most mold will hide in walls, attics, and many other places where it will be difficult to access, out of sight. Mold stains become visible a few weeks, months or even years after contamination has started. Your eyes are therefore not the most useful or accurate tool for detecting mold.
Luckily, mold smells appear much faster than any other visible sign of contamination. These odors are some unpleasant, but they have an advantage. They alert the inhabitants of a house to the existence of a mold infestation which must be treated as quickly as possible.
In many cases, your sense of smell will be your best weapon in detecting mold early enough and preventing damage to your property.
How can you detect mold odors?
The answer to this question is quite obvious: with your nose! However, in order for your nose to be effective, you must be able to identify any odors that mold can cause.
What does that smell look like? The answer is much more complex than one might imagine.
There are thousands, if not millions, of molds , each with different textures and smells. Some molds produce earthy odors, while others will produce an odor similar to fermenting alcohol or rotting meat.
Odors don't just vary depending on the types of mold. The same species can produce many different smells, depending on where it is found, the extent of its proliferation and reproduction.
It is therefore important to keep these nuances in mind when you go looking for potential mold smells in your home. Many people, in fact, expect to face only one scent, and who will therefore miss many mushrooms, ignoring the nature of their scent. Remember: you are not looking for just one scent!
What does the smell of mold look like?
Despite the wide range of odors they can take on, there are many ways to distinguish mold from other types of scent. These have indeed an odor close to cheese, which can certainly vary, but which will retain certain characteristics.
Some can be lively, like an old cheddar, while others, like mozzarella, will have milder hints. Either way, it will still have a cheesy smell.
The scent of mold is often described as pungent, enclosed, damp, even earthy. If you detect odors that match these characteristics, you should immediately investigate further, as there is a good chance that they are caused by mold.
What causes mold odors?
Many people believe that mold smells come from their spores, this is not the case. Some scent comes from the spores, but most are caused by microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), chemical agents caused by various biological processes in mold.
They can come from rejects due to the digestion of the mold, its proliferation or reproduction. Depending on the stage at which the mold is in its life cycle, these smells may produce different scents, or even none.
Most people tend to think that mold is only harmful when they can smell it. This is totally wrong. Most of the health risks that mold poses to health come from mold spores, whereas, as we have seen, musty odors come from MVOCs. When a mold colony reaches its reproductive stage, it produces less MVOC, but more spores. A mold colony is therefore more dangerous when it smells less.
Mold odors are a very good warning of the initial development of mold. However, it should not be used as the only indicator to detect a potential infestation in you.
Are mold odors dangerous?
On their own, mold odors are not particularly harmful. However, they are an indicator of a mold problem , which could become a threat to your health if left untreated.
The hazards to your health will vary depending on the species of mold, the dose of spores you are exposed to and the length of exposure. Some of the symptoms may be mild, such as headaches; nausea and mild irritation of the eyes and lungs. Some other signs and effects can be much more serious, causing allergic reactions that can be fatal, cancer, lung infections, and many other conditions.
Since the health risks posed by exposure to mold can vary from mild to fatal, it is best not to take any risks. Removing any source of mold from your home is the safest way to protect yourself from the toxic effects of mold.
How to get rid of a mold smell?
Avoid treating a mildew smell with air fresheners or home fragrances. This solution is inexpensive, of course, but it is totally unnecessary. It will indeed temporarily hide the smell of mold, but it will not solve any problem, especially not the proliferation of mold.
The size of mold colonies, on the contrary, will increase. While you are going to hide the smell, the fungi will continue to grow, and their harmful effects will continue.
The only solution to getting rid of mold odors is therefore to eliminate all the mold colonies. For larger colonies (over 10 square feet),
For smaller colonies, on the other hand, it is possible to dispose of them safely and effectively on your own, as long as you have the proper equipment and take the proper precautions.
- Before tackling a mold problem on your own, it is important to protect your lungs. Mold spores are light, so they can easily get suspended in the air. To prevent attack on the lungs, be sure to wear a mask and respirator. It is also advisable to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes.
- Mold, on the other hand, can very easily remain in your clothes and fabrics , so it's important to wear protective gear. Keep in mind that most clothes, especially if they are rich in cotton, can become breeding grounds for mold.
- Once you have taken the right precautions, you can prepare the cleaning solution you are going to use to remove mold. Depending on the size of the infestation and its location, you can opt for a vinegar or bleach solution, or even a specialized anti fungal cleaner. Rub the affected area, then dry it thoroughly. Then be sure to throw away all rags and sponges, as they can become ideal molds for mold.
Why should you hire the professionals to get rid of a mold smell?
If all of this seems complicated and time consuming to you, that's okay, it is! Contrary to popular belief, mold is actually very difficult to remove on your own. It is persistent, and will reappear if it is not completely eliminated. More so, poorly cleaning it will make it grow even more. The mold spores released into the air will be able to settle on new surfaces, you may then be dealing with three, four or five new colonies.
Plus, if you're just cleaning up visible mold, there's a good chance you'll miss larger colonies hidden out of sight. This hidden mold will continue to proliferate and will continue to release its spores. You will therefore see mold reappearing where you previously cleaned it!
It's also important to keep in mind that cleaning up mold will not solve any of the problems that caused it . It could be leaks in your insulation, moisture build-up, and many other issues. If they are left untreated, you can expect mold to return.
For all these reasons and so many more, it is best to call in professionals who are qualified in mold removal . They will conduct a thorough inspection before the processing stage, in order to identify the level of contamination and put in place an effective mold elimination plan.
At Mold Busters, we use cutting-edge testing, infrared scanning, detection and treatment techniques and tools , in partnership with certified and reputable laboratories. Once we start the cleaning phase, we strictly adhere to strict standards to avoid any further contamination. Our mold experts will also identify all your humidity problems to better eliminate them, which will prevent the reappearance of mold after the remediation work.