I Think I Have a Mold Problem – What Should I Do?

Last updated: December 2025

I think I have a mold problem what should I do — when you first think this, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Should you test? Call your landlord? Move out? Start scrubbing with bleach?

The truth is, the right next step depends on your situation, your comfort level, and what a good solution looks like for you and your family. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—but there is a simple way to think it through.

This guide walks you through three steps:

• Decide whether mold testing makes sense right now.
• Choose how to test (DIY kit with lab analysis vs. hiring an inspector; surface vs. air samples).
• Understand your results and plan safe next steps.

If you’re a homeowner or tenant and need quick mold testing options, visit our mold testing for homeowners and renters page for an overview of how we can help.

Step 1: I think I have a mold problem what should I do

Start by asking: “What do I want to learn from testing, and how will those results change what I do next?”

Testing is most useful when the results will clearly affect a decision, such as:

1. Health concerns

If you or someone in your home is experiencing symptoms you think might be related to mold (sinus issues, coughing, headaches, etc.), test results can help answer important questions:

• What types of mold are present?
• Are there molds commonly associated with water damage?
• Is the mold only on a visible surface, or is it airborne as well?

You can share your laboratory report with your physician so they can consider mold exposure as part of their medical evaluation.

2. Documenting a problem for your landlord or employer

If you need to document a mold problem in order to:

• Ask your landlord to address it
• Request to be moved to a different unit
• Support your request to end a lease early

having independent lab results can be very helpful.

For more complex disputes or legal cases, a licensed mold inspection company (who can come on-site and write a formal report) is often recommended. But if you’re starting with your own evidence, lab-analyzed samples are a strong first step.

3. Deciding what you’ll actually do next

Think honestly about what you plan to do after you receive results:

• “I’m going to clean this area myself no matter what.”
• “I’m going to ask my landlord to send a remediation company no matter what.”
• “I’m not going to do anything with this right now.”

If your plan won’t change based on what the lab report says, then testing may not be the best use of your time or money right now.

If you’re unsure where the mold is, how widespread it might be, or whether there are elevated spores in the air, testing can provide valuable information and peace of mind—especially when your samples are analyzed by an accredited lab that specializes in mold.

When testing makes sense:

• You see something that might be mold and want to confirm what it is
• You smell a musty odor and want to know if mold spores are in the air
• You need independent documentation to discuss with a landlord, property manager, or physician

Step 2: How Should I Test for Mold?

Once you’ve decided that testing makes sense, there are two decisions:

1. Who will do the testing (you vs. an inspection company)
2. What type of test you’ll use (surface vs. air samples)

A. Should I test myself or hire an inspector?

For many tenants and individual homeowners, DIY testing with lab analysis is a good first step:

• It’s more affordable than a full inspection.
• You can quickly confirm whether something is mold and what types are present.
• You get an independent lab report you can share with your landlord or doctor.

When a DIY kit with lab analysis makes sense:

• You see visible growth and want to know what it is.
• You want to check whether spores are in the air.
• You want to gather information before deciding whether to push your landlord for more action.
• You’re not currently in a legal dispute but want clear, documented lab results.

When a professional mold inspection company may be better:

• You’re already in a legal dispute or anticipate one (lease termination, damages, workplace issues).
• You need a formal inspection report and written remediation protocol.
• You suspect hidden mold inside walls, ceilings, or large areas of water damage.
• You’re dealing with a commercial building where regulations often require licensed inspectors.

If you’re unsure where to start, you can always:

Call our lab at 1-866-416-6653 to talk through your situation.
A real person will answer the phone and help you figure out which type of testing makes the most sense for you.

B. Which Type of Mold Test Should I Use?

Ask yourself: What makes me think there’s a mold problem?

If you see something that looks like mold (surface testing)

If you can see a suspect area—spots, discoloration, growth, staining—surface samples are usually the best place to start.

Common surface sample options:

• Tape lift sample (recommended)
  • Best when you can easily reach the area.
  • Quick, simple, and typically our preferred method.
  • You press clear tape against the surface and send it to us for analysis.
• Swab sample (using a sterile swab or Q-tip)
  • Useful if the area is in a tight or awkward location.
  • The swab is gently rubbed across the surface and sent in.
• Bulk sample
  • You send in a small piece of the material (for example, a small piece of drywall or baseboard).
  • Our analysts examine the sample and focus on areas that appear suspect.

