Mold smells old and musty. It makes you want to open the windows as soon as you enter your home. For example, say you leave your wet laundry in the washer and forget all about them until you open the lid three or four days later. When you take the clothes out, you'll likely get a 'musty' odor. Imagine this odor day-in and day-out, and it will start smelling 'old'. The same happens with cabinets, carpets, walls, and just about everything else when exposed to moisture and left wet - it begins to smell old and musty and can be an indication that mold is growing. Because a person's sensitivity to odors can differ, mold is not always detected by smell.
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| Household Mold |
Often times you can see mold. Depending on how much moisture is in contact with it, mold will be either powdery or slimy, and have a (visible or not) fuzzy texture. Mold often looks like a lot of spots botched together. It is typically black or gray in color, yet can range in colors including green, yellow, white and brown. Mold usually begins to grow about two days after moisture exposure, especially when there is a large leak. But it is not always visible so early. Other times, mold may be hidden inside the walls or around cabinets and will take long before it becomes visible.
At times, your health can feel mold. The CDC advises there may be health concerns associated with molds. Some people may not have an adverse effect to exposure, while others including those with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses may be sensitive to mold and experience reactions. Indicators includes a sudden onset of allergies, nasal stuffiness, wheezing, skin and eye irritation, fever or shortness of breath. Although there may be other causes, if you experience any of these symptoms you should look further into the potential of mold growth in your home or workplace. If you're concerned that a mold issue is making you sick you should consult with your physician to help find remedial steps.
If you smell, see or feel mold you should consult with a mold remediator to help you determine the severity of the issue and address the problem. While mold exposure is unavoidable, it is manageable. Properly maintaing a home, thoroughly cleaning after leaks or floods, ventilating a home and keeping moisture levels under control can help reduce expansion.
If you want to know more about mold, check out these articles:
EPA Brief Guide to Mold Clean Up
How Do I know when Mold is Bad?
Molds in the Environment
CDC Facts about Molds
