Mold comes in many forms, however. One of the strangest and nastiest forms of mold is that of slime mold. Slime mold, as its name implies, is a nasty mold that covers several different sorts of molds, all of which have a slimy consistency.
Unlike black mold, typically found outdoors and indoors, slime mold thrives outside.
Here, we will cover what slime mold is, what it can do, and what to do if you encounter it at home. Let's dive in.
What is Slime Mold?
It needs to be understood that slime mold is not a single organism. Slime mold is not even a fungus, unlike black mold. The best way to describe slime mold is as a soil-dwelling amoeba. They are most often found on decaying and rotting wood.
What Does Slime Mold Look Like?
As the name implies, slime mold has a slimy appearance. It looks like an amorphous blob. In terms of its color, it typically appears as a yellow or gray color.
Can Slime Mold Be Found Inside?
Where to Find Slime Mold?
It is important to understand that it is not impossible for a slime mold to somehow make its way into your home, but it is highly unlikely. Slime mold thrives on rotting organic matter such as Dead leaves and dead tree limbs.
The place where you are most likely to encounter slime mold would be your front yard. In addition to rotting wood and leaves, slime mold can be found on grass, often mistaken for mud or animal vomit. Unfortunately, it will certainly make your yard look terrible.
The Difference Between Slime Mold and Black Mold
You must understand that slime and black mold are two entirely different things. You must be cautious if you have encountered a dark gray, dark green, dark blue, or black slimy substance in your home. Do not make the mistake of assuming that this could be slime mold because it is not.
The only true similarity that black mold and slime mold share is that black mold occasionally has a slimy consistency. However, sliminess is not a primary defining trait of black mold.
It is a good idea to have your home tested for mold growth if there is even the slightest possibility that the substance you have encountered is black mold.
What are the Health Risks of Slime Mold?
The good news is that if you encounter slime mold on your property, it will likely not affect you. Unlike black mold, which spreads by emitting harmful spores, slime mold is harmless.
It must be stressed that if we think you have encountered slime mold in your home, but it is truly black mold, you have much more to worry about. This is because exposure to black mold can cause serious respiratory illnesses and skin irritation.
If you suspect that you have developed symptoms due to mold exposure, you need to speak with your doctor to be tested for mold exposure and receive treatment.
How to Get Rid of Slime Mold
You will be happy to hear that getting rid of slime mold is a significantly easier prospect than getting rid of black mold. When you are trying to get rid of slime mold, you are typically trying to get it out of your yard and there are several ways you can go about doing that.
The easiest way to eliminate slime mold in your yard is to mow over it or rake it up simply. This will break up the slime and should do a good enough job of getting rid of it.
Using a water hose in your yard should also help break it up well enough if you do not feel like breaking out the rake and lawn mower.
As for the mold you encountered in your home, as that is likely black mold, you can use cleaning solutions to get rid of that on your own as seen here.
However, if the perceived growth is more than 10 square feet you should call in a mold expert and see about having it professionally removed.
Conclusion
While there are a few similarities between slime mold and the black mold that you can encounter in your home, the fact is that they are two entirely separate and distinct entities. Slime mold is ultimately harmless, especially when compared to black holes.
So if you encounter slime mold outside of your home you can rest easy knowing that you will not be bringing it into your home.
