Different types of mold can grow and flourish in your home. They can be black, gray, brown, orange, greenish, yellow, white, orange, or even a combination of colors. However, you can not recognize the kind by its color but by the spores’ structure and attributes.
White Molds Vs. Other Types of Molds
White molds are tiny fungi that typically appear white, green, or gray at the start of their development. Though other molds change colors gradually, some remain white throughout their lifecycle because of the material type they’re feeding on. After colonies form, white molds look like spots on a surface.
At first glance, they can look flaky, powdery, filmy, or stringy. Sometimes, they also resemble mildew, which is a kind of mold or fungus. But white molds are more damaging since they don’t only grow on surface areas but also deep within organic materials.
Where Do White Molds Grow at Home?
You can practically find white molds anywhere in your home with three requirements: food source, moisture, and a temperature ranging from 2 to 40 degrees Celsius. The most common places in the house that meet these conditions are:
- Basement
- Attics
- Carpets
- Crawl areas
- Wood
- Plants and Plant soil
- Walls/drywalls
- Concrete
- Furnishings
- Cabinets
- Restroom
- Garage
- Metal
- Tiles
- Floorboards
How to Remove White Molds in your house
1. Use protective gloves, eyewear, and a respirator for protection.
2. Examine the location. Ensure the substance if it’s white mold by spraying water in a spray bottle. If it doesn’t dissolve, it’s most likely white mold. If it dissolves, it’s probably another substance, such as efflorescence.
3. Switch off the HVAC system if you suspect indications of contamination. Inspect for white molds near the intake for your ventilation, heating, or air conditioning system. Check if there’s a musty odor or noticeable white mold growth inside the air ducts.
If you can’t find these signs, but some members of your household complain of unexplained illness or allergic reactions, it’s still best to clean the air ducts. Avoid running your HVAC system until the air ducts are cleaned.
4. Choose what to clean and what to get rid of. Some absorbent materials with visible white molds, like ceiling tiles and carpets, need to be discarded. You might want to replace them since they’re often difficult to clean. If your items are costly, have sentimental value, or you’re uncertain how to clean them, consider consulting professionals.
On the other hand, the EPA confirms that hard surfaces can usually be cleaned up with soapy water. If white mold is in your grill or smoker, follow the cleaning instructions that came with the product.
5. Tidy white molds with effective solutions. If possible, ventilate the area if you utilize bleach or other chemical agents by opening the windows and doors. Also, use safety goggles and gloves if you’re using a more potent disinfectant.
Pour your solution into a spray bottle and apply it to the area with a sponge. Allow the cleaning agent to sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then scrub the surface using a scrub brush or an old toothbrush. Wipe it down with an old cloth or paper towel to remove the residual mold.
The following are effective solutions you can use:
- Mild detergent solution (mixture of detergent and water)
- Borax and water solution
- Baking soda and water solution
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Undiluted, distilled white vinegar
Expert Mold Elimination
White mold’s appearance is changing and can also grow in high moisture areas, like black molds. Unless you are trained and experienced, it can be hard to recognize white molds easily. In fact, identifying it is just a part of the problem. Other issues include finding the root cause of white molds and cleaning up the contamination effectively.
Because of this, it’s always best to leave it to the professionals. Always check if the mold removal company you choose is highly trained, experienced, with the newest technology system, and honest to their customers. You don’t want to deal with contractors with hidden charges.
