What is the White Stuff in my basement?
White mold in basement concrete. White Mold. White mold in basement after flooding or prolonged dampness is easily identified by the characteristic white cottony mycelium of the mold that grows on the surfaces water damaged organic material.
What is the White Stuff on my moldy ceiling?
This is a type of mold with a white, fuzzy appearance caused by the airborne spores of the fungus. The mold is also known as powdery mildew due to its powdery look and texture.
What is the White Stuff on my concrete?
Photo courtesy of Portland Cement Association. Definition of Efflorescence: Efflorescence is the white powdery substance on the surfaces of unsealed concrete and the white blush seen with sealed floors. Efflorescence is caused by vapor migrating through the slab bringing soluble salts to the surface of the concrete.
How to identify white mold in basement after flooding?
White mold in basement after flooding or prolonged dampness is easily identified by the characteristic white cottony mycelium of the mold that grows on the surfaces water damaged organic material.
What is the white fuzzy stuff on my basement floors?
Efflorescence is actually a harmless crystallized mineral salt that has formed on your basement walls over time. It will generally look like a white, powdery substance. It's also commonly found on floors. In cases where moisture bubbles up from your basement floor, it may even resemble a white "foam" on your floors.
How do I remove efflorescence from my basement floor?
Here are some of the ways efflorescence can be removed: Scrub brush and detergent: For minor cases, simply scrubbing the salts away with a household detergent can be enough to remove them. Hitting the spot with hot water will make it seem to vanish, but as soon as the water dries it will just reappear.
Is efflorescence in basement a problem?
Efflorescence in your basement can be a real problem. It's not toxic all by itself, so you don't have to worry about health risks of efflorescence on your basement walls. However, it can herald problems in the future.
How do you remove white fuzzy mold from concrete?
The best solution is to scrub and clean the affected areas with a mold-killing detergent, like RMR-86 Instant Mold & Mildew Stain Remover, or a simple solution of household bleach and water. Be sure to scrub aggressively to get down into the pores of the concrete.
Is efflorescence a serious problem?
Efflorescence itself isn't dangerous or harmful. It can lead to potential moisture problems that can cause structural damage to building materials. So it is important to take action when you notice efflorescence in your basement, on your paving stones, or on other structures.
Will a dehumidifier help with efflorescence?
The truth is that a dehumidifier does nothing to counter or reverse the effects of efflorescence on your crawl space walls. This device will only help you dry out the crawl space air so moisture won't build up and cause condensation, mold growth, rust, and other problems.
How do you stop efflorescence?
Clear water repellents, silicone and acrylic coatings also may help you remove efflorescence as well. The coating will absorb water across a masonry surface and prevent efflorescence from recurring. Plus, the combination of warm water and white wine vinegar has been shown to eliminate efflorescence.
Is efflorescence common in basements?
Efflorescence is a common problem in concrete and masonry block foundations. The white fuzzy stuff you see along the inside and outside of your basement wall is efflorescence.
What does mold look like on basement floor?
Some mold is: Furry growths, like on food. Typically, mold colonies will grow in round patterns. They come in many different colors, other than just black; mold can also be green, white, brown, or yellow. A good identifier of basement mold or mold in your home is a yellow or pink stain on wallpaper or drywall or wood.
Can mold look like white dust?
There are many species of mold found in homes that can have a white appearance, such as aspergillus, cladosporium, and penicillum. These molds may also have other colors present as well. Mold will very often appear white when it is first developing and later change color after producing spores.
What does white mold look like on concrete?
It can be just a white powder on your concrete, salt-like crystals, white fuzzy stuff, or what looks like white stalactites growing on your concrete wall. These white deposits happen when water is drawn out of a cementious material: it is called efflorescence. It is a scientific reaction.
What happens if you have white mold on your wood floors?
If this happens, you will likely have to remove and replace your entire flooring system. White mold on wood: Unfortunately, white mold loves wood, which means that your hardwood floors, furniture, cupboards and structural components of your home (beams, joists, etc.) are at risk.
Why do attics have white mold?
As such, roof leaks from rainfall or melting snow, condensation resulting from temperature fluctuations, and/or leaky pipes can give mold the moisture it needs to thrive in attics.
What is the difference between white mold and efflorescence?
Tips for distinguishing between white mold and efflorescence: Efflorescence dissolves in water–mold does not. Efflorescence is typically found on concrete and brick while mold grows on organic materials like wood and drywall. White mold is a living organism (fungus) while efflorescence is simply salt deposits.
How to tell if you have white mold on your door?
white mold on door. When they first develop, white molds are very hard to detect since the spores are so tiny that they can only be seen under a microscope . Once colonies form, however, white molds appear as spots on a surface. They can be flaky, powdery, stringy or filmy at first glance.
