Black Mold Identification Guide: Learn How to Identify Black Mold

Not everyone realizes that there are different types of mold which have different effects on people who are exposed to them. Most of us are well aware that mold spores can affect our breathing and put people’s health at risk, particularly when they’re young, old or pregnant, but not everyone realizes that there are different types of mold and that some are worse than others. Today, we’re talking about black mold, a type of toxic mold that can damage your property and have a serious impact on your health. Known also by its scientific name of stachybotrys chartarum, black mold can appear to be green or grey and will release toxic substances into the air if it’s left to grow unchecked.

Identifying black mold isn’t easy, and often the first warning sign that people receive is a sort of earthy, musty smell, a smell which you’ll recognize as mold straight away if you’ve experienced it before. The actual testing process typically involves using mold testing kits, many of which can be found either in stores or online on sites like Amazon. 

We’ll share some of our recommendations on that later on in this blog post.

Before we go ahead and recommend some of our favorite black mold testing kits, it makes sense to go back to the beginning and to tell you what to look out for. Remember that if you’re ever worried about black mold damage then the best thing to do is to contact a skilled professional who can carry out the work on your behalf.

Black mold is like other molds in that it prefers damp and dark places, typically starting in the corner of a wall and expanding outwards from it. If it smells bad and looks black then there’s a good chance you’re dealing with black mold. Remember that black mold doesn’t necessarily have to look black. It can also appear to be grey, green and other colors.

In our experience, black mold typically grows outwards from its point of origin and tends to affect basements, garages and attics as well as kitchens and bathrooms. It can be deeply detrimental to your health if left unchecked and cause all sorts of unpleasant respiratory illnesses. That’s why even though we’re happy to tell you how to identify black mold, we don’t recommend trying to tackle it without the help of a qualified professional.

Black mold can’t grow on the wood in your house without moisture present, so if you find moisture on your wooden surfaces then that’s a sign that you ought to be concerned. The problem can be exacerbated if there are nearby water sources and even by the placement of fans throughout your house. 

Sometimes it can be better just to test for it than to take a risk, especially because wood has natural variations anyway that can look like mold.

You have a choice of different products when it comes to dealing with black mold on wood, but remember that if you’re not careful then you can cause more damage than you cure. As well as specialist mold removal products, you can also use diluted bleach, distilled white vinegar, and even dishwashing detergent.

 Remember that there are different types of black mold and not all of them are toxic, but at the same time, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you do attempt to deal with black mold damage to wood in your property then make sure that you wear appropriate equipment including breathing apparatus and safety gloves.

Black mold is often easier to spot on drywall because of the severe discoloration it causes. The bigger issue is identifying how deep the mold goes. It’s much easier to clean up black mold damage if it’s only on the surface, but if it’s inside the drywall then it will require a qualified professional. The chances are that they’ll need to remove parts of the wall itself and then replace it.

This largely depends upon whether the wall has been painted or not. If the wall has been painted then it’s often possible to simply wipe the mold from the top coat and disinfect it before painting over the top of it, but you’ll need to make sure that every trace of the black mold has gone before you coat over it. 

For best results, simply call a professional. Still, if you want to take on the black mold at home then try using a mixture of one part baking soda to five parts of water before switching to harsher bleaches and detergents. Be sure to keep the room well ventilated at all times to stop yourself from breathing in too many fumes or spores.