Myths:

1. Only one type of mold is present which is very hazardous and that is black mold.

Fact: In reality, there are molds that look black. One black mold that made news years ago, associated with a lot of ill health effects, was called Stachybotrys. However, there are tons of other molds present that look black, and are equally common and generally not of concern. Thus the take-home message is that not all black molds are 'bad'.

2. One should not worry about molds other than black molds.

Fact: I can bet that a lot of people aren't even aware that mold can be white, or orange, or blue, for instance. The color of a mold depends on the spores it produces, and it has no bearing on whether it is dangerous or not. Some white molds are equally capable of growing on wall just like the black mold.

3. Mold removal can be done by scrubbing it with bleach in order to get rid of it.

This is really a complicated myth. There are a couple of different aspects attached to it.

Bleach: Bleach is not a recommended fungicide. Mold removal is done by dousing the mold in toxic levels of chemicals. This problem has two sides: humans are not the only target for bleach's damaging properties, but the bleach is a water-based solution. And because of its aqueous nature, this often leads to penetration of water into the surfaces, giving moisture to the roots of the mold. In such a case, ordinary household detergent will suffice.

4. You can paint over the mold to seal it up.

Fact: If facts are to believed it is known that mold can eat the paint. Many of us must have tried for mold removal using paint only to discover that in a few months the mold has either poked its way through the paint, or the paint has started peeling off. The mold removal should be performed before painting, even if you're using "mold-resistant" paint.

5. Mold and mildew is different.

Fact: Mold and mildew are synonymous. Mildew is a word that is used generally to refer to a few specific types of molds, but it's still same.

Mold Facts

1. Mold is omnipresent.

The air you breathe contains bits of mold. Molds can grow on plants and in soil, can float off into the air, and float in through your doors and windows.

2. Large areas of mold should be dealt with by a professional.

You must consult a mold removal professional if mold areas get larger than about 10 square feet or you don't know the extent of the infection.

3. You can not call stains and mysterious spots mold.

You can not identify a black, brown, grey, or white spot as mold. Efflorescence, for example, is a whitish deposit on concrete, which takes place when water permeates the material and leaves behind a deposit of salts. But the point here is that in this case there is water permeation, which may eventually lead to mold growth. Other reasons for spots can be soot or soil deposits, giving a darker color.