What Is Mold And How To Identify It

By Author: Leo Nov
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In order to better understand the risks and hazards of mold, you must have a better understanding of what exactly is mold and how you can identify it.

So What is Mold?

Mold is a fungus that grows from spores and is essential for the breakdown of dead plant and animal matter. Usually these spores are inactive, but they develop when humidity exceeds 70 percent or when temperature goes above 65 degrees.

Mold is everywhere in our environment, both indoors and outdoors. Indoors you can usually find mold in the bathroom and in damp areas, such as the basement. Outdoors, mold grows in our surrounding environment on grass, leaf piles, hay, and mulch. Mold is met daily and by everyone. It causes food to spoil, wood to rot, paper to smell musty, etc.

That fuzzy black growth on wet window sills is mold. Paper or fabrics stored in a damp place get a musty smell that is due to the action of molds.

Identifying Mold

Active mold growth is slimy and usually green, black, orange or purple. Inactive mold is powdery and is usually white. In early stages, mold may look like a web while in full bloom it looks ...
... bushy.

Another indicator for mold presence is odor. Mold has a musty, earthy smell that can indicate its presence even if hidden

Mold Area

Mold and mildew removal is better done sooner than later when the damage is limited to a small area. Small area is up to 3 patches of mold, smaller than 10 square feet. Moderate area mold is defined if there are more than three patches but each patch is smaller than 10 square feet.
A mold area is considered "extensive" if a single patch of mold is larger than 32 square feet

What to Do?

If you find mold in your home or business, contact a cleanup and restoration contractor and have you home or business inspected and treated properly. Cleaning mold with bleach is a common mistake as mold has to be removed and cleaned properly using certified techniques.

Additionally, before removing mold you must contain the area to avoid spreading mold to other areas as mold can become airborne when dry. You must also find the moisure source that causes mold and eliminate it before removing mold
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for water damage cleanups. To learn more about water damage and mold removal, visit RestorationSOS.com