Windows get foggy from moisture. In normal cases, it happens when the house is much warmer inside than outside, like, say, at a crowded holiday party.
But if you notice fog on the windows where there shouldn’t be, it might be indicative of an area of the house where moisture is gathering and mold is growing.
House Symptom #2: Mysterious Stains
Morgan Swofford for LittleThings
Black mold makes itself known my blooming up in gross-looking, grayish or blackish stains in various places.
The most common places to find these stains are on tile grout, on stucco, on windowsills, and under eaves and rooflines.
You can also find them under carpets and wallpaper, where the discolorations can show through.
House Symptom #3: Dusty Vents
Morgan Swofford for LittleThings
If you turn on the heat or AC and see a puff coming out of your vents, it could be a sign that mold is growing inside. And when you turn the vents on, it can blow even more spores into different areas of your house and into your lungs.
How Can You Treat Mold?
Remedy #1: Get A Professional Inspection
Morgan Swofford for LittleThings
If you find a strange stain or find a pervasive, musty odor, call in a professional.
Different kinds of molds require different treatments, and only a professional can tell what you have.
If you’re concerned about what’s in your house, call up your local specialist and have them take a look.
Remedy #2: Kill Any Mold You See
Morgan Swofford for LittleThings
If you see mold, get rid of it!
While you’re cleaning, wear rubber gloves and a mask to avoid breathing in more of it.
Scrub with mold-killing cleaning supplies, and dispose of the sponges you used after cleaning to get the residue out of your house.
Clean everything thoroughly, and discard anything water damaged.
Remedy #3: Get Air Filters
Morgan Swofford for LittleThings
To combat anything that might be growing in the vents, invest in some air filters to keep any spores out of your living space.
It will also clear up your house’s air quality, which will improve asthma symptoms, too.
Remedy #4: Fix Any Leaks
Morgan Swofford for LittleThings
Black mold needs moisture to survive, so cutting off its supply is a great way to cut down on it.
Get your house inspected by a plumber to locate any leaks and get them fixed as soon as possible.
This will also reduce the risk of water damage, which can be just as bad for your home as black mold!
Remedy #5: Get A Professional Cleaning
Morgan Swofford for LittleThings
Unfortunately, black mold needs a professional touch.
If it’s determined that your home does have black mold, then you’ll need to have everything professionally scrubbed down.
It’s not fun, but catching a mold problem early can make a serious difference, both for finances and the integrity of your house.
Mold can really mess up your house, but it doesn’t have to completely mess it up, especially if you catch it early.
Thanks to Laura Caseley from LittleThings.com for this wonderful advise.