If the spot quickly lightens or keeps coming back after cleaning assume it s mold.
How to test for mold in your walls.
A quick test for mold can be done when you dip a swab in diluted bleach 1 part bleach 16 parts water and dab it on the wall.
Other visual indicators of moisture include peeling wallpaper or condensation on the wall or ceiling.
To test for mold start by looking for signs of visible mold in your home in places where there is a lot of moisture and humidity like the basement or utility room.
If your wall has vinyl wallpaper mold will look pink orange or purple in appearance.
To do so you can use a checklist of 1 a visual inspection 2 a physical inspection and 3 a test cut inspection.
If you don t remove the mold inside walls as well there s no point removing the mold on the outside of the walls since the mold inside the walls will just continue.
Visual inspections are usually the easiest and best ways to detect if mold is in your walls.
When you initially discover that there s mold behind your walls some of the things we just mentioned are good ways to minimize the initial spread.
Be careful if you think there s mold under your wallpaper though.
Your walls appearance can change significantly if there s mold growth behind them.
When dealing with wall mold you have to check for mold in walls too.
A musty earthy smell like dirt and rotting leaves is a telltale sign of mold s presence.
Hire pros to test for mold.
To tell if black mold may be growing in your home just follow your nose.
If your test for mold turns up nothing after a total of five days from the date on the label you can throw the dish in the trash the kit did not find mold in the room.
Most mold is unmistakable but sometimes small or largely hidden growths just make a surface look dirty.
Also look under sinks and in the corners of ceilings for spots of fuzzy black green or brown mold that give off a musty odor.
If you see water stains on your walls or if a part of your walls has sustained water damage and it has been there for quite some time there s a big possibility of mold.
The guide to what mold looks and smells like how to test for mold and how to remove mold from your walls your shower and other places in your house.
This might come with a price but it s the safest and most effective way to tell whether there s mold lurking inside your walls.
It s very common when you have mold on your walls to also find mold inside the walls.
You can check for damp areas on your drywall and look for watermarks.