That stat about mold growing in 24 hours really got me

I was reading this thing on the CDC website last night, just clicking around, and I found out that mold can start growing on a wet surface within 24 to 48 hours. I always thought you had a few days to dry stuff out, like if you spill water on carpet or leave a damp towel on the floor. Turns out that's not true at all, which is kind of scary considering how much water I track in from the yard this time of year. We had a leak under the kitchen sink a few weeks ago and I just wiped it up and figured it was fine. Now I'm wondering if I should pull up the floor boards and check behind the cabinet. Has anyone here ever dealt with hidden mold after a small leak and found it way worse than you expected?

2 comments

2 Comments

averywright10h ago

24 to 48 hours" sounds like worst case, not guaranteed.

hugo_hayes9h ago

Disagree a bit. The EPA and mold remediation sites all say 24-48 hours is the real window before spores start colonizing, not just sitting there. You might get lucky with a quick wipe, but that damp wood inside the cabinet is basically a petri dish waiting to pop off.