6 Hidden Spots in Your Home Where Mold Often Grows
Have you checked your home for mold? Mold can grow in many hidden spots without being noticed. At Feels Better Maid Service, we encourage you to take action by inspecting these hidden areas and keeping your home mold-free.
What is mold and why is it bad?
Mold is a nasty fungus that grows in damp, warm areas of your home. It can cause a musty smell, stain and rot surfaces, and lead to coughing, allergies, or more serious health problems if ignored.
Surprisingly, mold spores are naturally present everywhere in the air, but they only grow in damp, humid environments. Even a small leak or condensation can trigger their growth—and some types of mold can be toxic.
One of the most dangerous types of mold that can grow in your home is commonly known as black mold.
Black Mold
Black mold (known as stachybotrys chartarum) is one of the nastier types of mold found in homes, growing in damp, water-damaged areas and potentially causing mild to serious health problems. If you notice leaks, stains, or musty odors, inspect your home right away and address moisture issues before it spreads.
Inside Washer
You might be shocked at the hidden spots in your washer where nasty mold can grow. While both front-load and top-load washers can be affected, front-load machines are the most prone to this issue. If ignored, mold can leave your clothes smelling musty, trigger allergies, and even spread throughout your laundry area.
Check your washer regularly and clean with your preferred mold-killing cleaner:
Top-Load Washers
In top-load washers, mold often forms beneath the drum rim and inside detergent or softener compartments where moisture and residue collect.
Front-Load Washers
In front-load washers, mold commonly develops in the rubber door gasket and detergent drawer where moisture and residue become trapped.
Household Mold Cleaners
Use bleach, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide to kill mold. Never mix these chemicals, and always allow enough time and proper dilution when cleaning.
Commerical Mold Cleaners
Inside Refrigerator
Expired, uncovered, or spilled foods and drinks can quickly turn your refrigerator into a mold-friendly environment. Even small, unnoticed spills can harbor mold on shelves, drawers, and door seals, contaminating other foods and leaving unpleasant odors.
At Feels Better Maid Service, we thoroughly clean inside refrigerators—removing all items, shelves, and drawers—to ensure no spots are missed and all mold is safely eliminated.
Check your refrigerator for any signs of mold, and if you find any, it’s time for a deep cleaning.
Household Mold Cleaners
Use bleach, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide to kill mold. Never mix these chemicals, and always allow enough time and proper dilution when cleaning.
Commerical Mold Cleaners
Inside Dishwasher
Leftover food particles, grease, or stuck-on debris can quickly turn your dishwasher into a mold-friendly hotspot. Even small bits that go unnoticed can hide in seals, filters, and corners, spreading odors and making your dishwasher less sanitary.
Check your dishwasher for signs of mold and make sure to clean it to keep it mold-free and safe.
Dishwasher Sanitizing Cycle
Use the sanitize cycle as part of your dishwasher’s cleaning routine to help kill and prevent mold.
Dishwasher Filter
In addition to using the sanitize cycle, you should also clean the dishwasher filter regularly.
Under Sinks
This dark, hidden space under sinks is a favorite spot for mold to thrive when leaks occur. Moisture can seep into walls, cabinets, and flooring, allowing mold to spread quickly.
Because these areas are out of sight, mold can grow unnoticed until it becomes extensive, posing health risks and damaging surfaces. If left unchecked, even small leaks can allow mold to spread, leading to costly repairs and the need for professional remediation.
Take a quick look under your sinks for leaks and signs of mold. To help reduce the risk, consider these item:
Waterproof Mat
Placing a waterproof mat under your sinks can help protect wooden cabinets from mold growth caused by leaks or spills. Find a waterproof sink mat online.
Moisture Absorber
Using moisture-absorbers under your sink helps reduce humidity and excess moisture which mold needs to grow. Find popular moisture aborbers online.
Behind Kitchen Appliances
The space behind kitchen appliances—especially refrigerators and dishwashers—is a hidden hotspot where mold can thrive if leaks or excess moisture occur. Moisture can seep into walls, flooring, and appliance bases, allowing mold to spread quickly and turning the area into an unhealthy and costly problem if left unchecked.
Since these areas are out of sight, mold can develop unnoticed until it becomes widespread, creating health risks and damaging surfaces. Even small leaks, if ignored, can let mold spread, resulting in expensive repairs and the need for professional cleanup.
Find your air purifier’s model number and search for the correct replacement filter online:
Moisture Sensing Device
Inside Walls
The space inside walls is a hidden hotspot where mold can thrive if leaks or excess moisture occur. Moisture can seep into insulation, wooden framework, and drywall, allowing mold to grow and spread unnoticed.
Mold inside walls is especially tricky to detect and usually requires special devices, like moisture meters or infrared cameras, to find it. It’s most likely to develop in areas where any water damage has occurred, even if the problem isn’t visible on the surface.
Consider using humidity and moisture detectors around your home for early detection of leaks and mold growth.
Moisture Sensing Device
Indoor Humidity Meter
Inside Attic
Have you ever experienced a leak from your roof? Even a small or short-lived leak can create the perfect conditions for mold growth in your attic. If a proper inspection wasn’t conducted, hidden mold could be developing behind insulation, on wood beams, or in other unseen areas.
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Consider using humidity and moisture detectors around your home for early detection of leaks and mold growth.
Moisture Sensing Device
Indoor Humidity Meter