Mold in a Kitchen

Mold can grow in wet conditions or in conditions of elevated relative humidity, both of which can develop in kitchens. Most molds that grow in kitchens are commonly called mildew and are plant-like organisms that grow along surfaces and digest biodegradable substances like dust, food spills and soap scum. It’s impossible to remove all foods for mold from an environment, but you can reduce moisture, even in a kitchen, which will minimize mold growth.

Breathing in living or dead mold spores can cause health symptoms, so you don’t want mold to remain in spaces where you spend time.With very few exceptions, though, mold does not degrade wood.Wood-decaying fungi may be present, however, if there’s been a long-term leak from your dishwasher, in a pipe under the sink, around the base of a faucet, or from the hose leading to your kitchen spray. Sometimes the water line leading to the icemaker in a refrigerator develops an invisible leak that dampens the floor below. If the floor in front of your refrigerator or dishwashing machine is water stained or buckling, or you see rotten or soft wood or even mushrooms in the cabinet under your kitchen sink, a contractor should evaluate the situation, as structural repairs may be needed.

Where Might Mold Be Growing in a Kitchen?

Mold can grow in the dust on the walls, ceiling, on kickspace surfaces under cabinets, inside the cabinet under the sink, in a refrigerator drip tray, on the floor under a refrigerator if the water line has been leaking, and on walls and the ceiling if there has been any pipe leak within a wall or ceiling cavity. Mold can also grow on food inside your refrigerator or on the rubber door gasket.

Why Is the Mold Growing There?

Mold grows in a kitchen because there’s too much moisture present in either the liquid form (water) or vapor form (humidity). Mold grows on the refrigerator gasket because the air near the gasket is cold and therefore at a higher relative humidity than the air near other warmer room surfaces, or because there has been condensation on the gasket.