What do you do with your clothes if you have black mold in your house? The first thing is to find out which mold it is and whether the mold is growing on the clothes. There are many molds that can appear black and not all of them are toxigenic. The next thing is to assess the level of mold contamination on the clothes. If the mold was growing on the clothes for sometime, such clothes would probably have to be disposed off since they would be damaged in the first place. However, if no mold has been growing on the clothes, it is not advisable to dispose such clothes. If one is concerned about settled mold spores, the clothes can be washed thoroughly before they are worn again. Some people argue that cleaning the clothes would not remove mycotoxins and those toxins would still bee harmful to the person wearing those clothes. The level of mycotoxins (if any) would be insignificant.



If you have a mold problem, please contact us at (905)290-9101. We can help or refer you to the right people.

Many times people tell us they have seen black mould in their houses and they want to know the health effects associated with it. There are a number of moulds such as Alternaria, Cladosporium, Memnoniella, Ulocladium and a few others that may appear black. However, when people talk of black mould they often refer to Stachybotrys chartarum. In many cases black mould that people see in their kitchens, bathrooms, window sills, and ceiling tiles is not Stachybotrys chartarum. The only way to tell whether the black mould is Stachybotrys is through laboratory mould testing. In the laboratory the mould is examined by a qualified microbiologist or mycologist and identified. After identification, the lab may give information (if available) on the health effects associated with the identified mould. It is important that a laboratory with a qualified mycologist is used because if the mould is incorrectly identified, then the information provided would be misleading.

Health Effects Associated with Black Mould (Stachybotrys chartarum)
The scientific community is still divided on the health effects of indoor moulds. Some believe there is insufficient scientific evidence to prove Stachybotrys chartarum is the sole cause of health problems reported in various publications. Health effects often associated with Stachybotrys chartarum and a few other species of moulds include:

• Allergic reactions
• Fatigue,
• Headaches,
• Chest tightness,
• Irritation of the mucous membrane,
• Pulmonary haemorrhage (breeding of lungs) in infants,
• Sore throats,
• Flue symptoms,
• Recurring colds,
• Diarrhoea,
• Dermatitis,
• General malaise

Regardless of the health effects, extensive mould growth indoors could be an indication of an unhealthy living environment.

Testing for mold contamination in buildings may involve collection and analysis of the following types of samples:

Air Samples

Air samples may be collected for total spore/hyphal fragment count (non-culture analysis) or for culture analysis. The analysis includes enumeration and identification of significant species. Both non-culture and culture analyses have some limitations. For example with non-culture analysis, identification of mold spores to species is difficult and for culture analysis only the viable spores/hyphal fragments are detected. In some situations, a combination of the 2 types of samples is recommended.

Tape, Bulk, Swab, Dust Samples for Direct Microscopic and Culture Analysis

Tape, swab, and dust samples are taken from surfaces suspected of mold contamination. For bulk, a piece building material such as a piece of carpet, drywall, insulation material or wood is collected. The analyses of these samples by direct microscopy allows identification to genus but experienced mycologists may identify some molds to species.

If identification to species is required, the samples are cultured in some suitable media. However, as was mentioned for air samples, only viable mold would grow in media. It is therefore recommended that both direct microscopy and culturing are used when identification of species is required.


For details on types of mold testing, click Services.

If a house is constantly damp due to leaks or condensation black mold can sometimes be found growing on paper of dry wall, windowsills, wood, behind wall paper, baseboards, carpets or on ceiling tiles. A number of molds are potentially toxic fungi and have been associated with adverse health effects in some individuals. Current Canadian recommendations advise building occupants to clean-up and/or remove visible mold growth. The Canadian Construction Association has provided guidelines on how to deal with indoor mold growth. The key to control mold growth is to reduce or eliminate moisture.

If you see visible mold growth, you may submit tape or bulk samples directly to the laboratory to determine what type of black mold is growing in your house. The laboratory report will include health effects (if known) associated with the identified mold. It is also recommended that you contact a mold professional or a public health inspector in your area who may help to assess the level of mold contamination and advise on clean-up.

For information on how to collect and send a tape or bulk sample to the lab click Mold in Home. For a list of mold testing companies in your area, click Mold Testing Companies Directory.

A concerned homeowner wanted to know the early signs of mould growth. At the initial stages of growth, mould may not be visible to the unaided eye. However, prevailing indoor conditions are a good indicator of potential mould growth. If the building has excess moisture due to roof or pipe leaks, flooding or condensation one would expect visible mould growth to appear on the damp surfaces at some point.

Musty or earthy odour could suggest there was some hidden microbial growth behind and underneath surfaces, such as carpets, wallpaper, cabinets, and walls. Visible mould growth may appear hairy or as slimy coloured patches that increase in size as the mould grows. It is difficult to tell the type of mould growing on a surface on the basis of colour. It is erroneously thought that visible black mould growth is Stachybotrys. There are many other indoor moulds that appear black or grey. The best way to know the type of mould growing indoors is to send a sample to a reputable laboratory for testing. For details on how one can take and send a sample to a laboratory click Mould in Your House.

The mould inspection and remediation industry has created a demand for mould training at various levels. Some organizations provide mould awareness seminars to property managers, renovation and general contractors, lawyers dealing with mould issues and insurance adjusters among others. The mould awareness seminars are not meant to turn an individual to professional mould inspectors. The seminars usually cover topics such as the causes of mould growth, mould growth control and mould remediation.

Short courses leading to some sort of certification are also out there. Whereas short mould training courses may be adequate to equip one with basic mould investigation and sample collection, a longer mould training or a strong background in microbiology is required for one to be able to deal with the intricacies of mould investigation and testing.

If looking for a comprehensive short mould training course, visit http://www.moldbacteria.com/training.html. This course is meant for:

• Industrial hygienists,


• Environmental consultants,


• Home Inspectors,


• General contractors,


• Cleaning and restoration contractors,


• Property managers,


• Insurance adjusters, financial, and legal professionals who deal with mould issues.