Mold is a species of fungi that grows on plant and animal products. It prefers poorly ventilated, damp areas to grow, including areas such as curtains, carpet, and even books. To ensure you keep your home as free as possible from mold stains, it is important to ensure your home is well ventilated, especially in bathrooms and any area where water is present. Mold stains are also harmful to humans, so it is important to ensure it is not present in your home. Today, we’re going to be sharing with you some things you may not know about household mold stains.

What’s the difference between mold and mildew?

Mold and mildew have similar properties. Both grow in areas where moisture is present, and both have health risks associated with their growth. The main difference between the two is how we can remove them. Mold stains often grow in a variety of colors; however, mildew tends to appear in dark to light grey and is dusty in appearance. Mildew only has surface growth, and although mold stains appear mainly on the surface, they can have deep roots of growth within the surface it appears on. Mold stains can be quite difficult to remove, and often will require a professional to successfully destroy. Mildew can be easily removed with usual household cleaners and careful scrubbing.

Is having mold stains in your home unhealthy?

Some types of mold stains can be helpful to humans in a medical sense, however the mold stains you’ll find growing in your home is not one of them. Many health-related websites warn that mold stains cause several health-related problems such as respiratory infections and can worsen the effects of asthma and allergies.

How do you know if you have mold stains in your home?

Unfortunately, mold stains are unavoidable, as the spores can be found almost everywhere throughout the air. When these spores find the right conditions – a damp, poorly ventilated area – mold stains will begin to grow. Sometimes you may be lucky enough to notice the mold stains before you smell them, however a musty, damp smell is often an indicator that mold stains may be present. If you think you may have mold stains growing in your home, be sure to call the professionals and have your home thoroughly cleaned. When looking for mold stains, be sure to check in areas such as in an enclosed room or underneath the kitchen sink. Also, be sure to inspect your plumbing, roof, and basement regularly to avoid leaks. Mold stains will take advantage of any damp spots you may have missed.

Can mold stains grow in a clean house?

The short answer is yes. No matter how clean your home is, mold stains can find a way. They only needs a damp area, and they will grow if the right conditions are available. Having clutter and excessive dust may cause issues with trying to find mold stains within your home, however cleanliness is not necessarily a factor.

How do you stop mold stains from growing in your home?

The best way to keep mold stains from growing within your home is to ensure humidity remains low - 50% or lower is ideal. Keep your home well ventilated with plenty of airflow, repair any water leaks as soon as possible and insulate water piping that could cause dripping condensation. If you notice that water has leaked onto a wall, ensure it is dried out within a few hours and keep a close eye on the area to ensure mold stains have not started growing.

How can you get rid of mold stains growing in your home?

In mild cases of mold stains that’s gathered in spaces like tiles and grout, the bathroom sink, bathtub, toilet, windows frames, doors and veranda, pool area, solar panels, ovens, bench tops, washing machines and dishwashers, we recommend using our GLASSGUARD Miracle Mold Stain Removal Gel that seeps down to the root of the mold stains to remove them and prevent them from re-surfacing again, meaning no more ugly and unhealthy mold stains in your home!

A professional cleaner with experience dealing with mold stains should be called in more severe mold cases. If there is a severe case of mold stains in the home, a remediation process must be undertaken to ensure the home is safe to inhabit. This includes the removal of affected material, extensive mitigation and encapsulation procedures before reconstruction can begin.

Mold stains can become a serious problem very quickly, and it is important to remove any as soon as it is found. If you decide to attempt to remove a small amount of mold stains yourself, ensure the area is well ventilated to keep yourself safe. Professional help is often required, so it may be worthwhile calling in the pros to save yourself from doing the hard work and to make sure the job is done properly right from the get-go.