Have you ever seen white, fluffy, or powder-type spots on your furniture, basement, or walls? That could be white mold at home. We all assume it to be dust or mildew, but it is not. White mold grows silently and can destroy your house as well as your health if you do not take action against it.
In this blog, we will address in simple terms what white mold is, why it happens, and how you can get rid of it step by step. We will also present information about how not to have it happen again.
What Is White Mold?
White mold is a fungus. It is white, fuzzy, and as soft as cotton or flour dust. It is sometimes composed of very thin threads and sometimes white powder. It grows where it finds wet spots to soak in with organic material on which to feed, like wood, paper, or clothes.
If you let white mold grow, it will drop microscopic spores into the air. They travel around the house and settle on wet surfaces. Before you know it, a period of time has passed, and they start to grow once again. That is why the moment you notice white mold growing in your home, you cannot waste any time, time passes, and it won’t go away by itself.
Why White Mold Will Grow in Homes
White mold will always need three things:
- Humidity : Leaks, condensation, or excessive humidity are a mold-perfect environment.
- Stagnant air : When the air becomes stale and stagnant and fails to circulate, white mold is “in its home.”
- Organic matter : Such as wood, drywall, cardboard, and cloth feed the mold.
This is because attics, basements, crawl spaces, and bathrooms are often places where you can detect white mold in the house. They are often wet, dark, and poorly ventilated rooms.
Is White Mold Toxic?
One’s mind tends to ask: “Is white mold toxic?” The response is yes it could be toxic.
- For your health : White mold will cause sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, and skin irritation. White mold worsens asthma or bad lungs.
- For your house : White mold slowly eats wood and drywall. White mold eats away the base of your home over time. White mold will stain carpets, furniture, and clothing as well.
So when you notice white mold in your home, don’t play games. Get serious.
Signs of White Mold in Your Home
White molds are not all equal, but these are signs that will recognize them:
- White, puffy, or powdery spots on walls, floor, or furniture
- Earthy or musty smell in some rooms
- Peeling paint or bubbling finishes on walls
- Wood, carpet, or drywall discoloration
- Wet or sticky rooms
If you observe these symptoms, chances are very high that you have white mold in your house.
Where Does White Mold Grow Most?
White mold will grow almost everywhere, but it prefers:
- Basements : damp and poorly ventilated
- Attics : roof leak or heat and moisture sealed inside
- Bathrooms : shower steam and moisture
- Crawl spaces : dark, damp, and most often neglected
- Kitchens : under sinks or behind broken appliances
- Clothing and furniture : if soaked for a long period of time
Check these areas regularly in hopes of discovering white mold in your home early.
How to Get Rid of White Mold in Your Home
And then, finally, the good stuff—how to eliminate it. Fortunately, if you catch it early enough, you can eliminate it yourself.
Prepare Yourself First
Mold emits spores when touched. Wear gloves, a face mask, and goggles before cleaning.
Eliminate the Moisture Problem
Turn off the source before you clean. If a roof leak, burst pipe, or high humidity, repair that first. Otherwise, mold will come back.
Improve Air Flow
Open windows and doors. Use fans to circulate air. Air flow and fresh air are detestable to mold.
Sterilize the Mold
For small areas, you can utilize household items:
- Vinegar : Spray the vinegar onto the mold. Let it sit for an hour before scrubbing.
- Baking soda : Mix a spoon with water, spray, and wipe lightly.
- Hydrogen peroxide : Spray on surface, let stand for 10 minutes, then wipe.
They function well on tile and other non-porous materials. But if the mold has infested wood or drywall, there are times when you will need to replace those surfaces.
Dry the Area Correctly
Clean the area and then dry it using a dehumidifier or fan. Mold will return very rapidly if the area is not dried out correctly.
Dispose of Severely Damaged Items
Worse yet, moldy clothing, furniture, and carpets are better destroyed than to chance getting moldy again.
Call a Professional if Necessary
If it’s a large area (over 10 square feet) or just keeps recurring, have a mold remediation professional come and take it off. They have the gear and supplies to handle it.
Stopping White Mold from Recurring
Cleanliness is half the fight. The key is not getting mold to reoccur. Here’s how:
- Dry the air using a dehumidifier to keep humidity at or below 50%.
- Add bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans.
- Seal leaks right away, water never needs to linger.
- Insulate walls and pipes to keep condensation from forming.
- Ventilate the rooms and clean them from time to time.
- Keep cardboard, clothes, and books in dry places.
If you do all that, you can keep white mold in your home from coming back.
Natural Remedies vs. Chemical Cleaners
Nature-friendly remedies like vinegar and baking soda are what individuals use the most because they are nature-friendly and harmless. Bleach chemicals are more effective in cleaning but with careful use. Bleach is effective against mold on tile but not wood, which is porous.
Thus, when dealing with small spaces, homemade remedies will work most of the time. Extensive white mold infestations inside your home may need chemicals or professionals.
When Do You Hire a Professional?
Not every mold problem can be addressed with home remedies. Hire a professional if:
- Mold is spreading to a large area
- You can smell mold but cannot find the mold
- Mold continues to grow back after you clean it
- Your house has health problems because of mold
- You have mold in your air conditioning or heating system
- Professionals can check, clean, and stop mold better.
Final Thoughts
Finding white mold in your house is terrifying, but you can overcome it. Knowing a little about what it is, why it is there, and how to remove it will allow you to reclaim your house as a sanctuary.
Following is a quick summary of the steps:
- Shield with equipment
- Fix the wetness problem first
- Clean with vinegar, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide
- Dry out everything thoroughly
- Do stuff to prevent it from returning
By doing these simple things, you will be able to eliminate white mold and have a clean, healthy, dry house.