You might have spotted it before - the strange white fuzz around the edges of your car windows or the ones inside your home? Looks harmless - if it bit gross - but it’s actually a type of fungus.
More importantly, it can cause allergies and worsen asthma, so if you've got the sniffles but you haven't been sick, this unwanted fuzzy houseguest could be why.
A local mycologist (a scientist who studies fungi) who has been doing God's work on Reddit wrote a post identifying the culprit as ‘Cladosporium’ and told how we can get rid of it.
According to the Redditor, this type of mold thrives thanks to a “combination of condensation overnight on windows, relatively warm days and a buildup of dust over summer".
The good news: Cladosporium isn't one of the more toxic types of fungus.
The bad news: Exposure to it can cause watery eyes, running noses, sneezing and even asthma attacks. If you're immuno-compromised, it could cause more serious infections - but these are rare.
Cladosporium isn’t limited to cars, it is a very common mold that is likely to appear inside your house.
Great news, I know.
It is most commonly found in: carpets, wallpaper, window sills, fabrics, walls, wood surfaces, painted surfaces, cabinets, floors, HVAC vent covers and grills and paper.
Basically anywhere that’s damp, dusty or near heating/cooling appliances is fair game.
Thankfully, it is easily preventable and fixable.
For small areas, take a soft toothbrush and 10% vinegar and gently scrub. This will “greatly reduce its growth and simultaneously clean up the dust that the fungus needs for nutrients.”
Healthline also suggests cleaning your house and gutters frequently (bit of a no-brainer) , fixing leaks immediately, closing windows at night, cleaning large spills of water immediately, and keeping an eye out for signs of mold.
Inside your home, it can appear as black, yellow or green spots - the colour shifting as it grows.
The Reddit post shared on the NZ Subreddit, got a lot of attention - and gratitude.
“Ew, but thank you very much!” said one commenter.
Another added a task to their to-do list: “I know what I’ll be doing today.”
Some were optimistic enough to make a joke of it: “If you pronounce it cladosporiata it sounds like a delightful mushroom flavoured pasta.”
Go on, have a little nosy around the cracks of your car and house and see if you've got it - better living everybody.
