Unfortunately, mold is very common in homes, and there are many varieties of household mold. Mold growth is possible if you have standing water or sewage, excess moisture, or high humidity levels. From cardboard boxes to cabinets, mold can live on almost any surface in your home. It only takes a small amount of water for mold to thrive. We look at the most common types of mold in homes as well as the causes and how to get rid of household mold.
What Are the Most Common Types of Mold in Homes?
Although there are more than 100,000 species of mold, these are some of the most common types of household mold. For each species of mold, we look at where they grow and the health risks they pose.
- Absidia – Absidia commonly grows on carpeting, mattresses, and potted plant soil, and it can pose the risk of infection, especially to those with weak immune systems or intravenous drug users.
- Acremonium – A household mold variety that likes damp conditions and grows on fiberglass insulation, windowsills, carpeting, mattresses, drywall, and wallpaper. The health risks are usually low, but pulmonary infections and fungal infections of the nails or cornea in rare cases.
- Alternaria – Known for its large spores, it grows on carpeting, fabric, window frames, and in showers. It produces mild to severe allergic reactions depending on the individual.
- Aspergillus – A common component of dust, it is common in warmer climates with wetter conditions with high levels of humidity. It can produce severe allergy symptoms or even disease in both humans and animals.
- Aureobasidium – This is a type of household mold common to wet walls, wallpaper, window frames, and in carpet and mattress dust. Due to its ability to cause infections of the nails, skin, and eyes, it should never be touched with bare skin.
- Chaetomium – Very common after water damage, it has a cotton-like texture and a musty odor. This home mold may cause nail and skin infections and is more dangerous to individuals with compromised immune systems.
- Chrysonilia – Often called red bread mold, it is often found in carpet and mattress dust. It causes infections after major surgery, as well as to intravenous drug users.
- Cladosporium – Usually found in HVAC systems, airways, carpeting, fabrics, wood, and walls, it can also grow in cold temperatures. It may cause nail fungus, asthma aggravation, as well as pulmonary issues and skin rashes or other irritations.
- Curvularia – One of the more common types of house mold found in subtropical and tropical regions, it grows in floor and mattress dust, wallpaper, and painted wood. It can cause infections in humans, especially a fungal infection of the eye.
- Emericella – This kind of mold grows on wooden surfaces, carpet, and mattress dust. Like many types of household mold, it can cause respiratory infections in individuals with weakened immune systems.
- Epicoccum – A type of household mold that grows on canvas, wood, carpet, and mattresses. It can cause respiratory issues for those with allergies, asthma, other respiratory illnesses, or a weakened immune system.
- Eurotium – Another type of house mold that lives in carpet and mattress dust, it is common on wet walls and cabinets. It may pose a risk of respiratory infections in individuals with weakened immune systems if inhaled.
- Fusarium – Often found in very wet conditions, it can also grow in colder temperatures. Symptoms of exposure are allergies, but fungal infections of the skin have been reported.
- Geomyces – It is usually found in both carpet and mattress dust, damp walls and building materials, and on paper. It is one of the many household molds that can cause skin or nail infections.
- Geotrichum – Usually found in sewage and contaminated water, it is an allergenic mold. Bronchial, skin, nail infections, and pulmonary infections are possible in rare cases.
- Gliocladium – This mold is usually found on wet fabrics and carpeting within the home. Like many household molds, it causes mild to severe allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
- Gliomastix – Although this kind of home mold is found growing on wet fabrics, paper, and wood, the symptoms of exposure are not well documented.
- Memnoniella – This is one of the many types of house mold that grow on canvas, woolen fabrics, cotton, and in walls. I can cause severe allergies, especially in the young, elderly, and anyone with chronic respiratory or immune issues.
- Mucor – A fast-growing household mold, it can cause infections in the eyes, respiratory systems, skin, and, in extremely rare cases, the brain. Those with extensive burns, diabetes, and immune deficiencies, as well as intravenous drug users
- Myrothecium – This type of home mold grows on damp newspapers, books, and other papers as well as most non-synthetic fabrics. Like many molds, it causes mold to severe allergies.
- Oidiodendron – One of the types of house mold commonly found on wood and materials produced from wood pulp. Health risks associated with exposure to this mold are usually mild to severe allergic reactions.
- Paecilomyces – This mold grows on damp walls and plasterwork. Although rarely associated with illness in humans, it does grow on contact lenses and may lead to eye infections.
- Penicillium – This type of mold grows on leather, carpeting, drywall, mattresses, wallpaper, and upholstery. Despite the relationship to penicillin, it can cause allergenic mold reactions and other symptoms in some individuals.
- Phialophora – Usually found on extremely wet or humid wood, like the wooden benches and boards used in many saunas. Like many types of house mold, it can cause mild to severe allergies.