Why does white mold grow?
Like other molds, white mold grows due to high moisture levels combined with the presence of a food source, and the right temperature . Common food sources for white mold include wood, drywall, carpeting, laminate, insulation and any other organic, carbon-rich material.
What is white mold on plants?
White mold on plants and plant soil: White mold that grows on plants or vegetation is referred to as Sclerotinia. Because mold spores can become airborne easily, it is important to control the problem right away. There are several signs of mold growing on plants.
How to tell if a plant has mold?
There are several signs of mold growing on plants. Water-stained spots will appear at the root even though the remaining part of the plant will look healthy. The plant may be wilting and discolored at the root. Or, there may be brown lesions on the plant and, from these lesions, a dense white cottony patch will form.
What is white mold on concrete?
When you come across white fluffy stuff on a basement wall, or white fuzz on a concrete floor, it’s easy to assume that it’s white mold. However, that’s not always the case. In many instances, what appears to be white mold is actually something known as “efflorescence.” Efflorescence is a type of residue that’s left behind when water evaporates. When water moves through concrete—such as when a foundation initially cures or when water enters through a basement wall—it brings along salt and other minerals. Water can evaporate, but these minerals cannot. So, once the water reaches the surface of the concrete and evaporates, it leaves behind a mineral coating that resembles crystal-like white mold.
Why does mold grow in basement?
It’s common for white mold to grow on the concrete surfaces in a basement because of the high moisture levels often present in that area of the house. Even if there aren’t any large openings in your foundation walls, the relatively small amount of water that enters through hairline cracks (along with any moisture resulting from humidity ...
Why is there white mold on wood?
White mold can form on wood essentially because of dampness either in the wood or in the environment surrounding the wood. It spreads rapidly because wood is an organic substance which provides everything white mold needs to thrive on. White mold is found on wooden shutters, floors, panels and furniture. White Mold in basement is also common ...
How to tell if you have white mold?
Is there a way to tell if you have white mold or efflorescence? Yes! Wearing gloves, take a sample of the “white substance” and drop it in a cup of water. If it dissolves, it most likely is efflorescence. If it does not dissolve, it might be mold.
What is white mold in concrete?
White mold in basement after flooding or prolonged dampness is easily identified by the characteristic white cottony mycelium of the mold that grows on the surfaces water damaged organic material. Efflorescence is often mistaken for white mold in basement concrete because they look a lot alike.
Does efflorescence indicate moisture?
But the evidence of the efflorescence does indicate the presence of moisture. Moisture can and does support the growth of mold. So even though efflorescence is not white mold, it does indicate that there is moisture problem and hence most likely mold growth on organic material.
Is efflorescence the same as white mold?
In fact, to the untrained eye, efflorescence is almost identical to white mold. Moisture and dampness moving through basement concrete can cause spalling and degradation of the concrete.
What causes white mold in basements?
Cold outside air that comes in contact with warm indoor air in basements can also cause condensation making it a perfect breeding ground for white mold. It’s easy to confuse white mold in a basement with a substance known as crystalline efflorescence.
Why is mold white?
Mold will very often appear white when it is first developing and later change color after producing spores. While other mold will remain white throughout it’s lifecycle due to the type of material that it is feeding on. No matter what the color of the mold present in your home, it should be removed.
Why is there white mold in my attic?
Below is a photo of white mold growing on wood rafters in an attic. What causes white mold. The cause of white mold is the same as all types of mold. Mold needs two things to thrive – a moist environment and a food source. Many times, the moisture is caused by leaks or poorly ventilated spaces.
Why is my crawl space getting moldy?
Leaky pipes, broken downspouts or gutters, cracks in the foundation, poor ventilation and other causes of moisture can all contribute to mold in crawlspaces. It’s also best not to use your crawlspace as storage, because cardboard boxes and other organic materials are a food source for mold.
What is the best place to grow white mold?
Attics . Attics provide an ideal environment for white mold since they contain plenty of food sources such as wood and insulation. Leaky roofs, condensation from fluctuating temperatures, leaky pipes, and/or poor ventilation can provide mold with the moisture it needs to grow.
How to get rid of white mold in clothes?
If your clothing smells musty or has signs of white mold, use vinegar and hot water to help kill the mold spores. How to prevent white mold.
What does white mold look like?
Once the colonies form, white molds will appear as white spots on a surface. The spots can be powdery and filmy in nature. Although it can look similar to mildew at first, white mold is more harmful since it can grow within organic materials, not just at the surface. Below is a photo of white mold growing on wood rafters in an attic.
