Mold remediation guides

Understanding mold

Dehumidifier and hygrometer in a clean finished basement showing 46% humidity

Prevention

Mold prevention

Dark mold growth along shower corner caulk line where tub meets wall, with flat gray mildew spreading across upper tile grout

Identification

Mold vs. mildew

Digital hygrometer on a windowsill reading 72% humidity with condensation on the window glass

Understanding Mold

Humidity and mold

Health & risk

Mold growth on bathroom ceiling and wall corner caused by moisture near shower

Health & Risk

Is mold dangerous?

Person with allergy symptoms sitting near window with visible condensation and mold on wall

Health & Risk

Mold exposure symptoms

Woman using an inhaler while seated by a rain-streaked window in a living room

Health & Risk

Mold and asthma

Woman blowing her nose near a window with condensation in a living room

Health & Risk

Mold allergies

Woman sitting on the edge of a bed in a bedroom, head resting in her hand, looking fatigued and unwell

Health & Risk

Long-term mold exposure

Signs & detection

Early signs of mold growth on wall near window with visible spotting and water damage

Signs & Detection

Signs of mold

Homeowner leaning over a front-load washing machine, checking for the source of a musty smell

Signs & Detection

Mold smell

Room-specific mold

Mold growing on bathroom tile grout lines and caulk seam in a shower corner above a bathtub

Room-Specific

Bathroom mold

Mold and efflorescence on concrete block basement walls in an unfinished basement

Room-Specific

Basement mold

Heavy black mold growth covering the sheathing and end wall of a residential attic, with open attic floor and rafters visible

Room-Specific

Attic mold

Mold growth on crawl space floor joists and subfloor sheathing with work light illuminating bare soil floor

Room-Specific

Crawl space mold

HVAC technician shining a flashlight into a wall vent with visible mold inside a residential home

Room-Specific

HVAC mold

Open kitchen sink cabinet revealing extensive dark mold growth on the back wall and base board with plumbing pipes visible

Room-Specific

Kitchen mold

Open two-car attached residential garage with black and green mold growing along the base of the right wall

Room-Specific

Garage mold

Surface-specific mold

Black mold colonies spreading across painted drywall with paint bubbling and peeling at the edges

Surface-Specific

Mold on drywall

Homeowner crouching to examine mold growing on a wood post and baseboard in a living room

Surface-Specific

Mold on wood

Black mold colonies spreading across a bathroom ceiling and wall corner above a tiled shower enclosure

Surface-Specific

Mold on ceiling

Carpet peeled back in a living room corner revealing severe black and gray mold on the backing and stained subfloor

Surface-Specific

Mold on carpet

Black and green mold colonies on a poured concrete foundation wall in an unfinished residential basement

Surface-Specific

Mold on concrete

Mold types

Mold remediation technician in full Tyvek suit and full face respirator spraying antimicrobial solution on black mold growth along a residential baseboard

Mold Types

Black mold removal

White fuzzy mold growing on wood framing in a crawl space

Mold Types

White mold

Close-up of green mold growing on a damp basement wall showing fuzzy olive-green texture

Mold Types

Green mold

Wide-angle view of a residential bathroom with pink-orange bacterial staining visible in the grout lines at the base of the shower walls, vanity and mirror on the left

Mold Types

Pink mold

Aspergillus mold growing on a drywall surface in an unfinished basement, showing flat gray-green discoloration and water damage

Mold Types

Aspergillus mold

Home inspector wearing N95 mask and safety goggles examining olive-green mold growth on a concrete block pier in a crawl space

Mold Types

Cladosporium mold

Mold inspector in N95 respirator and safety glasses using a moisture meter on a cinder block basement wall with blue-green Penicillium mold growth

Mold Types

Penicillium mold

Mold inspector in N95 mask and gloves examining dark fuzzy mold growth on a basement wall with a flashlight

Mold Types

Alternaria mold

Pink and white Fusarium mold colony on a water-damaged concrete block basement wall

Mold Types

Fusarium mold

Dark fuzzy mold growth in the corner of a home wall and baseboard after water damage

Mold Types

Chaetomium mold

Pink and brown Aureobasidium mold revealed under peeling wallpaper near a window

Mold Types

Aureobasidium mold

White fluffy mucor mold colonies growing on wood framing in a crawl space

Mold Types

Mucor mold

White cottony Rhizopus mold with dark spore heads growing on a damp surface

Mold Types

Rhizopus mold

White and green Trichoderma mold growing on a water-damaged wood baseboard and drywall corner

