Table of Contents
What is Organic Growth?
Many substances found indoors may resemble organic growth but are not. Below are some common look-alikes and tips for telling the difference:
Look-Alike | Typical Appearance | How to Distinguish from Mold |
Dust or soot | Fine, gray or black film; wipes away easily; found on bathroom ceiling tiles and around vents | Mold often has a musty smell and may smear, not wipe clean. |
Water stains and mineral deposits | Yellow, white, or brown discoloration; often chalky or crusty | Mold often appears fuzzy, slimy, or textured and may have a strong earthy smell; not chalky or crystalline. |
Paint bubbles or peeling | Raised or flaking paint, no texture underneath | Mold beneath paint usually leaves visible discolorations or odor. |
Soap scum | White or cloudy film in bathrooms; waxy or greasy to the touch | Mold is rarely greasy and is more likely to be textured or spread in irregular patterns. |
Mildew | Flat, white or gray or black patches on damp crevasses, especially in tile grout or caulking lines. | Mold tends to be darker with a broader pigmentation spectrum (black, green, or brown), has more depth of penetration in material than superficial, and can spread beyond wet areas. |
If you see something suspicious and aren’t sure, please let us know—we prefer a false alarm over a missed issue. Reporting it early helps us take care of it quickly and prevents it from becoming a larger concern for you or your neighbors.
Tips for Preventing Organic Growth
- Run your AC. Running the air conditioner in your apartment at or below 79°F helps dehumidify the air, depriving fungi of a hospitable environment.
- Run your bathroom exhaust fan. During and after showers and baths, running your exhaust fan will pull humid air out of the apartment.
- Report leaks promptly. Water leaking from faucets, around toilets, near appliances needs to be reported right away so that organic growth’s nutrient source is addressed in a timely manner.
- Dry wet areas quickly. Dry spills, damp floors, and wet clothing and towels within 24–48 hours; squeegee shower walls and wipe down bathroom surfaces after immediately after use; avoid leaving wet towels or laundry in piles.
- Clean moisture-prone areas regularly. Every 1–2 weeks, clean your bathroom, tub, and shower with organic growth-inhibiting products such as Home Armor Instant Mold Mildew Stain Remover or Clorox Plus Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover Spray; clean kitchens with said products every 2–4 weeks.
- Use organic growth-resistant products. Consider organic growth-resistant shower curtains and bathmats.
Organic Growth Reporting Process
- Resident contacts Housing: If you believe there may be organic growth in your apartment, share your concern with Housing as soon as possible—call if there is an active water leak; otherwise, email housing@dts.edu or putting in a workorder in AppFolio will work too.
- Resident completes the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) form: Housing will promptly provide this form when a concern is surfaced, and the form is available below for download. By completing the form, we document the issue thoroughly for the Facilities leadership and, if warranted, our independent, licensed air quality specialist.
- DTS conducts initial inspection: Senior DTS Facilities leadership conducts an in-person inspection of each reported area in an IAQ, with one of the following recommendations:
- Further investigation – If organic growth is smelled or conditions suggesting hidden organic growth are found, DTS will move forward with our third-party testing specialist to determine what may be present and what remediation is needed.
- Immediate action – If the issue is clearly, visibly organic growth, DTS will begin remediation steps immediately.
- Follow-up in two weeks – If there is no current evidence of organic growth but some risk factors are evident (e.g., moisture), Facilities will schedule a re-inspection in two weeks to reassess.
If after the two-week follow-up, Facilities’ findings do not warrant additional testing or actions, you have the option to request Housing still conduct an air quality test with our independent, licensed contractor. Please note though:
- If the air quality test confirms the presence of organic growth at an unhealthy level according to industry standards, DTS will pay for the testing and any remediation (assuming the conditions for organic growth were not the result of a lease violation).
- If the air quality test returns the presence of organic growth at or below that of outside air, the cost of the test will be your financial responsibility.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Form
This form must be completed to document the issue thoroughly for Facilities leadership and, if warranted, our independent, licensed air quality specialist.
