It’s something everyone dreads spotting in their home: mold. The microscopic organism can invade any surface that’s damp or moist, from shower curtains to sinks and refrigerators. Experts say you shouldn’t beat yourself up if there are only little bits of mold. Just clean the surfaces and you’ll be fine, there’s no danger of a health impact. However, you should be alarmed if the moldy area is larger than a pizza box — about one square foot. Mold covering an area that large typically releases a high amount of spores into the air, which could be breathed into the lungs and lead to symptoms like coughing and trouble breathing. Some experts have even suggested that mold in homes may be linked to cognitive issues and depression. The following graphic shows the 6 types of mold you’re most likely find in your home.
The following lists what each color mold means:
- • Black mold colonizes multiple surfaces that have been wet for an extended period of time and is considered one of the riskier types. This yeast-like fungus can also cause respiratory allergies, but is very unlikely to threaten human life. Bleach or dish detergent can kill off both types of black mold, although in some cases the dark pigmentation may remain on the wall for some time. It’s also important to wear a face mask during the process to avoid breathing in spores.
- • Blue and green mold are among the most common to infest homes and are typically found on food. If you happen to find it on cheese, just cut it off and the rest of the cheese will be fine to eat. If you find it on other foods, discard them immediately.
- • Pink mold is most often found in bathrooms, collecting around faucets, drains or on shower curtains. It’s actually just bacteria that grows in damp areas and feeds off residue from soaps and shampoos. Pink mold is basically harmless and can be easily wiped away using a sponge and some dish detergent.
- • Yellow or orange mold found in the home normally colonize around damp paper like cardboard and flooring, as well as houseplants and carpets. Unlike most mold, these need sunlight to complete their life cycle, so they’re unlikely to be found in dark places. Using soap and warm water or bleach will likely rid any infested areas from the growths.
- • White mold is airborne and typically found in moist and dark areas such as basements and attics. It can also grow on carpets, vents and even paper, provided the conditions are right. White mold is dangerous to humans as it can worsen asthma and allergies. Just use bleach and household cleaner to get rid of it.
