Let's talk about something that is not so fun but absolutely imperative—mold. Yes, the little weasel that comes when you don't expect it and appears in your home without warning. Your walls are perfectly healthy one day, and then you wake up the next day wondering what this odd odor is or why there's a brown mark in the corner of your ceiling. I get it. Mold is not something we think about every day. But catching it early can save you a whole lot of trouble (and money). So today, I will walk you through how to catch the early signs of mold in the house and what to do about it. Let's begin.

That Musty Smell You Can't Quite Place

Okay, so let's imagine this: You walk into a room, and it simply smells. off. Not like dirty clothes or food, but kind of earthy, wet, and moldy. That smell? That could be mold. Actually, one of the first signs that you have mold in your house is that funky, stale smell.

It's generally the most powerful where air can't move easily—like closets, basements, or under your sink in the bathroom. You might not sense anything at first, but hear your nose out. It typically figures things out before your eyes do.

Little Spots That Keep Getting Bigger

Another tip-off? Those teeny-tiny dark black, green, or even gray spots you might see on your walls, ceiling, or windows. Most people mistake them for dirt or shadows at first. But if the spots keep getting bigger—or you try to clean them and they come back—that's a pretty good sign mold is moving in.

These patches may be fuzzy or slimy, depending on their type. And they usually come up in spaces that are prone to being damp or that won't dry up properly—kitchens, bathrooms, or any space that ever had a leak, say.

You or Your Family Keep Getting Sick

And then there's the section where it gets intimate. Mold doesn't just play tricks on your walls—it can play tricks on your health, too. If you or members of your family just keep getting sick with a sniffle, a cough, or with allergies that somehow seem to be worse indoors than outdoors, mold might be the mischievous culprit.

Keep an eye out for such items as:

• Constant sneezing or running nose
• Red, irritated eyes or skin
• Worsening asthma
• Fatigued or groggy when you're at home

If the symptoms immediately improve when you leave the house for some days, then there's a great chance your house may be in the picture. That is one of the lesser-known indications of household mold that is easily overlooked.