Google yielded no results, and I’ve been curious about this for a while. I have a shirt that is about six years old with some mold at the top of the collar from one lake swimming trip, when I left it in the garage to dry. After six years of washing, bleaching, and sanitizing, that stain is still there. It doesn’t bother me, but I was curious why mold is black and leaves such potent stains.
In: Biology
Mold appears black due to the presence of dark pigments, particularly melanin, in certain types of fungi. This pigmentation helps protect the mold from ultraviolet light and can enhance its survival in various environments.
Even after the mold is killed, it can leave behind stains because the pigments can bind to surfaces like walls, wood, or fabric. These stains may not wash away easily, as they penetrate the material or become ingrained in it. Additionally, dead mold spores can also contribute to discoloration, making it seem like the stains remain even after cleaning.
To effectively remove mold stains, it’s often necessary to use specific cleaning agents or techniques that can break down these pigments and restore the surface.
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