How to Find the Cause of Mold Allergies in a House

Mold is a fungus that grows in damp, dark areas of the home. If a member of your family has a mold allergy, this fungus can be dangerous---even deadly. Mold is difficult to find because it tends to grow in dank corners of the home, like the basement. Know how to identify mold in your home so you can more easily get rid of it.

Things You'll Need

• Flashlight
• Masking tape

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Instructions

• 1

  Use your nose to determine where mold is hiding. Mold has a distinct, musty smell. If your basement or bathroom smells wet or dank, smell all corners of the walls to try to figure out where the smell is coming from.

• 2

  Shine a flashlight on dark areas of the home. Areas that never see daylight are perfect breeding grounds for mold. Using a flashlight or portable light, examine every crevice of your home, looking for a dark substance growing on your walls or floor.

• 3

  Take a sample. If you see a strange substance on your walls or floor, use a piece of masking tape to collect some of the substance and bring it to a mold inspector. He can determine what type of mold you have in your home and help you take the steps to remove it.

• 4

  Purchase a home mold test kit. You can purchase a kit at a hardware store or online. Collect a sample in the dish provided in the kit and send it to the lab. The laboratory will contact you to determine whether or not the sample is mold.

• 5

  Clean the area if you're not sure. Any discoloration on your walls should be cleaned, especially if someone in your home is allergic to mold. Consult a mold specialist, or clean the walls yourself with strong dish detergent and warm water while wearing an N-95 respirator and rubber gloves. Open as many windows as possible while cleaning the mold and keep anyone with mold allergies out of the home for the rest of the day.