Mold likes moist and wet environments. Water leaks and too much humidity (over 60 percent) in homes can be the perfect environment for mold growth. Mold can grow on all types of surfaces including walls, rugs, fabric items, wood, and other surfaces.
Testing your home for mold is not typically necessary. If you see or smell mold, this is enough information to know that remediation is needed. Remediation means that the mold needs to be cleaned up and the home environment needs to be thoroughly checked for signs of too much moisture (ie leaks, humidity). If leaks or too much humidity is identified, these items need to be fixed, or mold will re-growth.
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have good, detailed information on mold exposures in the home (see Additional Resources section).