The mold will also look to be slimy on wet surfaces and sooty on those surfaces that were previously wet, but now have dried. Appearance black mold is very fuzzy, almost looking as if it has hair. Toxic black mold poisoning what you need to know Toxic Mold is variously described as smelling musty, dusty, or earthy. How to identify black mold on wood . Black mold can also grow on wooden surfaces if there is a nearby water source. If it smells bad and looks black then there’s a good chance you’re dealing with black mold. When you find the mold, determine if it is growing in a circular pattern. You may be able to identify mold by a musty smell. It is because of the natural toxins contained in the black mold that may cause adverse respiratory problems. One of the first indicators that your basement has mold is its smell. Mildew may begin as white, then turn brown or gray. Black mold refers explicitly to ‘stachybotrys chartarum.’ step 2: What you are looking for is: ...