Mold, on the other hand, is alive and can reproduce. Unlike dust, simply wiping it away doesn't solve the problem; mold spores can linger and regrow.
Actively growing mold may be soft, slimy, and damp and may smear when touched. Inactive or dead mold is dry, appears powdery and rubs off the surface easily subsequently becoming airborne. If one presses a sticky tape on the suspicious surface, mold should easily stick to the tape unless the surface is wet.
On the other hand, mold tends to be dark green or black. It can look fuzzy, but you may also see it appear slimy, like mildew.
Black mold can be in streaks, clumps or patches. It may first appear to look like black dirt, black ink or black paint, which smears easily if wiped with a rag.
According to CDC recommendations, “mold can be removed from hard surfaces with household products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water.”
Occasionally, mold can be found in the bathroom, on a windowsill, shower curtain, or wall. This mold can be wiped off the surface with a damp cloth and cleaning agent (such as window or bathroom cleaner).
Mold spores spread fast once disturbed. Mold spores float in the air and may land in other areas to begin growing again. While cleaning, you could cause the mold to spread into areas of your property that were previously unaffected.
Aureobasidium
This yeast-type fungus can be mistaken for another more sinister and dangerous mold but is far less likely to make you sick. Aureobasidium can start as a slimy pink color, but it will turn brown or black and can look like black mold.
Trying to take care of mold on your own isn't just dangerous to your health, but it can also cause the problem to multiply. Since mold spores can spread through the air, you can't simply wipe them away like you would with dust.
Black mould stain is easy to wipe away. This often gives the false impression that the problem has gone.
During the cleanup of mold, many spores may be released into the air. To prevent health effects, there are several ways you can protect yourself while cleaning up the mold. Anyone with a chronic illness, such as asthma or emphysema, or who are immune comprised, should not do the cleanup.
Unfortunately, wiping alone isn't enough.
Like painting over it, wiping might clear the visible mould on the surface, but the spores and root-like structures often stick around. This means it can quickly regrow if the damp, warm conditions remain.
Many confuse mold and mildew, which is not surprising — they have more than a few things in common: Both are types of fungi that no homeowner likes to see in his or her home. Both are keen on forming in moist, warm areas.
Whilst it's common belief that dry mould is safe, this is not the case. Mould spores do not multiply without a source of moisture but they will re-activate and start growing once they come into contact with water again.
Moisture in the wood causes mold, so the presence of moisture may indicate a mold problem. If the structure of the wood looks damaged, in conjunction with discoloration, you may have mold. If the wood looks completely intact but is just slightly discolored, it might just be staining.
Although the name implies a uniform coloring, black mold may appear black, dark green, or dark brown. It typically grows as a cluster of round spots with a distinctly wet, slimy appearance. As stated, black mold typically appears fuzzy or furry.
Mildew and mold are both fungi, but mildew is not as invasive or troublesome as other types of mold. Typically found in wet areas, mildew looks grayish-white and may turn brown. It's flat and powdery and it's an easier fungus to clean because it lives only on the surface of a material (such as bathroom tile).
A water source is the first requirement for mold growth, so any damp, humid areas of the home are often susceptible. Sight and smell may give you a good indication of whether or not you have a black mold problem — black mold tends to have a strong, musty smell, and of course it displays a trademark black color.
Dip a cloth in water and wipe the mould off the wall. Don't brush it as this can release mould spores. Once you've removed the mould, use a dry rag to remove the rest of the moisture. Throw away the cloth and vacuum the room to make sure you've removed all of the spores.
If left unchecked, this moist air condenses on cold surfaces such as windows, tiles, and walls, creating the perfect breeding ground for mould. By extracting this humid air, the extractor fan prevents condensation from forming, thus denying mould the conditions it needs to grow.
If you're not wearing any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), you're inviting all of those mold spores to settle on your clothing, the area you're cleaning, your shoes (allowing mold to travel to other areas in your home), in your eyes, and up your nose into your upper respiratory system.
Thus, exposure to the toxicity of black mold can cause harm to our physical health. Cleaning it yourself risks a greatly increased chance of acquiring damaging health conditions by unsettling the toxins into the air. Depending on the frequency of mold exposure, an individual's health can be severely compromised.
According to the CDC, people usually experience their first symptoms within 2 to 9 hours of their first exposure. On the other hand, some people could go for weeks or months before feeling sick if their exposure is limited enough. This is why it is also important to check damp, dark areas of your home for mold.