Numerous types of mold can grow and multiply in your home. They can be in different colors, including black, gray, brown, orange, greenish, yellow, white, orange, or even a combination of colors. However, you can not identify the kind by its color but by the spores’ structure and attributes.
What Are White Molds?
White molds are microscopic fungi that frequently appear white, green, or gray at the start of their development. Though other molds change colors with time, some remain white throughout their lifecycle due to the material type they’re feeding on. After colonies form, white molds appear as spots on a surface.
At first glance, they can look flaky, powdery, filmy, or stringy. Sometimes, they also resemble mildew, which is a kind of mold or fungus. But white molds are more hazardous because they grow on surface areas and deep within organic materials.
Where Do White Molds Grow in Your House?
You can practically find white molds anywhere in your house with three requirements: food source, moisture, and temperature between 2 and 40 degrees Celsius. The most usual places in the house that satisfy these conditions include:
- Basement
- Attics
- Carpets
- Crawl spaces
- Wood
- Plants and Plant soil
- Walls/drywalls
- Concrete
- Furniture
- Cabinets
- Bathroom
- Garage
- Metal
- Tiles
- Floorboards
How to Remove White Molds at Home
1. Wear protective gloves, eyewear, and a respirator for protection.
2. Evaluate the area. Test the substance if it’s white mold by spraying water in a spray bottle. If it doesn’t dissolve, it’s most likely white mold. If it dissolves, it’s probably another substance, like efflorescence.
3. Turn off the HVAC system if you suspect signs of contamination. Inspect for white molds near the intake for your ventilation, heating, or air conditioning system. Check if there’s a musty smell or visible white mold growth inside the air ducts.
If you can’t find these signs but some members of your family experience symptoms of unexplained illness or allergies, it’s still best to clean the air ducts. Avoid running your HVAC system until the air ducts are cleaned.
4. Decide what to clean and what to throw away. Some absorbent materials with visible white molds, such as ceiling tiles and carpets, should be discarded. You may want to replace them since they’re almost impossible to clean. If your items are expensive, have sentimental value, or you’re unsure how to clean them, consider consulting property restoration specialists.
On the other hand, the EPA suggests using soapy water to clean hard surfaces. If white mold is in your grill or smoker, follow the cleaning instructions that came with the product. Click here to know more about professional mold removal.
5. Clean white molds with effective solutions. If possible, ventilate the area if you use bleach or other chemical agents by opening the windows. Also, wear safety goggles and gloves if you’re using a stronger disinfectant.
Apply your preferred solution to the moldy area with a sponge and spray bottle. Allow the cleaning agent to sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then scrub the area using a scrub brush or an old toothbrush. Wipe it down with an old cloth or paper towel to remove the residual mold.
Consider using these solutions:
- Mild detergent solution (mixture of detergent and water)
- Borax and water solution
- Baking soda and water solution
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Undiluted, distilled white vinegar
Professional Mold Removal
The appearance of white mold is changing, and they can grow in high moisture areas, like black molds. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to recognize white molds easily, especially if you’re not trained. Besides, identifying it is only a part of the problem.
Other issues include finding the root cause of white molds and effectively cleaning up the contamination. Because of this, it’s always best to leave it to the experts. If they have a website, make sure to check their water page to know more about their services.