Mold Types

Trichoderma mold

Water & situation-specific

Early mold growth and water damage along a basement wall baseboard with staining and moisture marks

Situation-Specific

Mold after water damage

Mold remediation technician in full protective gear spraying antimicrobial solution on heavy mold growth during emergency mold removal

Situation-Specific

Emergency mold removal

Black mold on attic rafters and OSB sheathing with blown-in insulation on the floor

Situation-Specific

Mold from a roof leak

Flood-damaged living room with heavy mold staining and peeling paint on the far wall, warped wood flooring, and furniture still standing in shallow water

Situation-Specific

Mold after flooding

Bedroom window with heavy condensation and mold growth on the wooden sill and frame, peeling paint visible, overcast winter exterior

Situation-Specific

Mold from condensation

Burst copper pipe leaking under an open kitchen cabinet onto a hardwood floor in a lived-in home

Situation-Specific

Mold from a burst pipe

Renter documenting mold growth on a window sill to report to her landlord

Situation-Specific

Mold remediation for renters

Peeling paint and mold on a condo living room wall, with a high-rise building visible through the window

Situation-Specific

Mold remediation for a condo

Real estate agent reviewing a seller disclosure form with a homeowner signing at a dining table in an open kitchen and living room

Situation-Specific

Mold disclosure when selling

Assessment & testing

Female mold inspector in protective gear examining wall mold with flashlight and moisture meter

Inspection

Mold inspection

Professional mold testing using swab sample on wall with visible mold near window

Testing

Mold testing

Female mold inspector collecting air samples with a calibrated pump in a clean, empty residential room after mold remediation

Testing

Post-remediation verification

Costs & pricing

Mold growing along a baseboard wall in a residential home, an example of a situation that may require mold remediation

Cost Guide

Mold remediation cost

Technician measuring mold along a wall and taking notes to estimate remediation cost per square foot

Cost Guide

Mold remediation cost per square foot

Professional mold inspection using moisture meter to evaluate mold inspection cost

Cost Guide

Mold inspection cost

Homeowner reviewing insurance policy documents with a moisture-damaged wall in the background

Insurance

Homeowners insurance coverage

DIY & decisions

Moderate mold growth in a wall corner near a window indicating need for remediation

Decision

When is mold remediation required

Homeowner in mask, goggles, and gloves cleaning mold from a bathroom window sill with a spray bottle and cloth

DIY

DIY mold removal

Homeowner in coral shirt spraying a bottle at mold spots on a white interior wall

DIY

Does bleach kill mold

Mold spreading across a wall corner in a home interior, visible on both adjoining wall surfaces

DIY

Does mold spread

Small patch of mold near a window sill on an interior wall

DIY

Does mold go away on its own

Mold remediation technician using a moisture meter along a basement baseboard during a post-remediation inspection

DIY

Can mold come back after remediation

White tower HEPA air purifier standing in the corner of a bright living room with hardwood floors and large windows

DIY

Air purifiers for mold

Portable dehumidifier with drain hose running in an unfinished basement with concrete walls and exposed joists

DIY

Dehumidifiers for mold

Mold and mildew buildup on a front-load washing machine door gasket

DIY

Mold in a washing machine

Hiring & process

Mold remediation technician in a white Tyvek suit sealing containment sheeting over a doorframe in a room with visible black mold growth on the wall

Process

Mold remediation process

Mold remediation technician in a white Tyvek suit taping plastic containment sheeting in a residential home entryway

Process

What to expect during mold remediation

Homeowner reviewing a checklist outside a containment zone during mold remediation

Process

Mold remediation checklist

Mold remediation technician in white Tyvek suit and respirator rolling out polyethylene sheeting in a mold-damaged basement with a HEPA air scrubber running

Process

How long does mold remediation take

Homeowner and mold remediation contractor talking outside a suburban home

Process

Staying home during remediation

Homeowner reviewing mold remediation quotes at a kitchen table

Hiring

How to choose a mold remediation company

Homeowner reviewing paperwork with a mold remediation contractor

Hiring

Questions to ask a mold remediation company

Certified mold remediation technician reviewing documentation on a clipboard beside a containment barrier in a residential hallway

Hiring

Mold remediation certifications