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How to Identify Different Molds

You have probably heard about black mold being dangerous for your health, but what about all the other molds? Are all molds created equal? Should all molds be dealt with by a water damage cleanup crew? Are you breathing in spores as you read this post? Before you panic and run outside for some fresh air, you are most likely okay, but it is good to know what kinds of mold do what and where they are coming from.

 

Pink Mold

The term “pink mold” isn’t the scientific naming of this mold; the technical term for this mold is Serratia Marcescens. This is actually an airborne bacteria that you will usually find in a bathroom around the rim of the toilet, in your sink drains, or on your shower curtains. This will build up over time if you don’t regularly clean the bathroom. It is uncommon that it will make you sick, but they can cause urinary tract infections (UTI). If you see the pink bacteria growing in your bathroom, you don’t need to panic, but you should clean it up immediately. This bacteria feeds on fatty substances including soap scum, so if you don’t want to do a deep clean every week, then you can avoid that by rinsing sinks well and squeegeeing showers. 

 

Food Mold

Not that you would ever want to purposefully eat mold, but what if you accidentally did? Many molds that grow on food are not dangerous, and there are actually a few molds that are used to create certain kinds of cheeses, so you probably do eat mold from time to time. However, there can be bacteria growing along with the mold and mycotoxins that can cause allergy and respiratory problems. How can you tell the difference? You can’t always, so you should probably throw out the moldy food if you find it. Many scientists say that it is okay to cut off mold from cheeses or salami, but if you are unsure, then you should probably just throw it out. Remember that molds have deep roots that penetrate further than what you can see from the surface. If you find mold on food in your refrigerator, you probably don’t need to call your local water damage cleanup professional. 

 

Black Mold

Black mold is the mold that is notorious for being dangerous for your health. You can usually find this mold in bathrooms, damp basements, or within your walls or floors after water damage has occurred. You can usually tell if there is black mold lurking around from the smell; this kind of mold will typically smell musty, earthy, or like rotting leaves. If you have this strong smell in your home and you don’t see any black mold, you may want to have a professional check it out to see if it is lurking in your walls or under the flooring. You may feel symptoms before you see the mold. If you are having bad headaches, respiratory problems, or asthma, then you might want to consider the possibility of mold growing in your home or in your place of work. Breathing these spores in can be very dangerous to your health and can be life-threatening for seniors or infants.