Black mold is a toxic substance that can be found in many homes. Regardless of where you find the mold it needs to be killed and cleaned as it can cause serious health issues. When you know how to spot black mold it is easier to kill it, remove it and prevent it.
Under your kitchen sink is a common place for mold to grow. The moisture and occasional drip from your pipes creates the moisture that is necessary for it to grow. Mold loves dark places and humidity. It grows well under these conditions. Go check your basement, bathroom, attic or any other place that is dark and humid for mold.
Does your home have a musty smell? That might be mold. Sometimes it gets in your air ducts and can only be noticed when you are running your heat or air conditioner. People very sensitive to mold will be able to smell it in your home if it exists. Do you see any yellowing or brownish stains on your ceiling or dry wall? This could be mold as well. Paint that is cracking or peeling may also be some sort of mold growth.
Do you have mold? If so, it needs to be killed. First goal is to find out where the moisture is coming in. Do you have a water leak? If so, fix it immediately so there are no future problems. Close off any areas that have mold. Taping up plastic will accomplish this. This needs to be done so no mold spores spread through your home. Also, make sure you cover up any air conditioning vents within the room where mold is found.
Wear plenty of clothes so all skin is covered. Use gloves, eye protection as well as a breathing mask. You do not want to breathe in mold spores. You can get very sick. Also, dispose of the clothing that you are wearing while cleaning up mold. Seal it up in a bag. Follow the specific directions of the mold cleaner that you are using.
Is the job too big for you to handle? If so, hire a professional mold remediation company. They are experts and will generally do a better job than you will. Often times people use a rule of thumb of 10 x 10. If the black mold covers more than this size then you probably need to bring in an expert.
Finally, you need to prevent mold from growing in the future. Fix any water intrusion or moisture problems. Mold requires this to really thrive so if you remove it then you won’t have a problem. Control your humidity levels with your air conditioner and a humidistat. Don’t let humidity go above 55%. Plenty of air flow, sunshine and low humidity will keep mold in check.
Slade Tanner gives advice on handling household mold