How to Know if You’re Breathing in Mold from Your Garage
You might not spend much time hanging out in your garage, but that doesn’t mean it’s not secretly affecting your health. Garages are often damp, dark, and not very well ventilated, which makes them the perfect place for mold to grow. If you've ever stepped into your garage and noticed a weird smell or started coughing for no reason, mold might be to blame. Here’s how to figure it out before it starts causing health problems.
It Starts with That Musty Smell
If you walk into your garage and get hit with a musty or earthy smell, that’s your first red flag. Mold has a unique odor that most of us can recognize once we’ve smelled it. It might not be strong at first, but over time, it tends to linger in the air and cling to anything porous, like cloth. If you keep smelling it even after airing out the space, you probably have mold growing somewhere nearby.
Your Eyes, Nose, and Throat Will Tell You
Pay attention to how your body reacts when you’re in the garage. If your eyes water, your nose runs, or your throat gets scratchy soon after entering, it could be more than just dust. These symptoms are pretty common reactions when mold spores are floating around. And if your allergies seem worse when you’re near the garage, or better when you leave, that’s a good clue that something in there is the culprit.
You Might Actually See It
Mold doesn’t always hide. Sometimes it shows up as dark patches on your walls, floors, or even items you have stored in your garage. It can look fuzzy, slimy, or just like a dark stain. It loves cardboard boxes, exposed wood, and any spot that stays damp. You might also spot it growing around the base of the walls or corners where moisture gathers naturally. If you see discoloration or odd textures forming anywhere in your garage, don’t ignore it. Mold doesn’t just go away on its own and the sooner you catch the problem, the easier it is to fix.
Condensation Could Be a Clue
Even if you can’t see mold, you might notice signs that conditions are just right for it to start growing. If you see condensation on windows or walls in your garage, that usually means there’s too much moisture in the air. Mold needs moisture to grow, so if your garage is sweaty, humid, or damp, mold might already be growing or starting to grow. Check for signs of mold after rainy days or big changes in temperature, when garages are most likely to get steamy.
Stored Items Might Be Suffering
If you’ve ever pulled something out of storage and found it smelled weird or had little black or green spots on it, your garage might already have a mold problem. Mold doesn’t just stick to walls. It’ll happily settle into cardboard boxes, clothes, paper, and fabric. If anything you’re storing comes out looking or smelling worse than when it went in, that could be your warning sign that spores are in the air. You should immediately investigate the source of the smell, even if it ends up not being mold.
You’re Always Coughing Near the Garage
It’s easy to write off a little coughing or sneezing, especially if you have allergies. But if those symptoms flare up every time you’re near the garage, or after you’ve been inside of it, it might be caused by mold in the air. Breathing in mold spores over time can really irritate your lungs, especially if you have asthma or other breathing issues. It might not feel like a serious issue at first, but long-term exposure to mold can be a real health problem.
The Walls and Ceiling Might Be to Blame
Drywall and unsealed concrete are both common in garages and can soak up moisture without you even realizing it. Once that happens, mold can make a hidden home inside your walls or ceiling. Look for signs of mold, like peeling paint, bubbling surfaces, or small cracks where moisture might be sneaking in. Even if you don’t see mold on the surface, those porous materials can hold a lot of it where you can’t see, and still release spores into the air.
Garage Humidity Can Creep Up Without You Knowing
Most of us don’t think about the humidity level in the garage, but as I’ve already mentioned, it’s a big factor for mold growth. Any room with over 50 percent humidity is somewhere that mold will thrive. Weather changes, leaky roofs, and even washing machines in the garage can raise that moisture level quickly. The best way to tell if things are getting out of hand is with a humidity monitor. Even a cheap one can give you a heads-up before anything starts growing. It’s a simple tool, but it can keep you from breathing in dangerous spores.
It’s Not Just About the Mold You See
The hard part with garage mold is that it can hide in places you don’t often check. You might not notice it until you’re suddenly feeling run-down or smelling something off. But by paying attention to small changes, like how your garage smells, how your stuff looks, and how your body feels, you can catch a mold problem early. That way, you can clean it up or call in help before it turns into something bigger and harder to fix.