Guide to Mold Colors

9/6/2019 (Permalink)

Mold produced by moisture behind home's washer unit

Like most fungi, molds grow best in damp conditions — think bathrooms and basements. If the spores find a moist surface to land on, they grow.

Here, a color guide to molds commonly found in the house.

Green

If you see green mold, it could be just about any type of unwelcome fungus. There are more than a hundred thousand types of mold — and thousands of species of green mold. So what does the color green tell you? Not much.

Olive-green, brown, grey or black

These are common molds. Outdoors, they lurk on plant leaves. Indoors, they're often found on walls and insulation and can grow on damp carpet, too. 

Blue, green, or white

These molds are also common. It’s usually found on food and walls. 

Yellow, green or black

According to the CDC, people breathe in these molds every day, usually without getting sick. It’s a very common household mold and can found virtually everywhere you’ve experienced water damage.

Black or grey

These is most common as an outdoor mold, growing around damp, dusty areas, soil and plants. But it has made its way indoors. 

Pink

The pink “mold” often seen in the bathroom in the form of a slimy, pinkish discoloration on sinks and tubs is actually bacteria, not mold. It thrives on soap and shampoo residues.

Greenish-black

This mold is the infamous “black mold." It's less common than the molds described above. It prefers to live on high-cellulose, low-nitrogen surfaces, which include drywall, gypsum board, paper, dust and lint that is regularly exposed to moisture. The CDC notes, "Growth occurs when there is moisture from water damage, excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding. Constant moisture is required for its growth."

If there is any indication or question if there is mold in your area, do not wait and call SERVPRO of East Honolulu any day, any time at 808-395-9545