What Does Mould Look Like?

CONTENTS

• What are the visual signs of mould?
• The other signs of mould growth
• How mould affects people’s health
• What to do when it starts growing in your home
• Get in touch

You must be aware of all the signs of mould growth so you can catch it early and have it removed as soon as possible. Left unchecked, it can be detrimental to your health, and damage your property and possessions. 

Here at ICE Cleaning, our mould specialists can quickly eliminate all the mould growing in your home and help you prevent it returning in the future. Our mould remediation services consist of a nine stage process that can get rid of all the mould on hard surfaces and in the air. They have been accredited by a number of organisations including Dewpoint Professional.

Keep reading to find out what mould looks like and learn the other signs of mould growth. 

What are the visual signs of mould?

Mould can appear in various forms and colours. It can look like a fuzzy patch, stain, smudge, or discoloured spot, and the most common mould colours are black, green, and white. However, it can also be grey, orange, and brown depending on its age or life-stage. Here are some examples of the most common types of mould you may find in your home:

• Greenish-blue Penicillium mould is often used for making cheeses, but it can also be found on fabrics, mattresses, upholstery, and carpet. 
• A type of mould called Aspergillus typically presents itself as long flask-shaped spores arranged in chains. In homes, it appears as powdery and white or yellowish-green with grey underneath.
• Dark, grey-green Alternaria grows wherever dampness prevails like under sinks, around windows, or even inside showers.

What does black mould look like?

Black mould is an umbrella term for lots of types of mould that are black or dark in colour. It often looks like black spots clustered together into large colonies, and can have shades of orange or white flecks in it. Black mould may also look furry. You can find out more about black mould in this blog. 

The other signs of mould growth

Mould is not always visible to the naked eye and can grow in hard-to-see areas like under floorboards, behind wallpaper, and in crawl spaces. But there are other telltale signs that can give its presence away in your home.

Firstly, a musty, damp odour is often an early sign of mould in a house. This smell comes from microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), which are gases produced by fungi. 

If you're constantly suffering from cold symptoms or an allergic reaction indoors, this could point towards a possible mould problem as well. Mould releases allergens and irritants which can trigger symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes, and skin rashes.

Deteriorating building materials is yet another indicator of potential fungal growth. For instance: wallpaper peeling off and paint bubbling suggests excessive moisture levels conducive for mould development.

How mould affects people’s health

Mould exposure can lead to a range of health issues. Some people are more susceptible than others, such as people with pre-existing respiratory conditions and elderly people, but anyone can experience problems as a result of exposure.

The most common reactions are allergies and respiratory infections. But for those with asthma or compromised immune systems, mould spores in the air can trigger more serious complications.

In some cases, long-term exposure may cause severe lung infections or conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia. This is especially true for individuals working in damp environments where mould growth is prevalent, like construction workers renovating old buildings.

Some types of mould also produce mycotoxins, toxic chemicals which can pose more serious health risks, like Stachybotrys chartarum. Known as "toxic black mould",  exposure could result in symptoms ranging from chronic fatigue and headaches to neurological disorders. However, not all types of black mould produce mycotoxins. 

What to do when it starts growing in your home

Mould growth is not a problem you should try and fix yourself. While many of us may feel the urge to scrub away visible mould spots with mould removers and household products like vinegar or bleach, this could potentially worsen the situation. 

Mould spores can easily spread during DIY cleaning attempts without taking property precautions, such as covering doorways to the rest of the property, and could lead to a bigger mould problem. 

Mould remediation also brings you in very close contact with the mould, and you might ingest, inhale, or touch the spores. It is recommended you always leave mould removal to the professionals, like ICE Cleaning's technicians. They will have the personal protective equipment to safely tackle your mould problem. 

They can detect all the mould in your home, including hidden growth, and will have the specialist equipment to effectively remove it without causing further contamination. Specialist cleaners will even diagnose the specific cause of the mould and advise on how to prevent it in the future. 

Professionals can give you peace of mind that your property is mould-free and protected against growth. 

Get in touch

Our mould experts are available nationwide, 24/7, 365 days a year. If it's an emergency, they can be on site within a matter of hours. With every mould removal service we offer a lifetime guarantee* so if the mould comes back, we will get rid of it for free. 

Contact our team on 0208 066 0360 or via email at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to get your free site survey and no-obligation quote for mould remediation. 

*subject to advisories