Tag: Hidden Mold

The Hidden Horrors of Mold

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the hidden horrors of mold

As Halloween approaches, many of you are probably thinking about picking out your costumes, decorating your homes, and throwing the best Halloween party of the century. However, before you go deeper down the Halloween rabbit hole, take a minute to check for the real, hidden horrors in your house. Your home can face many hidden issues and problems, one of them being mold. Mold is a type of fungus that can easily sneak its way into your home. With enough nutrients and moisture, it can start growing and become an even bigger problem when ignored. However, to help you tackle mold before it becomes a monster, the team at RestoPros is here to tell you about some of the hidden horrors of mold.

1. It Can Grow on Many Surfaces

Mold can grow on many materials and surfaces. Primarily, it grows on more porous surfaces that have been exposed to moisture. Places such as roofs, windows and pipes that are prone to leakage or flooding can show signs of mold growth. In addition, you can find mold on:

  • Cardboard
  • Wood products
  • Paper products
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Insulation
  • Drywall
  • Carpet
  • Fabric
  • Upholstery

When an item or area of your home is exposed to excess moisture, it takes between 24-48 hours for mold to start growing. Therefore, it is important you try to prevent additional mold problems by getting rid of products that can’t be dried or cleaned.

2. You Can’t Paint Over It

If you see any mold growth in a part of your home, painting over it or applying caulk over it is not going to do anything. In fact, paint on top of mold is most likely to peel off and the mold will continue to grow, causing even more frustration. If you’re planning on a painting project, it is best to contact a professional to inspect your home for mold, so you don’t make the mistake of applying paint over mold.

3. It Can Grow in The Unlikeliest of Places

As we mentioned before, mold can grow on a variety of places and surfaces. While mold is most commonly known to grow in places with high moisture content such as bathrooms and kitchens, it can grow in some of these unexpected places as well:

  • Filing Cabinets

If your home is particularly humid, mold can find its way in filing cabinets as well because the pulp in paper makes for great food for mold.

  • Front Loading Washing Machines

The seals on the doors of washing machines usually remain wet. With some lint and moisture, mold can make its way into your washing machine as well

  • Chimneys

Often the crevices in the chimney bricks allow for water, dirt and organic debris to collect in the chimney, creating the perfect atmosphere for mold growth.

4. It Can Cause Health Problems

Mold exposure can lead to health problems, especially in people who are susceptible to allergies, have weaker immune systems or have asthma.

21 percent of the current asthma cases in the United States can be attributed to mold growth and dampness in the home. Inhaling mold spores can often worsen asthma symptoms, lead to coughing, wheezing and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. In addition, mold can also cause sinus infections and another condition called mold-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Fight the Mold Monster with RestoPros!

Now that you know a little more about the hidden horrors of mold, it’s time you get ready to fight it wherever you see it. While you might be inclined to take on this task alone, it is best to get the help of a professional. For mold testing, removal and remediation services, get in touch with none other than RestoPros! Call us today at 855-587-3786 or schedule an appointment online!

The 4 Best Yeast Molds for Pizza

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4 Types of Mold that are Great for PizzaNo one likes finding mold growing unchecked in their home, but it has its own place in the world.  Oddly enough, mold is a type of fast-growing fungus that’s filamentous (giving it that stringy-sprawling build).  What you may not have realized is that mold and mushrooms are the same basic type of plant, they’re both fungus.  Mushrooms are a yeast-based fungus, and that is the difference between the two.  So while we’re not fans of mold in our home, we are big fans of bringing in the occasional yeast-based fungus for pizza.

1. Button Mushrooms

Courtesy Böhringer Friedrich
Button Mushrooms, Courtesy Böhringer Friedrich

The archetypical mushroom for the classic American pizza.  No matter where you order it from, a basic pizza with mushrooms is going to feature the humble button mushroom.  Interestingly enough, the button mushroom is an immature portobello, harvested before the cap opens.  The humble button mushroom is one of, if not the, most commonly eaten mushroom in America.  For the best flavor on a pizza, always pre-cook the mushrooms before cooking the pizza.

2. Portobello Mushrooms

Giant Portobello Mushroom
Giant Portobello Mushroom

Large, perfectly edible and flavorful mushrooms, portobello mushrooms can be cooked any number of ways.  Many people will even grill them similar to steaks.  In fact, for a vegetarian diet, Portobello mushrooms are a great source of nutrients.  They’re perfect for pizzas too.  They pair well with the cheeses, spinach, and dried tomatoes on a pizza.

3. Porcini

Porcini Mushrooms, Courtesy Alinja
Porcini Mushrooms, Courtesy Alinja

If you’ve ever seen any of Beatrix Potter’s stories (e.g. Peter Cotton Tail, etc) you’ve likely seen a porcini mushroom.  They can be eaten raw and are one of the most flavorful mushrooms used in meals, the world over.  They have a nutty and woody flavor, making them a good pairing for strong cheeses and heavier meats such as steak.  If you’re looking to make a pizza with a bit of a punch, smoked flavors and the porcini mushroom will do nicely.

4. Chanterelles

Chanterelles Mushrooms, Courtesy Игорь Лебединский
Chanterelles Mushrooms, Courtesy Игорь Лебединский

The chanterelle mushroom has an interesting fruity flavor.  In many ways it’s likened to apricots, from the color to the flavor.  It backs up its flavor with a subtle pepper taste.  They pair well with most pizza toppings, giving you a great deal of room to work with when deciding on what will make the very best flavor of pizza.  A pizza with sweet meats (e.g. pork or poultry) will help to bring out the flavor of the chanterelles for and amazing slice of pizza. A word to the wise: never eat a chanterelle mushroom raw.  They’re fine when cooked, but a raw chanterelle can make you sick.

Of course, there are plenty of other toppings you can choose, and many more mushrooms you can try like shiitake mushrooms or truffles.  Just don’t leave your pizza uneaten for too long (and we can’t imagine you would with such tasty toppings) or you’ll be dealing with the more common filamentous fungus.

Regardless of whether the fungus in your house is mold in the walls or mushrooms on the pizza, we’re ready to come over.  RestoPros techs are experts on the kinds of molds that grow in your home, but we’re also knowledgeable when it comes to pizza.

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