What is mold?

 Mildew and molds are fungi - simple microscopic organisms
 that thrive anywhere there is a moist environment. Molds 
 are a necessary part of the environment; without them,
 leaves would not decay and aspects of soil enrichment could
 not take place. It is their ability to destroy organic materials
 that makes mold a problem for people.
 Mildew (mold in its early stages) and molds grow on wood
 products, ceiling tiles, cardboard, wallpaper, carpets, drywall,
 fabric, plants, foods, insulation, decaying leaves and other
 organic materials. Mold colonies can start to grow on a
 damp surface within 24 to 48 hours. They reproduce via 
 spores - tiny, lightweight “seeds”- that travel through the
 air. Molds digest organic material, eventually destroying the
 material they grow on, and then spread to destroy adjacent
 organic material. In addition to the damage molds can
 cause in your home, they can also cause mild to severe
 health problems.