Mold Guides
Straight Answers About Mold in Your House
Short, sourced guides on the questions homeowners ask us most. Every claim points back to the EPA, the CDC, or another named source.
BasicsMold vs. MildewMildew is mostly a nickname for mold. Here is when the name matters, how to clean a small spot, and when it is time to call someone.Read the guideIdentifyTypes of Mold in HomesThe molds that show up most in houses, what they tend to look like, and why the name matters less than the water behind it.Read the guideBasementsEfflorescence vs. MoldWhite powder on a stone or block basement wall may be mineral salt, not mold. How to tell, what it means, and how to clean it the right way.Read the guideRoomsMold on Window SillsWhy black spots show up on sills and frames, how to tell condensation from a leak, and how to clean it without making it worse.Read the guideMaterialsMold on DrywallWhen you can wipe it, when it has to be cut out, and why painting over it never works. A straight answer for stained or soft walls.Read the guideMaterialsMold on WoodMold on joists, studs, and subfloor can usually be cleaned. Rot cannot. How to tell them apart and what has to happen before the wood is closed back in.Read the guidePreventionHow to Prevent MoldMold needs water. Take the water away and it has nothing to work with. The short list of things that actually move the needle in an older Adams County house.Read the guideTestingAre Home Mold Test Kits Accurate?Why the petri dish from the hardware store almost always grows something, what that does and does not tell you, and when testing is worth paying for.Read the guideTestingHow to Read a Mold Test ResultSpores per cubic meter, the outdoor sample, genus names, and what no lab report can tell you. A plain walk through a typical air test report.Read the guide
We wrote these guides because the same questions come up on nearly every call. Is this mold or mildew? Can I wipe it off? Is that white powder dangerous? Do I need to test?
Each guide gives the straight answer first, then the detail, then the sources. Where agencies disagree, we say so. Where we could not find a source, we say that too. If your question is about a specific symptom of your house, call (267) 828-9088 or use our estimate page.
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