Places You Should Be Checking For Mold, According To Mike Holmes

Home renovation expert and HGTV star, Mike Holmes, knows a thing or two about how to diagnose and repair unhealthy homes. From calling out faulty backyard decks to getting to the root of foul home odors on HGTV's "Holmes Inspection," the Canadian contractor has become a trusted source for many homeowners who have been victimized by poor home inspections. And when it comes to the sneaky ways mold could get trapped in your home, Holmes warns about key areas that are prone to mold growth that are worth keeping an eye out for, such as basements, bathrooms, attics, and crawlspaces, along with other general areas in your home.

Beyond these places, though, Holmes explains that mold is likely to grow in ceiling corners and windowsills. Where you live is also a factor. "If you live somewhere humid, the garage can also be a place for mold to thrive," Holmes wrote (via Make It Right). Not only can mold cause structural damage to your house, like sagging floors and cracks in your walls and ceilings, but leaving mold untreated can also pose health problems, especially if you have an allergy to it. For these reasons, it is critical that homeowners inspect their homes routinely for mold in these places, not just for the sake of their home, but for the health and safety of those inhabiting it.

Simply put, mold is a type of fungus that emerges from spores and can latch onto moist surfaces in your home. Because mold needs humidity to survive, it can affect different areas in your home that are prone to these conditions. There are different variations, too, including the most common types of mold that grow in homes. Black mold especially can cause respiratory issues and prompt allergy symptoms. According to Holmes, mold can be caused by a number of factors, including leaky plumbing, poor attic insulation, and faulty roof installations that allow water to enter your home. Basements, crawl spaces, and attics typically have poor ventilation but high moisture levels, and this combination makes these areas potential mold factories over time. That's because humid air can seep into your foundation and absorb excess moisture, causing mold to spread if left unchecked.

But mold can also grow in unexpected areas that seem like they have good ventilation, such as in windowsills and the corners of your ceilings. This happens when condensation from the warm, moist air meets a cold surface, such as in situations where the inside of your home is humid during cold winter months. Additionally, mold can grow on walls in rooms that harbor excessive moisture, such as bathrooms, or particularly in drywall, since it's porous and can retain excessive moisture more easily.

When it comes to mold prevention, it's recommended that you routinely inspect mold hotspots for signs of growth. For example, you may want to check and test if there is mold in your house by examining areas that have splotches that look powdery or cottony. Since mold can come in different colors, like black, white, or appear like dirt stains. You might look for damp areas with a musty smell and walls or surfaces that are peeling or cracking. It's suggested to regularly clean and repair roof gutters, taking care of water leaks or spills immediately, and checking for places prone to excessive condensation and increasing ventilation in areas with limited air flow.

But if mold has already ripped through your home, it's important to act fast. This is because, beyond the health effects of mold, it quickly damages the surfaces that it grows on. One way of ridding your home of mold is calling on professional reinforcements, which can also help prevent cosmetic damage to certain areas. However, if you want a more affordable option, there are many natural and easy ways to clean mold with products you may already have in your kitchen pantry, such as vinegar and tea tree oil. Some advise using detergent and water, then scrubbing the mold off. Inhaling mold, especially over time, can affect your body, so be on the lookout for allergy-like symptoms in yourself or members of your household, like a runny nose and congestion, eye irritation, sore throat, and lung irritation.