10 Facts About Indoor Mold

Have you ever pulled some moldy fruit out of the fridge and wondered, how did this happen? Well, mold is quite literally everywhere, and it loves to live alongside humans. But unfortunately for us, mold isn’t exactly harmless. It can spread quickly, be hard to get rid of, and cause all sorts of problems. These ten facts about indoor mold might surprise you.

TEN FACTS ABOUT INDOOR MOLD

1: Mold grows best at temperatures between 60º F and 80º F. 

Because the temperature range that mold likes is the same as most indoor environments, it’s easy for mold to grow inside houses and apartments. In fact, mold can grow at almost any temperature—it can even survive in the freezer. 

2: Mold grows fastest when the relative humidity is above 55%. 

Mold needs moisture, so if you can keep the air humidity in your home at 50% or lower, you can stunt mold growth. Try using a dehumidifier or smart home controls to keep humidity levels low, and make sure that typically humid rooms like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms have good ventilation.

3: Mold can start to grow in as little as 24 hours. 

When mold spores land in a place with enough moisture, warmth, and organic matter for them to feed on, they will quickly start to form a colony. Unfortunately, they often start to grow in places you can’t see, like the paper backing on drywall. By the time you’re able to see visible mold, it’s usually the sign of a much bigger problem.

4: The most common cause of indoor mold is water damage. 

Whether it’s from a burst pipe, a leaky roof, or a basement flood, water damage is almost always followed by mold growth. If your home or apartment is ever damaged from a flood or a leak, it’s crucial to get it repaired quickly, clean the affected area, and make sure it dries thoroughly. 

5: At least one out of every four people is allergic to mold. 

Many people are sensitive or allergic to mold and will experience allergy symptoms like itchy eyes, shortness of breath, congestion, and coughing. Besides allergic responses, mold can also cause symptoms like dizziness, depression, headaches, mood swings, and chronic fatigue.

6: Black mold isn’t always black.

You can’t tell whether or not mold is dangerous based on its color alone. Stachybotrys chartarum (aka black mold) isn’t always black. It can appear as dark green, gray, brown, or even orange, and have a slimy texture when wet or a fuzzy texture when dry. 

7: Vinegar works better than bleach for killing household mold.

If you find a little bit of mold around the house—in the seal of the refrigerator door, for example—don’t reach for the bleach. Try some distilled white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide instead. 

8: Mold spores travel quickly. 

Mold reproduces by releasing spores into the air, and those spores can travel fast and far, even without strong air currents. In fact, mold spores can travel as far as 8 feet at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour with no air currents at all. If one part of your home has mold, there’s probably mold in other places, too.

9: Mold can bring your property value down.

If you’re getting ready to sell your home, get a mold inspection before you get an appraisal. Dealing with any existing mold and providing your appraiser with that documentation will ensure that your home is valued at its full worth.

10: Demolition is not always necessary to remove mold in drywall.

If you have moldy drywall, you don’t necessarily have to take a sledgehammer to your walls. Dry fog mold removal is demolition-free because it fights mold on the molecular level. Its microscopic particles can penetrate any porous surface to kill mold spores on contact.

Guaranteed Indoor Mold Removal Services

When you go with My Pure Environment, you get our 1-year mold-free guarantee. Because our dry fog method is so effective, we can promise with confidence that you won’t see any visible signs of mold for at least 12 months. And if the mold does come back, we’ll make things right, no questions asked.

If you live near one of our locations in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, or San Francisco, we’ll come out for a free onsite inspection. For indoor mold removal services you can count on, give us a call today.

Photo by Walls.io on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 6/19/2023.