What Exactly is Mold and Where Does It Grow?
Finding traces of mold at your home can be extremely scary, but while most people know that mold can be dangerous if not removed, very few know why that is. Mold can come in many different shapes, sizes, colors, and forms and is often found in dark damp places. If you don’t know much about mold or the most common places it grows in your home and are curious to know more, keep reading below.
Definition of mold
According to the CDC, mold is a fungal growth that forms and spreads on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter. There are many different mold species that come in many different colors. Molds are sometimes referred to as mildew. They are found both indoors and outdoors in all climates, during all seasons of the year. Evidence of indoor mold growth can be dangerous and it’s important that you check your home for evidence of mold growth and treat it right away if you find any.
Where can you find mold?
Mold typically grows and thrives in dark, warm, wet areas which means there are plenty of breeding grounds in every home. Here are some of the most common areas you should check for mold at home:
- Bathroom: long hot showers are great for relaxing after a stressful day at work, but they are also great environments for mold to grow. Since many bathrooms don’t have proper ventilation, it can be quite easy for mold to grow in your shower and bathtub.
- Kitchen: whether you have some older leftovers in the back of your fridge or aging fruit and vegetables on your countertops, the kitchen is one of the top breeding grounds for mold in every home. The added level of humidity in your kitchen due to using running hot water and hot appliances can make the whole room a cozy place for mold to grow and expired food can quickly turn into the ideal place for mold to grow.
- Attics and Basements: these rooms are often the ones that you use the least and are known for having some of the poorest ventilation in your home. Since they often are dark spaces with exposure to moisture, it’s important that you search for and treat any evidence of mold you find in these spaces.
- Laundry Rooms: Appliances that use water or come into contact with it have the potential to harbor mold. Front-loading washers are especially prone to mold growth and keeping wet clothes hanging in the room can make the space a good breeding ground for mold.
How to treat mold
There are a few tips you can follow to try and control mold before it gets out of hand like using dehumidifiers and keeping air conditioning drip pans clean, but sometimes mold growth can get out of hand. Properly cleaning mold can be very difficult to do, especially if the space has been contaminated for a long time or if there is an extreme amount of mold present.
Since mold can be dangerous, it’s important to get professional help from a biohazard cleaning company like Xtreme Cleaners. Their team of experts can help you make your home a comfortable, manageable place to live and one that you feel confident is clean and doesn’t pose any risk. If you or someone you know needs help getting rid of extreme mold or cleaning a contaminated space in Louisiana, give Xtreme Cleaners a call at 800-524-9591.