Many people believe that once mold is dead, it is no longer dangerous—this is not the case! Whether mold is dead or alive, it can still be dangerous to your health.
When mold dries out and becomes temporarily inactive, it is considered “dead” mold. This happens when mold is killed, perhaps with bleach, but not removed. Dead mold appears flaky and powdery, unlike living mold that appears moist and grows in various colors, such as white, black, or yellow. Most of the time, it is difficult to smell mold toxins, especially once the mold is dead.
Both dead and living molds produce allergens, irritants, and potentially toxic substances that can impact your health and cause allergic reactions when inhaled or touched. Let professionals, like us, handle the removal of dead mold in your home to prevent problems and adverse health effects.
Health Effects
There are a wide range of health effects individuals could face when exposed to dead mold. Those who are allergic to mold or have asthma are the ones that are most sensitive to mold. However, repeated exposure can make non-sensitive individuals sensitive to mold.
When exposed to mold, individuals may experience an allergic reaction or fever-like symptoms such as headaches, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rashes. Dead mold may trigger asthmas attacks to those with asthma, and infections to those with a weakened or suppressed immune system.
How to Prevent Mold Growth
To prevent mold in your home, you can take simple precautions that can make a big difference. Monitor common places in your home where mold growth is plausible, such as your basem*nt and attic. To prevent mold growth:
- Control humidity levels with an air conditioner or dehumidifier during humid months
- Fix any water leaks promptly
- Clean and dry water damage after flooding
- Clean and disinfect your home
- Ventilate showers, laundry, and cooking areas
- Avoid using carpet in areas where there is a lot of moisture
How Mold Medics Can Help You
We are trusted indoor allergen and mold remediation experts that can help you remove both dead and alive mold. We offer mold removal, mold testing, air duct cleaning, and home and office disinfection services. If you have any questions about mold or if you are unsure if your property has mold, we are here to help. Contact us to have your questions answered or to schedule a property assessment. We offer virtual assessments to assess your home via real-time video — we want to make sure our customers feel comfortable and safe. One of our experts will assess your home and provide a free quote for services to resolve your problem. Learn more about our process on our blog post.
Remember, it is important to have an expert remove mold, instead of using bleach or hydrogen peroxide, to avoid dead mold and its adverse health effects. Contact us today by filling out our online form or calling us at 412.540.4345
FAQs
Most of the time, it is difficult to smell mold toxins, especially once the mold is dead. Both dead and living molds produce allergens, irritants, and potentially toxic substances that can impact your health and cause allergic reactions when inhaled or touched.
Does dead mold release mycotoxins? ›
Exposure to mold spores, both live and dead, and their byproducts like microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), mycotoxins, connecting filaments, etc. can cause illnesses ranging from minor allergic reactions, respiratory problems like asthma and sinusitis, to more serious, life threatening illnesses.
Can dead mold cause problems? ›
Exposure to mold spores, both live and dead, and their byproducts like microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), mycotoxins, connecting filaments, etc. can cause illnesses ranging from minor allergic reactions, respiratory problems like asthma and sinusitis, to more serious, life threatening illnesses.
What is the difference between active mold and dead mold? ›
Identification of Mold
This is more easily seen under magnification. Active mold is soft and may smear when touched with a fine brush. It may also be slimy and damp. Inactive mold is dry and powdery and will seem to brush off materials readily.
What is the largest risk to people's health when they are exposed to mold? ›
When molds are present in large numbers, they may cause allergic symptoms similar to those caused by plant pollen. Exposure to a large number of mold spores may cause allergic symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, headache, and fatigue.
Do I need to remove dead mold? ›
Please note: Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.
Does inactive mold need to be removed? ›
Conclusion. Mold spores don't die and will grow back and multiply after a long time of inactivity once moisture is introduced. They can still cause health complications and need to be removed before they start to grow back and spread throughout your home or business.
Is dry mold still toxic? ›
Is Dry Mold Harmful To Your Health? When mold dries out, the spores become temporarily inactive. While it might not be spreading like wildfire in this state, it can still irritate allergies and lead to unwanted health reactions.
Is inactive mold toxic? ›
Certain molds produce mycotoxins which, depending on the exposure level, can cause health effects. Both active and inactive molds can pose potential health hazards. Health effects from mold can be acute from short-term high exposures or chronic from long-term exposure to lower levels.
How do you get rid of dead mold spores? ›
While ammonia can kill surface mold, dead mold and dead mold spores are still allergenic so you would need to make sure to remove them as well. Create a solution of 50% clear ammonia and 50% water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the moldy areas.
To confirm it is dead, brush the surface with a broom. It is most likely dead if it easily brushes off and becomes airborne. Note that “dead” mold isn't actually dead. Rather, it is inactive because it is no longer exposed to moisture.
How long does mold stay in your body? ›
I had so much mold in my body that it took several months for the ebb and flow of flu symptoms to go away. As you kill the mold and there are less organisms in your body, you will start to feel better. It took my husband six months to become free and clear of mold while it took me a year and a half.
What are signs of mold sickness? ›
Symptoms
- Sneezing.
- Runny or stuffy nose.
- Cough and postnasal drip.
- Itchy eyes, nose and throat.
- Watery eyes.
- Dry, scaly skin.
Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold.
What are the neurological symptoms of mold exposure? ›
New Study Shows Mold Triggers Brain Inflammation
- Brain inflammation in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that governs memory, learning, and the sleep-wake cycle.
- Decreased neurogenesis, or the formation of new brain cells.
- Impaired memory.
- Increased sensitivity to pain.
- Increased anxiety.
When mold becomes inactive, the now dry mold spores become light as they do not have moisture weighing them down. This weightlessness allows them to become airborne rather easily. Airborne spores are the easiest ways for mold to spread and to find areas with the proper conditions to then become active again.
What happens to mold when it dries out? ›
As you can see, mold does not die when it dries out. Instead, it enters a dormant state and can reactivate once moisture is reintroduced. Therefore, simply drying out mold-infested areas is not enough to eliminate the problem. Mold spores can still pose risks even when they appear inactive.
Does detoxing from mold make you sick? ›
Most patients with mold illness or who have had prolonged mold exposure have reported that doing a detox regimen or juice cleanse makes their symptoms much worse.
