We have all heard about the dangerous black mold in homes with high humidity levels or water damage. In this article we will explain how to identify the mold and how to get rid of it.

There are several types of mold found inside homes and buildings.

• Aspergillus - most common and found on damp woods like studs.
• Cladosporium - Found inside air ducts.
• Fusaruim - Found in places with extensive water damage, underneath carpet and insulation.
• Penicillium - Found in insulation and on wallpaper
• Stachybotrys - Found on tiles, wallpaper, insulation and sheet rock.

You can usually tell if mold is present in a room if that room has a strong musty smell, discoloration on walls and peeling paint. Mold colors van vary, they can be anywhere from a brownish yellow, dark green or black in color.

Some common places to look for mold are:

• Kitchens - sinks, cabinets, flooring, walls, and your refrigerator drip pan.
• Bathroom - cabinets, floors and walls
• Laundry Room
• HVAC Duct work
• Window Frames
• Insulated Areas -  Attics, crawlspaces, walls
• Basements

These areas all have a possibility of moisture build up and can be a breeding ground for toxic mold.

Mold should be taken seriously due to health risks assoicated with breathing in the toxic gases mold can give off. Some of the symptons mold gases can cause are

• Severe allergic reaction
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Flu like symptoms
• Hay fever
• Skin irritation
• Lung diseases

There are several mold tests consumers can purchase to detect mold in the home or business, you can also use a humidity tester - any level over 60% could mean an increase likely hood of black mold.

Removing mold is a long process but you can do it yourself if you feel comfortable, otherwise hiring a prefessional could be the way to go.

Let go through the steps in removing mold...

• Identify the source of the moisture
• Seal the contaminated room with heavy duty plastic, be sure to cover doorways, vents and other openings.
• Use heavy duty duct tape to secure the plastic in place
• Use soap and a sponge to clean visible mold
• Clean entire area with disinfectant to kill the remaining mold spores
• Put mold, sponges, rags and anything else that had contact with the mold in heavy duty garbage bags and take outside through the nearest exit.

Mold spores can spread very easily through dust and are stirred when cleaning takes place, use a exhaust fan near the opening to help remover the spores from the home.