- 1). Put on a breathing mask and rubber gloves before beginning your inspection. You must protect your airways and your skin when dealing with anything as toxic as black mold.
- 2). Examine any areas of your home where possible water damage may occur. Black mold requires a lot of standing water in order to colonize, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so focus on areas where water may accumulate and linger, such as near the hot water heater, beneath sinks, inside the basement and attic, and along walls (mold colonies may grow near leaking pipes inside the walls).
- 3). Look for visible signs of black mold. Even if the mold hides within the walls or ceiling, large colonies will still manifest themselves by seeping through the porous materials and appearing in faint, velvety patches. Black mold specifically appears as a black fungus, mixed with traces of dark green. If you see it, do not panic. Other, non-toxic molds can also appear black and green, so a black fungus does not automatically indicate the dreaded Stachybotrys chartarum. A professional mold expert can tell you exactly what you have.
- 4). Follow your nose. If black mold hides within the walls, above ceiling tiles or beneath the carpet, you can still smell it in most cases. Black mold releases an acidic, musty odor, which results from the fumes released by the fungus (called microbial volatile organic compounds). It smells sour and pungent, and can lead you directly to the hidden colony.
- 5). Shine a black light in suspected mold areas. A black light (also called a fluorescent tube) can quickly shine a spotlight even on hidden black mold by revealing a bright yellow glow in the area where mold colony hides. You can find a black light in your local hardware store or party supply store. Any fluorescent light will suffice.
- 6). Sample the air. Mold does not just rest on household surfaces; the spores and fumes continuously travel through the air as well. Your local hardware store or home improvement store should sell home mold test kits, which allow you to take a swab of dust and immediately test for the presence of mold spores. Some kits will also allow you to send the mold sample to a laboratory (for a nominal fee) and find out exactly what kind of spore you have.
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