Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, mould spores are everywhere. They stick to your clothes, or they can hitch a ride on the breeze, entering your home.
Looking for more ways to remove mould?
And for the most part, we don’t notice. That is, until it starts raining or your house springs a leak.
What causes mould to grow?
“If a property is damp from condensation, building defects or inadequate ventilation, the humidity will be elevated,” says John.
“When the humidity in a living space exceeds 55%, the conditions are ideal for mould to grow.”
Can you have mould but not see it?
We know that mould spores are everywhere. But John says, “A normal mould spore count in a room is typically 200–500 spores.”
“Anywhere between 1–1500 mould spores in a room is normal and safe as long as mould.”
When your spore count gets into the 1500 – 3000 range (or higher), you might have a mould colony growing somewhere.
Why does a high spore count mean there’s a mould colony?
How mould spreads
In a nutshell, mould spores find a nice surface to land. Using their root-like tendrils called mycelia, they set up shop feeding on almost anything that contains organic material.
As Dr Zac Turner explains in an article for News.com, “Mould will grow and create spores, which are its attempts at spreading. Think of spores as its sperm, which fly up into the air and look for new spots to fertilise.”
So if you’ve got lots of spores, you’ve likely got a mould colony.
How do you detect hidden mould?
Invisible mould isn’t necessarily invisible; it’s just hidden from view. Here are the most common places where mould is hiding in your home.
Using your nose is an excellent way to detect if you have mould. Mould has been described as smelling musty, stale or earthy.
An article published in The New York Times explains very eloquently that what we’re actually smelling is “the airborne end products of its digestive processes.”
In other words: mould farts.
David Denning, the principal investigator at the Manchester Fungal Infection Group and a professor at the University of Manchester, told The New York Times, “Every time you smell that musty odour, that mould smell, that’s what you’re breathing in.”
Can mould spores be invisible?
Mould spores are microscopic and can’t be seen with the human eye. You can get your air tested if you can’t see any visible mould growth.
“This involves sending samples to a lab for analysis by a microbiologist who provides a detailed report that contains the mould species and spore count,” says John.
Samples are taken both indoors and outdoors and the two are compared. Some remediation is necessary if your spore count is between 3000–10,000 and doesn’t correlate with your outdoor number.
If your spore count is higher, the mould source is usually easily identifiable. If this is the case, a clean-up will be required and should be performed by a professional mould remediator.
How to eliminate mould spores
While fogging can kill mould spores, before the removal process can begin, it’s very important to reduce humidity levels.
“Fogging is not a preventative,” says John. “The cause of moisture needs to be identified and fixed.”
Once the cause of moisture has been located, The Mould Doctor has a two-step process for eliminating mould.
The first step is to remove all the visible mould and the surface micro cleaned.
What is decontamination fogging?
The second step is decontamination fogging, which involves misting disinfectant around a property to kill mould spores.
“Fogging will eliminate all airborne mould spores and other bacteria. The product is non-hazardous, biodegradable and not harmful to any contents,” says John.
If one room is contaminated with a mould colony, fogging the entire property is recommended to prevent it from spreading.
“Under the right conditions, mould spores will aggressively form, multiply and spread,” says John.
“The fogging machine distributes a mist into the air throughout the entire property to ensure consistent coverage of the living environment.”
If you spot mould in your home and the area is larger than a dinner plate, it’s recommended that you seek professional advice for removal.
You might also like:
The best mould removal products
The best dehumidifiers to use on wet and muggy days in Australia
DIY dehumidifier: 5 simple ways to reduce moisture in your home
The most common mistake people make when removing mould
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
