Check These Spots in Your House for Hidden Mold

When you clean your home, you probably have it down to some type of routine: Tidying up and wiping down set spots in each room. But if that’s the case, it means that you might be missing some hidden mold growth. Here are the spots you should check on a regular basis to make sure that’s not happening.

What causes mold to grow?

Mold can grow indoors or outdoors, as long as there’s moisture. It’s really not too picky about the surface and can be found on or in wallpaper, bathroom tiles, grout, cardboard, ceiling tiles, paper products, upholstery, drywall, fabric, wood, insulation, dust, paint, and carpet. Mold is especially common anywhere that has flooded, or near leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes.

Signs of hidden mold

Although the mold may not be in plain sight, there are signs to look for that indicate that it’s probably lurking somewhere. These include:

• A damp, musty smell
• Stains
• Discoloration
• Dampness
• Standing water
• Allergy or asthma flare-ups
• Warped walls
• Bubbling or peeling paint

Hidden spots to check for mold in your home

If you suspect you have hidden mold—or simply want to check for it as a precaution—here are some of the places it tends to grow:

• Window frames, and the entire area around windows
• The surface of walls behind furniture
• Under the kitchen and bathroom sink
• Attics
• Crawlspaces
• Inside books
• Under and around the water heater
• Inside the air conditioner
• Around the dishwasher
• Inside filing cabinets
• Under and behind the refrigerator and water line
• On washing machine seals
• Mats
• In potted plants
• Around the toilet base
• Shower and tub areas
• In or around the toothbrush holder

This article was written by Elizabeth Yuko from Lifehacker and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive Content Marketplace. Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected].