Mold is a prolific grower, as anyone who has ever left a loaf of bread or a bunch of strawberries too long will know. But in order for mold growth to occur, the right conditions must be met. Unfortunately for us, these conditions are very common in most modern houses. Mold needs moisture to grow. In dry climates and in properly conditioned houses, it simply cannot thrive. But it doesn't need much moisture. Often, simple air humidity is enough. Combine high humidity with warmth and in some cases darkness, and you have perfect conditions for mold growth.
Mold also requires organic material to grow on. What is surprising, however, is how much of our surroundings contains organic material on some level. Paper, wood, cardboard, fabric, carpeting, wallboard, even brick and concrete can all support mold. Mold likes porous material, generally nitrogen-rich, a bit of moisture and warmth, although it can grow in cold environments too. It would be impossible for us to use exclusively materials that mold doesn't grow on in our homes. Therefore we must do the next best thing, inhibit mold growth.
Mold requires moisture. That alone is the one big weakness we can attack. That and the fact that is is very easily killed. But without treating the source of moisture, it will simply reoccur in time. Humidity can be difficult to deal with, but this minor amount of moisture is often not enough for mold to grow except in ideal circumstances. Simply providing airflow will in most cases be enough to keep things dry. Basements are particularly difficult, as condensation often occurs there, and many of our basements are concrete, which is derived from an organic material that mold thrives on.
In many cases mold growth is the result of leaks of some kind. Roof leaks can cause damp attics in which mold will grow. Basement leaks the same. The more insidious ones are leaks we don't see, often inside walls, where it is warm and dark and mold can grow unimpeded by cleaning solutions. Mold can grow under carpets, or on wood, sometimes between layers of flooring. Mold is often found in bathrooms, particularly behind shower or bath enclosures, where a steady leak is a constant source of moisture for the mold.
Mold growth is very common, and is one of the leading causes of indoor air pollution. We breathe mold spores all the time, as these microscopic particles float around in our atmosphere constantly. However, in the confines of a home, they can become quite irritating or even dangerous. If there is any reason to believe that you or your family are suffering from mold allergy, then finding the source of the mold becomes paramount. It is not an easy task, as there are so many places for mold to hide. Also,mold spores are so small that they can emanate from areas that we would normally not think they could travel from, like behind shower enclosures or sealed behind walls.
Mold is simply one of the many things we have to share our world with. In most cases, the presence of mold is imperceptible and causes us no problems. In the case of household mold, however, steps must be taken to prevent mold growth from becoming a real problem. Start with the most obvious step; locating moisture in the home. Find the source of moisture and you will find the mold, if there is any to be found.
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