How to Check for Mold in Your Home

One of the most common problems that households have is mold. It usually appears anywhere that is dark and humid. This can be a potential health risk because it can cause sinus infections, migraines and asthma attacks.

If you see mold in your home, don't automatically assume that it is not a big deal. Although many types of this growth are harmless and are just eyesores, some can actually be toxic and turn to be a major health concern. It is important to know how to look for it and how to properly handle mold removal. Conduct a household inspection for any growth and protect yourself in the process.

Here are some tips on how to check for mold inside your home:

1. Check under your bathroom sinks and pipes for anything black or gray that might be growing. The cupboard under the kitchen sink is also a favorite spot for mold to grow. Also check your shower area. Condensation caused from the heat of the shower might soak into the wall and encourage growth of mold.
2. See if there are any signs of growth under your carpets. Also check the baseboards and padding of the carpet for any signs of mold. Any growth on the underside of the carpet will have a black or gray spotty appearance. Humid air and spilled drinks on carpets cause it to collect moisture, which make it an ideal spot for mold to grow.
3. Conduct a household inspection on all the air conditioning systems in your house. Although you may clean your air conditioners regularly, mold can still grow here because it is dark and humid inside the unit. If you do find any growth here, consider hiring a cleaning professional to handle the mold removal for this particular appliance.
4. If you have a laundry area in your house, check for any growth. Laundry areas are generally humid parts of the house, and mold may grow here. Take a look behind the washing machine. If any of the hoses are leaking, then it's possible that mold might be growing somewhere in the area. Check all baseboards and corners of the walls.
5. Basements and attics are favorite spots for mold to grow. Check items around the area for growth, including cardboard boxes. Since basements and attics are usually dark areas, use a flashlight to properly check all corners and walls of the room.

One popular method for mold removal is using a mold test kit. A household inspection with a test kit will let you know if there is any toxic growth present. You do not need to hire professionals to do it for you since Mold Testing Kits come with instructions and are easy to do yourself.

If you think you might have mold growing on a surface somewhere in your home, then scrape off a small portion of it with a tool such as a paint scraper, then use your test kit. It is always best to wear rubber gloves when handling mold as an extra precaution, since you do not yet know if it is toxic or not. Also wipe surfaces with a solution made of water and bleach in order to prevent any further growth.

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