Mold plays an important role in the circle of life, but that doesn’t mean you want it in your home! Check dark, damp places for signs of mold, including the bathrooms, basement, attic, and under-sink cabinets.

You may not see any visible growth, but that doesn’t mean mold isn’t there. Colonies tend to hide out of sight behind the wall and under the floor. In this case, give attention to lingering musty odors, often the first telltale sign of hidden mold.

Once you find it, you may wonder what type of mold it is. With over 100,000 different species, identifying a specific mold can be difficult. Even so, here are seven common types of household mold and how concerned you should be if they’re growing in your home.

Understanding Different Categories of Mold

Mold is a broad term describing a range of fungi that need sufficient moisture and a food source to grow. Most species fall into one of these three categories:

  • Allergenic molds can trigger allergic reactions, but they are not toxic.
  • Pathogenic molds can trigger illnesses or aggravate preexisting conditions in individuals with weakened immune systems.
  • Toxigenic molds are the most dangerous because they produce toxins that can cause serious, sometimes lethal, complications in healthy individuals.

7 Molds Commonly Found in Homes

  1. Alternaria (allergenic): Do you see mold growing along the windowsill where condensation collects? It could be Alternaria, the most common type of allergenic mold.
  2. Ulocladium (allergenic): This common household mold prefers wet showers, bathtubs, washing machines, and dishwashers. Check your plumbing appliances regularly for signs of this black-colored mold.
  3. Cladosporium (allergenic): Generally considered one of the most common molds in the world, Cladosporium is a black or green pepper-like substance that grows on painted surfaces, air ducts, and the back of toilets.
  4. Mucor (allergenic with one toxigenic exception): Of the 40 species of this fast-growing white or gray mold, only one is considered toxigenic. Mucor indicus can cause a rare but serious fungal infection that kills living tissue.
  5. Aspergillus (pathogenic): As one of the most common household molds, aspergillus often grows on food and in HVAC systems. Exposure can be lethal for people with weak immunity.
  6. Trichoderma (toxigenic): This genus of fungi is present in all soils. It can also thrive anywhere with organic matter and sufficient moisture. Some strains produce mycotoxins under certain conditions, so they are considered toxigenic.
  7. Stachybotrys (toxigenic): Stachybotrys, also known as toxic black mold, can cause poor indoor air quality and sick building syndrome. This mold is dangerous enough that you should leave removal to a licensed professional.

Regardless of what type of mold is growing in your home, the mold remediation specialists at DKI can remove it. We use advanced removal methods and can restore or replace building materials damaged by mold growth. By remediating the situation quickly and effectively, we help prevent spores from spreading to other parts of your home. Contact us today at 844.345.2255 to request mold restoration services near you.