What Are the Common Types of Mold Found in Homes?

Military housing with mushrooms growing from the carpets?!

You would think that the brave men and women who were housed by a MacDill Air Force Base, would have reasonable living arrangements. However, military families were forced to vacate their homes, after mushrooms began sprouting from the carpet.

The different types of mold caused a variety of health problems for the families, ranging from memory loss to lupus. Thankfully, the military members were able to sue the housing owners for the unsafe living conditions.

If you suspect there’s mold growing in your home, now’s the time to take action. In this article, we’ll show you 3 different kinds of mold growths, and how to get rid of them once and for all.

Read on to learn how to handle mold the right way.

3 Different Mold Classifications

For starters, you should know that there are 3 main types of mold. The 3 mold classifications are allergenic, pathogenic, and toxigenic.

Allergenic mold causes allergic reactions, like rashes, or asthma, whereas pathogenic mold can cause all sorts of diseases. Lastly, toxigenic mold creates substances that are toxic to your health.

1. Stachybotrys Chartarum or Black Mold

One type of mold you’ve probably heard a lot about is black mold. The scientific name for black mold is Stachybotrys chartarum, and it’s both toxigenic and allergenic.

What are the common signs of black mold? Stachybotrys is typically a dark green or black mold with a slimy texture. We find that white distilled vinegar is particularly helpful at getting removing black mold, while also preventing it from coming back.

2. Acremonium in Damp Locations

Next, acremonium is a slow-growing mold, that’s considered allergenic. However, on top of causing allergic reactions, acremonium can cause severe infections if it penetrates your skin. There are several different species of acremonium, and they’re typically found in damp locations. For instance, if your home experienced any type of water damage, you could wind up with acremonium mold growth.

Thankfully, water and bleach are usually enough to get rid of the allergenic mold, once and for all. However, make sure you turn off the ventilation system while you’re cleaning the mold. The last thing you want is for the spores to spread throughout your entire home.

3. Aureobasidium in Caulking

Aureobasidium is another mold that enjoys growing in damp areas. For instance, tile grout, and bathtub caulking are common places for aureobasidium to pop up. The mold will appear as either pink or black, and it tends to grow quickly.

Similar to the other molds in this article, both white vinegar or bleach, works well for removing the growth. However, if you touch the mold directly, it can cause dermatitis, so make sure you wear gloves.

Getting Rid of the Different Types of Mold

Now you know how to identify and get rid of 3 different types of mold. Whether you’re dealing with a slow-growing mold or a colony that popped up overnight, don’t wait another minute to get rid of it.

Go ahead and gather your cleaning supplies now, attack the mold growth, and be sure to wear gloves! Of course, if you think the mold’s too far grown to handle on your own, it never hurts to call in a professional mold remediation company. For more tips like these, explore the rest of our site.

Related posts