Signs & Symptoms of Mold in the House

Illness

• Respiratory problems, like asthma and allergies, often flare up if you have mold in the house. Same thing if you have an immunosuppressive illness like cancer, HIV or even if you've received an organ transplant. Even if you're just mildly sensitive to mold you can suffer with a runny nose, itchy eyes, skin irritation or wheezing. Infants and children tend to be highly vulnerable to these problems because their immune systems are still developing.

Visual

• Although black mold---known as Stachybotrys---often receives the bulk of the attention because of its toxicity, mold actually comes in a rainbow of colors including white, pink, orange and green. It may look like small speckles across the surface of the infected item. It might have a furry look, or it could just show up as discoloration on your walls. To determine the difference between dirt and mold, spray bleach directly onto the discoloration. If it's mold, the color will become faint or disappear altogether.

Smell

• A musty or earthy smell usually indicates a mold problem. Basements often hold a lot of moisture, so it's no surprise that many of them also have that musty smell. If you're not sure if your home has a musty smell, turn off the air flow, close all the windows and doors, and leave for a day or two. When you return you'll be able to smell a musty odor if there's an ongoing mold problem.

Prevention

• Molds love moisture. Get rid of the moisture and you'll stop the mold. Fix the leaky pipes. Examine carpets and padding that have been previously wet. Repair that leaky roof. Check for condensation around plumbing and windows. In the winter, maintain a 20 to 40 percent humidity level, and less than 60 percent otherwise.

Cleaning

• Before you begin cleaning mold, be sure you have goggles, rubber gloves, long pants and shirt, and an N95 or N100 respirator. If mold has already begun growing on porous surfaces like paper, carpet, insulation or ceiling tiles, put it in a plastic bag, seal it and throw it away. For nonporous surfaces like glass, metal, plastic and solid wood, you'll want to scrub the surface with hot water and a non-ammonia based soap. Follow up by scrubbing with a half cup of bleach in a gallon of water. Thoroughly air out all surfaces so the mold doesn't come right back.