- Phoma – Although found in dust, this type of house mold is more common on wet surfaces like walls, wood, and window frames. It rarely poses a risk to humans, but allergies and infections are possible.
- Scopulariopsis – It is very common in homes after water damage or if items remain wet for an extended period. Known for its garlic-like odor, this mold can cause allergic reactions and skin or nail infections.
- Sistotrema – In homes, this mold often grows on damp wood around windows and doors. Although little is known about this species, it does cause allergies for many people.
- Stachybotrys – Better known as black mold, the health risks are often exaggerated. Like other home molds, it can grow on any surface in your home as long as it remains wet.
- Trichoderma – A very destructive type of mold in homes, it will rot wallpaper, carpet, and other fabrics. Although linked to heart and liver infections, the most common health risk is persistent allergic reactions.
- Ulocladium – This mold prefers extremely wet areas and is common after water damage. It normally causes allergies or hay fever-like symptoms but may cause infections in some cases.
- Wallemia – This is a common household mold that grows on wet fabrics, walls, and paper. Allergic reactions remain the most common health risk, but they can cause farmer’s lung disease or skin and nail infections.
What Causes Indoor Mold Growth?
All molds need food and water to thrive. Mold spores will enter your home through the air and start to grow on any persistent source of water. Even a single airborne spore will form mold colonies that can spread throughout your home.
Mold in indoor environments is most commonly caused by slow plumbing leaks, roof leaks, excessive moisture, damp environments, and areas with high levels of condensation or indoor humidity.
The fungal growth will continue as long as the water issue remains. Even if you clean the area with a chlorine bleach solution, the mold can come back in weeks or even days. The only way to address the situation permanently is to address the water leak or moisture problem.
How Do I Know What Type of Household Mold I Have?
Unfortunately, many molds have similar symptoms and look nearly identical, so a mold test is the only way to determine the exact type of home mold you have. However, knowing the type of mold doesn’t change the removal process.
Tests are usually unnecessary unless there is a specific reason you need to know what kind of mold you have. If you see mold, you can skip testing and go straight to clean up.
Can You Tell What Kind of Mold You Have by Color?
Although the popularity of black mold may make you think you can tell what types of household mold you have, you can’t tell them apart by color. We often say I have black mold, green mold, or white mold. However, the color of the mold very rarely helps identify the type of mold.
Also, the color of the mold growth doesn’t indicate if it’s harmful to your health. Some molds are more likely to appear as a single color or in a specific color family, like variations of black, green, or brown. However, it’s impossible to identify a type of mold by color alone.
In fact, most species of mold appear in many different colors ranging from white to black. Some of the most common mold colors include black, green, grey, blue, brown, red, orange, pink, and white. So just because the mold is black, it doesn’t mean you have so-called toxic black mold.
Is Mold Toxic?
Certain molds produce mycotoxins at various times in their life cycle. These so-called toxic molds often strike fear and create panic, especially if you see mold in your home. Toxic black mold, or just black mold, is the most well-known of these molds. We still do not have a complete scientific understanding of mycotoxins, but they may help molds decompose organic matter.
Several mycotoxins affect humans and pets, including aflatoxin, citrinin, fumonisins, and ochratoxin. Symptoms of mycotoxin exposure vary by the specific mycotoxins involved. The age, health, gender, and length of exposure also impact the severity of the symptoms. Other factors like diet, vitamin deficiency, alcohol abuse, infections, and diseases may compound the effects of mycotoxin exposure.
Despite these mycotoxins, mold is not toxic in the same way as exposure to radiation, some pesticides, or other poisons. Doctors do not completely understand all of the health risks of mycotoxins. Still, they do know they are unlikely to cause sudden or severe symptoms in healthy individuals. If you have mold in your home, you should take steps to kill it and prevent it from returning. However, there is very little risk of spontaneous illness or sudden death.
How Mold Damages Your Property
Mold spores actually exist all around us, but they thrive in the presence of cellulose-based materials and moisture. Whether it’s a pile of damp leaves in a forest or section of wet drywall in your basement, mold from the air will land on those materials and begin to break down those substances. Leaves are significantly less complex than the gypsum material in drywall, but the end result is the same.
If not addressed, mold will completely decompose the material. This process leaves a dusty, dirt-like material behind. In nature, that mineral-rich substance mixes in with actual dirt and helps new plants grow.
In your home or business, it will slowly consume your walls, carpeting, or ceiling, leaving a mess behind. For this reason, it’s important to repair the source of moisture and clean mold as soon as possible. Mattresses and mattress dust are likely to contain a variety of mold species. Mold can grow quickly if the mattress remains wet. For this reason, it’s important to dry a wet mattress quickly.
If you have household mold, call 1-888-443-3110 to talk with a Restoration Local mold restoration specialist. They provide a free visual inspection and free estimate for all types of mold in homes.
