Is the stain in my closet from mold or mildew, and should I attempt to fix it myself or call in professionals, considering it’s been there for two years?
Asked by Maja Jensen 
8 months ago
Last Updated: April 22, 2024
Hey everyone! I need some advice on a little issue I’ve got in my house. So, I’ve had this stain in the corner of my closet since I moved in about a year and a half ago. I was deployed not long after, and now that I’m back, it still looks the same. Do you think it’s mold, mildew, or something else? Should I try to fix it myself or call in the professionals? And can it wait another 6 months? Just some background info – there’s a bedroom on the other side of the wall, a bathroom nearby, it’s a one-story house, and the stain hasn’t changed for the past two years. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help!
You might want to reach out to your realtor. It seems like there is mold and I don’t know why it was overlooked.
Do you need a dehumidifier for that closet?
I would recommend cleaning it with a mold/mildew cleaner or bleach/water mixture. Consider using a dehumidifier or running the heat to reduce humidity in the house, clean your AC vent ducts, and change your air filter. It’s likely just mildew/mold due to lack of ventilation while the house was locked up. If you’re worried, you can test the air quality with a mold test kit. Avoid having a “remediation” company conduct the test, as they may push costly renovations. Do NOT start tearing out drywall unless a test kit shows high spore activity in the air. Many people tend to overreact at the sight of mildew or mold, but it’s not as alarming as some contractors claim. Visit the CDC website for more information. If you clean it up and repaint using a high-quality paint with a mildew preventative additive, you’ll likely be okay. Keep an eye on it for regrowth and humidity levels, and if you experience allergy symptoms, then consider more thorough remediation.
Oh, I’ll need to double-check that. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, now I have an idea of where to begin.
I suggest contacting a roofer. It’s likely that there is a roof leak somewhere.
I would think the same thing too.
Hey , you know, you’d expect it to worsen over time if that were true.
You should open it up and inspect it.
In terms of cleaning, I’ve personally used cleaning vinegar. I don’t really know much about this topic, but I once lived in a house that had a similar issue. The previous owner took care of it and we just had to clean and paint over. Hopefully, your situation is similar! Good luck to you!
There’s definitely a leak coming from somewhere; the roof, gutters, AC, or plumbing?? You’ll need to determine the source of the water among these three and contact the appropriate professional to resolve it. They should be able to assess the extent of mold damage behind the wall. If it’s contained, you might be able to remove the damaged plasterboard, address the mold, and replace it yourself, but remember to use proper protective gear. If it’s widespread and affecting the structural components, you’ll probably need expert assistance.
Realtors or inspectors won’t do much after the purchase because it’s sold “as-is”, and it’s your responsibility to deal with it (been there, done that). I faced a similar situation when buying my house. The previous owners mentioned a leak from over 5 years ago that they fixed, but they never addressed the basement walls. Check for possible leak sources (and fix them preventatively) before repairing the wall. The back of the drywall could have mold and moisture issues, rotten studs, etc. You won’t know until you open it up. We spent $5K fixing the damaged wall. Hopefully, your situation isn’t as bad.
Home inspections are not a pass or fail situation. They simply point out deficiencies to provide a professional assessment of the home at that moment. In my experience, most people skim through a 30+ page report in less than 5 minutes. I rarely receive callbacks, and when I do, 90% of the time the issue was already in the report. Maybe the inspector missed mentioning the roof’s marginal condition or a deteriorated vent stack boot that could lead to future leaks. Or maybe they were just bad at their job haha. I suggest reviewing the report again and looking for anything that catches your eye. Good luck!
Looks like there’s a water leak somewhere – my bet is the roof since it’s dripping from the top. You can spot the drywall tape peeling off at the seams near the ceiling and middle area. Ignoring this problem is not a good idea as it will only escalate. Was the roof redone before you moved in? That might explain why it appears unchanged. In any case, it must be fixed and the affected drywall has to be removed to eliminate the mold spores.
Alisha Burklund oh yeah, the roof was actually brand new when we first moved in. I think it was about a year old at the time. There are some other parts of the house where the drywall tape is starting to come off.
Seems like the stain is from a previous leak. Try using ammonia or hydrogen peroxide to clean it. It appears that the moisture issue has been resolved, but the roof damage wasn’t fixed. Make sure to check for wood rot and potential dry mold in the attic. Consider using strong hydrogen peroxide if needed.
Seems like the issue is new and likely due to leaks, which is not ideal. I apologize for that! If the problem hasn’t worsened, that’s positive, but remember that mold can be tricky to spot, so stay vigilant!
Do you have an AC vent on the other side of the wall? I had a similar issue in my closet and discovered it was coming from the AC vent in the bathroom.
Just clean it with mold/mildew cleaner or bleach/water mixture. Use a dehumidifier or turn up the heat to reduce humidity in the house, clean your AC vent ducts, and change the air filter. It’s probably just mildew/mold due to poor ventilation. If you’re worried, you can test the air quality with a mold test kit. Avoid using a “remediation” company for the test as they may push for expensive renovations. ‘t start tearing out drywall unless the test shows high spore activity in the air. Many people overreact to mildew or mold, but it’s not as scary as some claim. Check out the CDC website for more information. After cleaning up, repaint with a good quality paint that has a mildew preventative additive. Keep an eye on regrowth and humidity levels. If you experience allergy symptoms, then consider more extensive remediation.
Looks like there might be a roof leak or your gutters may be clogged causing water to flow in the wrong direction. It’s a good idea to have a roofer inspect the area before painting.
Appreciate your service 🇺🇸
Hey , just wanted to say thanks a lot for your support!☺️
Mold is similar to an iceberg. You only see 10%, the other 90% is hidden. Proceed carefully.
When I see the photo, it seems there might be a water mark/stain to my left. I get really anxious about mold. I suggest calling a reliable professional to inspect it.
Have you ever had squirrels in your attic before?
I don’t think knows about that actually🤔
You should gut it, treat it for mold, keep the wall open for at least one heavy rainfall to make sure the leak is truly fixed, and then put up new drywall. It’s the best way to eliminate that problem.
I think if it were mold, it would be spreading. You might want to do a mold test just to be safe. You can purchase test kits at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Definitely get a dehumidifier for the area and use mold/mildew cleaner.
When it’s cold outside, condensation forms on the inside. It might just need some extra insulation. Try cleaning with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.
Oh no, things are not looking good! The situation will only deteriorate until you pinpoint the source of the moisture. Your home is unhealthy until the issue is resolved. ‘t compromise your family’s well-being.
Spray it with microban or concrobium, let it dry, then clean with a damp rag. Mix some in a primer, prime it twice, and then paint. If it didn’t get worse, it’s likely from an old leak and may just be surface mold. Mold dies off without moisture. If you’re worried, cut out a small piece where it’s black to check the inside condition. ‘t panic.
If you notice old stains from a leak that haven’t changed and feel dry, it might be a good idea to replace and patch that area just to be safe. Patching up drywall is a simple DIY project that you can easily tackle. Make sure the plumbing inside the wall is dry, but if not, call a plumber before doing any drywall repairs. It’s easy peasy!