How To Get Rid of Mold In Your Living Room

This guide has been updated to include recent insights from The Lab. All products are in stock and current prices are reflected.

In these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to keep our homes as safe as possible, especially if you’re caring for loved ones who are vulnerable to COVID-19 and other health-risks like mold. According to the International Center for Toxicology and Medicine, about 70 percent of homes have mold behind the walls. 

If you’re looking to ensure you and your loved ones are safe from mold, you’ve come to the right place. Here at AirPurifiers.com, we understand that while many things are out of our control, the quality of your indoor air doesn’t have to be one of them. This is why we are passionate about providing trustworthy information to help you maintain a high standard for air quality, so you and your family can breathe healthy air. 

Read on to find out the risks associated with mold, why it’s essential to get rid of the fungus, the common types of mold found in homes, and how to clean mold.

The Dangers of Mold and Why It’s Important to Eliminate It

You may be surprised to learn that mold can be found in homes and buildings. You may also be surprised to learn that you, your family, friends — and even your pets — can bring mold into your home. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mold in the air can attach itself to clothing, shoes, and be carried indoors. Mold can even get into your home through open vents, windows, doorways, as well as heating and air conditioners.  

If there’s a lot of moisture in your home, get rid of it fast because it’s a breeding ground for mold. Mold needs moisture — as well as oxygen and dimly lit areas — to grow. In fact, in the right conditions, mold can reproduce in 24 hours. How so? Mold can snowball when mold spores in the air land on places in your home with excessive moisture. This can include leaky pipes, roofs, drywall, carpets, fabric, ceiling, cabinets, areas that can flood like the basement and bathroom, and much more. 

As previously mentioned, these times are even more dangerous if you or your loved one has been exposed to mold at home. While some may not be affected by mold in the house, the presence of mold for those sensitive to the fungus can experience severe mold allergy symptoms, including:

• Permanent lung damage
• Infections
• Cough
• Itchy eyes
• Stuffy nose
• Skin rash 
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Sore throat 

What Types of Molds are Commonly Found in Homes?

While there are more than 100,000 types of mold that can grow indoors and outdoors, here are some of the most common found in homes:

Alternaria – This mold is fuzzy and white with black spots. It can be found in your bathroom, kitchen, carpets, air conditioner, near windows and can also grow in wallpaper and fabrics.

Aspergillus – This mold has a powdery look and can be green, gray, or white with dark spots. You can find it in fabrics, basements, attics, and walls.

Penicillium – Another fuzzy mold, Penicillium, can be yellow, green, or blue. You can find this type of mold with indoor moisture, including basements and under carpets and insulation.

Stachybotrys chartarum –  Also known as black mold, this toxigenic mold is greenish-black. This type of mold grows where there is constant moisture — water damage, water leaks, and more — it can grow on paper, fiberboard, and gypsum board.

Trichoderma – This mold can be found in soil, paper, stored cereals, decaying wood, and wood. This mold can start as white or yellow and turn dark green or gray as it matures.

Ulocladium – This allergenic mold grows in damp places and the air and can be found on paper, soil, wood, fibers, dung, textiles, and paint. Typically it is black in color and needs wetness and water to thrive.

How to Get Rid of Mold in Your Home

The first method to keeping a mold-free home is to make your home a less-friendly place for mold to grow. This starts with maintaining a clean house. According to experts, the key is to remove the mold before it spreads and becomes an even bigger problem. Again, under the right conditions — moisture, oxygen, and dimly lit areas — mold can grow pretty fast. 

Before cleaning, it’s essential to find moisture or water source to prevent future mold growth. If you don’t complete this task, mold will likely start to grow again. It’s best to check areas that have moisture and low air movement first and work from there. If you don’t take action quickly, mold can spread and not only trigger allergies and other serious health issues, but mold can also bring awful looking stains, foul odors, rotting wood, and more. If the mold covers more than 10 square feet, call a professional immediately to remove the mold.  

So how do you kill mold? Here’s a cleaning checklist to clean mold in your home:

1. Limit your exposure to mold by wearing rubber gloves, masks, and goggles 
2. Identify the source(s) or cause of moisture and water problem(s) inside and outside your home
3. Run an air purifier to reduce moisture in your home and keep mold from growing 
4. Mix a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water 
5. Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water, apply to the surface area, and don’t rinse. 
6. Dishwashers, refrigerators, and other appliances that combine food, moisture, or heat should be cleaned regularly 
7. Remove all clothing, furniture, and shoes with mold immediately from your home