Learn How to Identify Mold

What is Black Mold

Prevent Bathroom Mold

Mold Safety Tips & Considerations

Mold Removal Services

Eco-Friendly Mold Products

Prevent a Bathroom Mold Nightmare

How to Identify Mold: What Does Mold Look Like

With more than 1.5 million different kinds of fungi, it would be impossible to identify mold of every single kind, but the most common fungi found in households include:

Learn how to identify mold by these mold classifications:

    • Alternaria: Common allergen in humans, usually black or grey. Can cause hay fever, asthma and opportunistic infections in those with compromised immune systems.
    • Aspergillus: Can be found growing on starchy foods such as potatoes or bread but also damp walls, wet carpet and building materials. Can cause skin infections and lesions in both humans and animals as well as fever, cough and chest pain.
    • Basidiospores: Circular fungal colonies including ringworm

spotting-bathroom-mold

  • Chaetomium: Normally found in plant debris, soil and air can cause brain abscess, infections, peritonitis, and onychomycosis. Good hygiene such as showering with soap after working out with the use of common household cleaning products, Chaetomium infections can be avoided.
  • Cladosporium: Olive green, brown and black colonies. Grow on surfaces when moisture is present and dead or alive plant debris. May lead to infections of the toenails or skin, sinusitis, pulmonary infections or pneumonia if left untreated. The airborne spores are allergens and can be harmful to those with asthma. Prolonged exposure can weaken the immune system. Create VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) associated with odors.
  • Stachybotrys: Toxic spores may produce dangerous trichothecene mycotoxins such as Satratoxin H. that lead to flu symptoms, sore throat, diarrhea, fatigue, hair loss, skin irritation, headaches and weakened immune system. Can be poisonous by inhalation. In a gelatinous mass, dangerous if disturbed, the dead spores can still make you sick. Horses and cattle have died from eating moldy hay with Stachybotrys mold.

Molds are naturally occurring microscopic fungi, which in nature serve a very useful purpose. Clusters of these microscopic filaments interlock forming larger clusters that look like fuzzy growths on organic matter.

In your bathroom mold may take on a different appearance-recognizable by the black, pink, orange, green or even white colors. Sometimes you can identify mold by its dark muddy appearance. If you have orange fuzzy mold in bathroom crevasses try this guide for removing mold with hydrogen peroxide.

In nature, mold helps to break down and decompose leaves and other dead organic matter. In your bathroom mold may feed on dead skin cells, soap scum, calking, walls, tiles, sheet rock, insulation, wood, wet carpet, towels, toys, paint…pretty much anything if conditions are right. Mold thrives in an environment that is warm, dark and humid. The first step in mold removal is to learn how to identify mold.

Identify Mold

How To Remove Mold: Black Mold Removal Safety Tips

Before attempting to remove bathroom mold yourself it is important to learn how to remove mold safely.

The following is a list of the basics which will be necessary for small areas of 10 square feet (3’x3′ roughly) or less.

For larger areas or areas that have flood or sewer damage, professional mold removal services should be utilized.

Tips on How to Remove Mold Safely

  • Wear an N-95 respirator to reduce your contact with airborne mold
  • Wear goggles, a pair that securely fits without any gaps. Remember mold and mold spores are tiny, you don’t want any getting in your eyes.
  • Wear a good pair of waterproof gloves.
  • Minimize contact with skin, wear protective clothing and be sure to wash them soon afterward.
  • Do not make contact with mold sensitive people with your work clothes on.
  • Mold sensitive persons should not be present while undertaking a mold removal project. Mold spores can fill the air, worsening the severity of their symptoms.
  • Use plastic sheeting to prevent air from contaminating other areas of the house during mold removal.
  • Open the bathroom window and have a fan to help blow air outside

mold removal: how to remove mold safely

Remember to keep mold prevention in mind when repairing mold damage and making upgrades.

A one piece shower unit without tile will better resist future mold damage because a smooth surface does not have cracks and tiles to hide behind.

A good bathroom ventilation system is a must.

Carpet in a bathroom will also tend to harbor mold so you’ll probably want to upgrade this to a wash and dry surface when you make your repairs.

And remember, if you start to feel sick or dizzy while renovating you should remove yourself from the exposure and go see your doctor. If you are still unsure how to remove mold safely or your mold damage is extensive professional mold removal services might be necessary.

Now that you have discovered a few tips on how to remove mold safely what products are best to get rid of mold for good? We have written up a pretty comprehensive list of products you can use to get rid of that disgusting mold safely and effectively.