If you’re not sure exactly which part of a surface is mold, a bulk sample can be especially helpful. We’ll identify mold growth on the piece you send.

You can learn more about our DIY homeowner surface test kit and how to collect these samples on our surface testing page.

If you don’t see mold but suspect a problem (air testing)

If you don’t see visible mold, but:

• You notice a musty or earthy odor,
• You’ve had a leak or water damage, or
• You’re having symptoms and suspect mold in the environment,

then air sampling is usually the best tool.

Air tests can help you answer:

• Are there elevated mold spores in my indoor air?
• Are the types of mold consistent with indoor water damage?
• Is mold present even if I can’t see it?

If you do see mold but want to know whether spores are spreading into the air, air sampling can also provide valuable information.

You can learn more about our airborne mold spore test kit and how to collect air samples for lab analysis on our air testing page.

Step 3: My Results Show Mold – What Should I Do Next?

Finding out you do have mold can be unsettling, but you don’t have to panic. Test results are information—now you can make more informed choices.

Your Moldlab report will:

• List the mold types found
• Provide a glossary with basic information about each mold
• Show which samples were positive (surface and/or air)

A. Using your results as a tenant or individual

If you rent, your next steps may be:

• Share the report with your landlord or property manager.
  The lab results can help them understand there is a real issue to address.
• Request remediation or relocation.
  Depending on the severity and location, you may ask for professional cleanup, repair of water issues, or to be moved to a different unit.
• Discuss health concerns with your physician.
  If you’re experiencing symptoms, bring a copy of the lab report. While doctors treat people—not lab reports—knowing what you’ve been exposed to can inform their evaluation.

If you own your home, your results will help you decide whether to:

• Clean a small, limited area yourself; or
• Hire a professional remediation company for larger or more complex problems.

B. Consider the size and type of contamination

Two key questions:

1. How big is the affected area?
2. What type of material is affected? (Porous vs. non-porous)

• Non-porous materials (for example, metal, some tiles, glass):
  These surfaces do not allow mold roots (hyphae) to grow deeply into them. With proper safety precautions and cleaning, small areas can sometimes be cleaned effectively.
• Porous materials (for example, drywall, ceiling tiles, insulation, some woods):
  Mold can send root-like structures (hyphae) into these materials. Cleaning just the surface with bleach or vinegar will often leave the roots behind, allowing the mold to grow back. In many cases, contaminated porous materials are best removed and replaced.

If your lab results came from air testing only and you don’t know where the mold is located, you may need further investigation—sometimes that means additional testing or hiring an inspector to help locate the source.

C. Always address the water problem

Mold cannot grow without moisture. No matter what you decide about cleaning or remediation, you must find and fix the source of water:

• Plumbing leaks
• Roof or window leaks
• Condensation issues
• Flooding or repeated wetting of an area

If you do not fix the water problem, the mold is likely to return, even after cleaning or professional remediation.

D. Cleaning and safety precautions

If you decide to clean a small, manageable area yourself, always prioritize safety:

• Wear at least a high-filtration mask (such as an N95 or better).
• Use vinyl or neoprene gloves.
• Avoid dry brushing or sweeping, which can send spores into the air.

If you are not confident in your protective equipment or the size of the job, do not attempt the cleanup yourself. In those cases, it’s safer to involve your landlord and/or a professional remediation company.

When hiring remediation professionals, look for:

• Proper licensing or certification in your state
• Good reputation and reviews
• Independence from your landlord’s interests, when possible

Step 4: Confirming the Problem Is Solved

Once the visible issue has been addressed and the water source fixed, it’s a good idea to perform follow-up testing—especially air testing—to verify that indoor mold levels have returned to normal.

A post-remediation or post-cleanup air test can:

• Confirm that your efforts were successful
• Give you written documentation for your records or to share with your landlord
• Provide peace of mind that mold is no longer at problematic levels

When you’re ready to test:

• Use a DIY mold test kit and send your samples to our accredited lab for analysis, or
• Call us at 1-866-416-6653 and we’ll help you choose the right type and number of samples for your situation.

If you still feel unsure and keep thinking, “I think I have a mold problem what should I do?” testing and lab analysis can give you clear next steps. Once your follow-up results are clear, you can confidently move forward knowing you’ve addressed the problem.

Helpful Resource

For more information on mold and moisture control, you can also review OSHA’s guidance:
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/molds/control.html