture is near porous surfaces. It’s often found in bathrooms that lack ventilation, humid basements, and places that have experienced water leaks. Since mold can affect the structure of your home and your health, it’s important to identify it as early as possible.
You can remove small amounts of mold on your own, but large patches should be dealt with by a mold remediation company. Below is a list of the nine most common types of household mold, with physical descriptions to help you identify them.
9 Different Types of House Molds
Here’s a list that provides information about the most prevalent types of molds commonly found in houses.
- Aspergillus
- Cladosporium
- Penicillium
- Stachybotrys Chartarum (Black Mold)
- Chaetomium
- Fusarium
- Mucor
- Rhizopus
- Trichoderma
1. Aspergillus
Aspergillus can be recognized by its yellow-green to blue-green color and cotton or wool texture. It can grow on various surfaces, including walls, insulation, and HVAC systems.
This type of mold typically produces allergic reactions. However, its effects can accelerate to more severe conditions such as Aspergillosis, a lung disease.
2. Cladosporium
Cladosporium is a mold found indoors and outdoors. It is recognized by its black, greenish-black, gray, or brown color. It thrives in areas with high humidity and can grow on various surfaces, including walls, wooden materials, fabrics, and carpets.
It is one of the most prevalent molds detected in indoor environments. Individuals with allergies or compromised immune systems may be more susceptible to Cladosporium-related health problems.
3. Penicillium
Penicillium has a characteristic odor, blue-green, white, yellow, or pink hues, and a powdery texture. It’s often found indoors and can contaminate leather and cloth items.
While certain Penicillium species are used to produce antibiotics, others can cause health issues. Prolonged exposure to its spores can lead to respiratory problems, allergies, and asthma-like symptoms.
4. Stachybotrys Chartarum (Black Mold)
Stachybotrys chartarum is a greenish-black mold that grows on material with a high cellulose content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, and paper. Black mold thrives in areas with excessive moisture, which is why it’s often associated with water damage, such as leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding.
This mold is known for its toxigenic properties. Inhalation or direct contact with its spores can cause respiratory issues, allergic reactions, skin irritation, headaches, and fatigue.
5. Chaetomium
Colonies of Chaetomium usually have a cotton-like texture with colors ranging from white to grayish-brown or black. This mold is commonly found in water-damaged buildings, particularly in areas with high moisture levels. They also grow on materials that have cellulose, such as drywall, wallpaper and wood.
Some species of Chaetomium can produce mycotoxins, which may cause health issues such as allergies, respiratory problems, and skin irritation. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that people avoid prolonged exposure to Chaetomium spores.
6. Fusarium
Fusarium can be found indoors and outdoors in various colors, including pink, white, or reddish. It typically thrives in damp environments and can colonize multiple materials, including carpets, wallpaper, and plant debris.
Curiously, fermented fusarium is edible and used as a meat substitute by vegetarians and vegans. However, the house fungi may lead to health problems when inhaled or ingested. Exposure to Fusarium can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and respiratory issues.
7. Mucor
Homeowners can recognize mucor because of its yellow or white cotton texture. Like fusarium, mucor grows in damp environments, particularly with organic matter such as decaying plants or food. It can be found on ceilings, walls, insulation, and food items.
Mucor is known for posing a risk to food safety and can contribute to the spoilage of stored food items.
8. Rhizopus
Rhizopus is a humid-environment mold recognizable by its fuzzy colonies with a black or grayish color. It’s known for spreading and growing fast on organic materials such as fruits, vegetables, and bread.
While Rhizopus is generally considered non-toxic, it can cause allergies, aggravate existing respiratory conditions, and contribute to food spoilage.
9. Trichoderma
The white and green Trichoderma mold is found in indoor and outdoor environments, usually damp areas with high cellulose content. Its colonies grow on surfaces like wet drywall, wood, or carpeting. You can also find it in the soil of your garden.
Trichoderma is also considered non-toxic to humans. However, it doesn’t excerpt from allergic reactions in some individuals with respiratory problems or skin irritation symptoms. It can also contribute to the deterioration of building materials.
How To Identify Mold
If you’ve just suffered any water damage, people in our house suffer from respiratory issues, or you live in an aged building, identifying mold will be useful. Some tips on identifying fungus include the following:
- Learn how they look. Mold often appears as discolored patches or spots on surfaces. Depending on the species, it can be black, green, yellow, brown, or white.
- Recognize their odor. Mold growth often accompanies a strong, musty odor. If you notice a persistent musty smell in a particular area, it could indicate the presence of hidden mold.
- Beware of allergic reactions. As mentioned earlier, if you or other occupants of the house experience unexplained allergic reactions, such as sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, or respiratory issues when spending time in a specific area, it could be a sign of mold presence.
Tips For Preventing Mold Growth
Sometimes, prevention can take a lot of work. However, it’s the best way solution to future mold problems. Here’s how to prevent mold from growing in the first place:
- Fix water leaks. Fix any possible leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes. You can also ensure proper drainage around your home’s foundation to prevent water accumulation.
- Improve ventilation. Ensure proper ventilation in areas with high moisture (bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms) and install vent fans or range hoods to remove excess moisture and odors.
- Clean and inspect regularly. Disinfect areas susceptible to mold growth, such as bathrooms (showers and tubs), kitchens, basements, air conditioning drip pans, and refrigerator drip trays.
Although there are many DIY ways to get rid of mold, like chlorine bleach and distilled white vinegar, it is generally advisable to contact a professional mold inspector, especially if someone in the house is prone to allergies.
Professional inspectors can thoroughly assess your property, take samples, and provide expert guidance based on the type of mold. If you want to start checking your property, contact a mold inspector near you.
Sources:
cdc.gov – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
niehs – National Institute for public health and the Environment