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Mold is in virtually every environment and is found indoors and outdoors all year round. One of the main sources of growth is any warm dark moist environment. Anytime you have moisture damage you should inspect for mold. Some of the more common sources of moisture problems are flooding, plumbing leaks, roof leaks, condensation, baths or showers, and even unventilated cooking areas. All surfaces should be visually inspected for any signs of mold.
 Mold spores are introduced mainly by moisture damage although they also come into our dwellings by our own doing. Many of the things we bring into the home including shoes, bags, pets, etc., introduce spores in our living environment.
Mold comes in many colors - white, grey, light green, red, yellow, and many others. There is also a mold referred to as black mold, even though it is not actually black. If you are only looking for the black mold you may very easily overlook many other colored and more toxic molds. Many molds carry a very distinct odor, a very musty smell. This may help you in your inspection for mold.
Some other areas with high levels of mold may include antique shops, green houses, saunas, farms, mills, construction areas, flower shops, summer homes, boats and marina areas. While dark molds can be seen easily on most surfaces, many molds can be trickier to see. One trick is to shine a very bright flashlight at an angle at the surface in question and look at the area from the same angle. This method makes it much easier to spot lighter harder to see molds. In fact, many of the lighter molds are much more toxic.
Once you spot the mold, the next step is to clean and inhibit further growth.
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