12 Common Types of Mold Found in the Home and How to Get Rid of Them

Mold can appear in all kinds of places in the home—while it’s most commonly found in damper spots like bathrooms or basements, it can also appear in HVAC units, carpeting, and even inside the walls.

But there’s more than one type of mold, and knowing which one you’re dealing with can help you understand its toxicity and how to get rid of it.

Here are the 12 common types of household mold, plus how to avoid getting mold in the first place.

12 Common Types of Mold

Acremonium

This type of mold can be found within HVAC systems or other damp, enclosed places. It often pops up after flooding. It looks powdery, and it’s typically beige, cream, or pink in color.

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!

Alternaria

Alternaria spreads quickly, and it can also be found in air conditioning systems or in homes that have flooded. It can also show up in carpeting or wallpaper. This type of mold has a velvety texture and it’s dark green or brown.

Aspergillus

This type of mold can be found on damp walls and other damp home surfaces. There are many varieties of Aspergillus mold, meaning that it can come in all sorts of colors. But it most commonly appears with a cotton-like texture and comes in shades of blue-green or yellow-green.

Aureobasidium

Aureobasidium loves grout, making it a common occurrence in moist kitchens and bathrooms. It starts out in a soft pink or cream, but it becomes a dark brown as it ages.

Chaetomium

Chaetomium tends to make an appearance on cellulose-based surfaces like drywall, wallpaper, and wood, and it comes with a musty smell. This type of mold starts as a white fungus, then darkens over time to become gray, then black.

Cladosporium

Cladosporium can be found in attics, basements, or other spaces with poor ventilation. It can also show up behind wallpaper. It can be olive green or brown, and it tends to have a fuzzy, suede-like texture.

Fusarium

Fusarium is most commonly found on food—in fact, a fermented form of it is actually used as a type of vegetarian protein! But it can also be found within carpet and wallpaper.

Like Aspergillus, there are plenty of Fusarium mold varieties in a range of hues. But it tends to be pink, white, or purple.

Mucor

Mucor can find a home in dust, old carpets, and HVAC systems. It’s white or gray, and it grows in large patches. Mucor has a cotton-like texture.

Penicillium

Penicillium can be found on fabrics like mattresses, clothing, and leather. It can also show up on wallpaper. This type of mold is blue, green, or pink, and it tends to have a powdery texture.

Stachybotrys

You may know Stachybotrys by its more popular name—black mold. Stachybotrys can show up in spaces or items that sit damp for weeks at a time, like laundry rooms and bathrooms, or outdoor wicker furniture.

As its common name implies, this type of mold is black (or dark green). It has a slimy texture.

Trichoderma

Trichoderma mold is most commonly found on wooden flooring or furniture, where it can feast upon (and eventually destroy) wood. It can also be found in AC systems. Trichoderma is white and green with a wool-like texture.

Ulocladium

You can find this type of mold in all sorts of damp places, like kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and windows. Ulocladium is typically brown, black, or gray, with a fuzzy and fluffy texture.

How to Get Rid of Mold

If you’ve found mold in your home, there are a few things you can do to get rid of it. Here’s what to know.

Getting Mold Off Of Hard Surfaces

1. Protect yourself by wearing gloves and a mask.
2. Use detergent and water to scrub it off.
3. Let it dry completely.
4. Make sure all the mold is gone before repainting or re-caulking.

Getting Rid Of Mold With Ammonia

1. Wear protective gloves and a mask.
2. Combine one part water with one part ammonia in a spray bottle.
3. Spray it on the mold-covered surface and let it sit for two to three hours.
4. Rinse it away with a sponge dipped in water.
5. Let it dry completely. A fan pointed at the wall can help this happen faster.

Getting Mold Off Of Soft Surfaces

1. If the mold is growing on a soft surface, the item will likely need to be thrown away—it’s hard to get mold out of fabrics or mattresses once the damage is done.
2. Trying to restore a sentimental item you don’t want to toss? Contact a furniture or clothing restoration professional for next steps.

How to Prevent Mold

• Don’t let your home get too humid—keep humidity between 30-50%, and try not to let it go above 60%.
• Don’t turn your AC off for long periods of time.
• Make sure water is draining away from your home. This can be done by keeping gutters clear and ensuring the draining water is at least 5-10 feet away from your foundation.
• Your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans are there for a reason—use them when showering or cooking!
• Fix any leaks ASAP. A leak that’s left to sit can quickly turn into a mold problem.
• Install a vapor barrier in your crawlspace.
• Make sure windows and doors are properly sealed.