Common black mold (Cladosporium) presents as small black spots in ordinary spaces. It can grow inside and outside of the home, and it's far less harmful than toxic black mold. Non-toxic black mold is easier to clean and less musty, but it can still trigger allergic reactions in people with sensitivities.
While it's very dark, it's not a single color, as the name implies. Instead, black mold is actually very dark green, brown, or black and is wet, shiny, and slimy. Black mold often looks fuzzy. It tends to form clusters of circular spots that may have fuzzy white edges and when wiped, leaves a green stain behind.
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.
Stachybotrys chartarum (or black mold) appears black but is actually greenish-black with a bright appearance. When black mold dries out, its appearance becomes more powdery. Conversely, dust has no particular color. However, it can appear grayish or a mixture of brown and orange.
Visually, it may be greenish-black, grayish-black, slimy, or more furry than other forms of mold or mildew. If you try to clean it with a heavy-duty cleaner, you might find that it remains on the surface and doesn't completely wipe away.
Black mold often looks like a dark or black growth that covers an area or grows as a thick layer on surfaces like walls and floors. It can be greenish-black, greenish-brown, or dark brown. The color of the mold can sometimes change as it grows.
Mildew is a specific type of mold that develops on the surface of damp walls, doors, shower grouting and similar areas. It appears as small, flat black spots and occasionally has a powdery texture. The term mold is broader as it is intended to encompass multiple mold species.
To remove mold from your system, focus on strengthening your detox pathways. This includes taking supplements like glutathione, consuming antioxidant-rich foods, staying hydrated, and supporting gut health with probiotics. For more severe cases, consult a healthcare professional for personalized treatments.
If you have some bleach at home, dab some with a cotton swab onto the affected spot. Dust will not react with bleach. But if the material starts to change in appearance and brighten after a few minutes, it is mold.
Both mold and mildew start as tiny spores that often require a similar environment to flourish, making them easy to confuse.
Look for visible signs like discolorations or dark spots on surfaces, visible mold spores, warped walls, and other moisture issues. You may also smell something damp and musty as well as experience worsened allergy and asthma attacks.
While black-colored mold may not have any toxicity, it can certainly be allergenic. A good example of a non-toxic, black-colored mold is Nigrospora.
Is it okay to be in house with black mold? Black mold can cause health problems. As such, it is not advisable to be in a house with black mold. If a person must stay in a house with black mold, they should try to seal off any areas where black mold is present to reduce contact with it.
Black mold is known for its characteristic black hue after reaching maturity. However, the color black isn't unique to Stachybotrys — people often confuse it with similar-colored molds like Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Dreeschslera.
Hydrogen peroxide, commonly used to disinfect wounds, is active against a wide variety of micro-organisms including mold. It acts by releasing oxygen at a rapid rate, which kills mold by oxidizing the surface and breaking down proteins and DNA.
It irritates the nose and throat, which can lead to both sneezing and coughing as your body tries to get rid of the irritant. Inhaling mold spores can also trigger coughing in people with allergies or an asthma attack, for those with asthma.
Recovery from long-term mold exposure varies based on individual health and the severity of exposure. Some may see improvement within a few days of removing the mold source, while others may take weeks or months. In severe cases, professional medical intervention may be required.
These black dots are almost always mold or mildew. It's always challenging to keep mold and mildew out of bathrooms and kitchens.
What does black mold look like? Black mold is a dark colored mold that tends to be more slimy and wet than many other molds. It grows in small clusters making it look like dots. Often there is visible water damage near visible mold.
Many homeowners experience mold spores and mold growth after the flooding of a basement or on the damp drywall, for example. With poor ventilation, black spores can grow and spread in air vents within 24–48 hours.
These black dots are formally known as artillery fungus, though it's also known as “shotgun” or “cannonball” fungus due to its ability to shoot its black spores into the air.