The Most Common Places You’ll Find Mold Outside of the Bathroom and Kitchen

On bathroom tile and under your kitchen sink are the two most common areas where you’ll find mold and mildew growth, but they’re far from the only places you’ll find this household menace. Mold spores are everywhere in your home, growing on walls, books, toys, clothing, and more. And they can quickly turn your prized belongings into musty relics.

Central Florida Restoration Solutions offers mold damage remediation, restoration, and removal services for every room in your home, including laundry rooms, garages, utility rooms, bedrooms, and closets. Our mold damage restoration professionals deliver superior mold remediation solutions that protect your health and home.

The 12 Most Common Types of Mold in the Home

Because it’s so prevalent in the environment, keeping all mold out of the house is impossible. Mold spores enter your home on shopping bags, clothing, and pets. They also find a way in through leaky windows and roofs.

Once mold spores find a damp surface to settle on, they begin to reproduce and, according to the EPA, can start to cause significant damage within 24 to 48 hours. Though some types of mold are more likely to appear in your home than others, they all need a moist environment in which to grow.

Researchers have identified over 100,000 different strains of mold, but they all fit into one or more of these three categories:

• Allergenics which trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks in people with allergies and cause slight allergy symptoms in those who don’t.
• Pathogenics which cause symptoms in people with immune system disorders or those with or recovering from a serious illness.
• Toxigenics which can cause severe health issues, even in healthy people.

Some types of mold pose more risk to human health than others, and the CDC warns that some people are at greater risk of health effects from exposure to them.

You can find these 12 types of mold in and around your house, whether they’re visible or not.

1. Stachybotrys or black mold – commonly found in wood and drywall, these can cause multiple physical symptoms, including severe headaches, upper-respiratory discomfort, and fatigue. Not all black molds are Stachybotrys, so it’s essential to consult an expert to determine what type you’re dealing with.
2. Mucoromycetes or filamentous molds – these are fuzzy white or light gray puffs with long hairs. They’re abundant in soil and plants and most frequently enter the home during summer and fall. They grow on fruits and vegetables but also in air conditioner condensation lines and drip pans.
3. Alternaria – this is an allergenic mold usually found under sinks where wetness lingers. It has a velvety appearance and brown filaments resembling hair and can spread quickly. It can trigger asthma-type symptoms and upper respiratory disorders in people with allergies.
4. Aspergillus – these are present in over 180 mold strains and grow on just about any damp surface. Most strains are harmless but a few can cause serious illnesses or result in a fungal infection known as aspergillosis in people with weakened immune systems.
5. Aureo basidium pullulans – these are commonly found under wallpaper but can also grow on bare wood and painted surfaces. A sooty-looking mold, it can cause skin irritation when touched.
6. Acremonium – this covers 100 strains of toxigenic mold that can be found in AC and humidifier wet condensation lines and drainage pans. It’s often difficult to diagnose without testing because it appears in multiple colors, including white, gray, or pink. As it develops, the mold looks dry and powdery. Exposure can cause symptoms such as eye irritation, breathing problems, and fungal infections.
7. Chaetomium – this is an allergenic and pathogenic mold that typically develops after water damage or flooding. Its spores often grow in interior wall stud spaces and often aren’t noticeable until the mold spreads to the wall’s exterior. Spore exposure can trigger allergic reactions like sneezing, watery eyes, and an itchy throat.
8. Cladosporium – this is another allergenic mold that thrives on indoor textiles like furniture and carpeting. It varies in color from green to brown and can also appear beneath sinks and inside cabinets. High indoor humidity levels increase the risk of it growing, and inhaling the spores can cause respiratory symptoms like irritated sinuses and a sore throat.
9. Ulocladium – this also tends to appear after flooding or water damage. While some strains of this black mold are pathogenic, others are allergenic. Allergenic strains can cause respiratory symptoms that mimic hay fever. Pathogenic strains can cause serious respiratory symptoms in people with asthma or a weak immune system.
10. Fusarium – this is unlike other molds in that it can grow and spread in cold or freezing temperatures. Strains can appear virtually anywhere in the home and love soft textiles like carpeting, drapery, and upholstery.
11. Penicillium – this mold is both allergenic and pathogenic, producing spores that can trigger allergy-type symptoms like sinusitis, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Once this mold gets an indoor foothold, it can spread rapidly through damp wallboard, wallpaper, and soggy carpeting. Once it has spread throughout the home, professional mold remediation is recommended.
12. Trichoderma – this one appears as small puffy patches of white and olive-green mold. It thrives in damp areas, including around leaky windows and doors. This type of mold releases an enzyme that can also cause wood to rot, so if your home is exposed to it, you’ll likely need professional mold remediation and repair services.

Surprising Places You’ll Find Mold in Your Central Florida Home

Are you worried about the potential for mold around your Central Florida home? Here are just a few of the places you might find it. Fortunately, managing it is as easy as getting in touch with the professionals at CFRS!

Utility Room

Utility rooms tend to be small without a lot of natural light or ventilation. They also house equipment like water heaters, making them one of mold’s favorite places to grow. Utility room mold most often occurs in drip pans or from slow water leaks.

Garage

Like mold in attics and basements, garage mold usually grows due to poor ventilation. Rainwater from vehicles and roof water leaks are two other main ways mold makes its way into your garage. And if you use the space as a storage area for old items or cleaning supplies, you could find mold growing in the most unexpected places. You’ll typically find garage mold growing behind or under storage areas, around doors and windows, and in areas with standing water.

Laundry Room

Many people think the musty smell in their home’s laundry room is due to the wash being done there. But these rooms offer mold the climate it loves for growing and spreading, so don’t be surprised if a quick check behind or under the washing machine reveals you have a laundry room mold problem. Front-loading washers in particular can harbor mold and mildew spores that create odor. The moisture in dryer lint can also contribute to mold and mildew problems.

Bedroom

Most people don’t think of their bedrooms as breeding grounds for mold, but without properly controlled humidity, it’s more common than you think. Bedroom mold can be found in mattresses, on windows and windowsills, and in AC and heating vents.

Closets

Fungus can grow in closets that are dark, moist, and have poor air circulation. Leaks behind adjacent walls sometimes contribute to closet mold, as does attic mold that migrates down through closet ceilings. And if your closets are tightly sealed, they may offer mold the humid climate it needs to grow and spread.

When You Need Mold Damage Services for Your Central Florida Home

Even if you haven’t spotted it yet, mold is most likely in multiple areas of your home right now. If and when you discover a substantial amount of mold damage in any room, it’s time to call in the professionals at CFRS. For over 25 years, our skilled teams have worked with Central Florida homeowners to remediate and restore their property’s mold damage.

Dealing with mold damage can be overwhelming and frustrating, so we work hard to make the process as quick and stress-free as possible. Our friendly technicians have years of experience and the latest tools and techniques to remove mold and mitigate its damage to your home. We also provide water damage, fire damage, and smoke damage solutions you can depend on.

Contact CFRS today for mold damage and any other restoration services you might need to keep your Central Florida home and family healthy and secure!