The first step on how to get rid of mold under carpet is to assess the damage. Not all mold-contaminated carpets are salvageable.
In such situations, assessing the condition would save you time and effort. We included the steps in removing mold as well additional knowledge on carpet mold.
Mold And Carpets
Mold contamination on any part of your home may be upsetting. It’s upsetting for many reasons, but the health issues it brings are quite bothersome.
Mold growth is annoying to have at home, but it isn’t entirely unfixable. Read further to learn about the steps in removing mold from under the carpet.
Causes of mold growth on carpets
Learning about the causes of mold growth helps mold prevention. We wrote some of the reasons for carpet mold growth here:
1. Water damage
There are several forms of water damage, and all of them are dangerous if left unchecked. Mold affects your home’s structural integrity, especially your home’s wooden structures.
Here’s an article on how to stop mildew growth on water-damaged wood that might help you further understand water damage.
While carpets do not get wood rot from water damage, their quality may still be affected. Unchecked water damage on your carpet, whether it’s from floors or the adjacent walls, should be fixed as soon as possible.
2. Lack of ventilation
Poor ventilation in your household helps trap moisture, which leads to mold growth. Mold contamination due to the lack of ventilation usually happens during the cold season where everyone keeps their windows and doors shut.
First, it affects the walls and the floor, and the next thing you know, your carpet is affected too.
3. Liquid spills
Carpets are placed in high-traffic areas where children and pets play. Naturally, spills are going to occur either from drinks or from pets peeing on the mat.
If not cleaned immediately, these spills will lead to mold growth due to moisture. Also, if the liquid spilled has sugar, it can serve as a food source for mold.
4. Home maintenance issues
Accumulated dust, leaky roofs and ceilings, plumbing issues, and broken window seals are all symptoms of poor household maintenance. All of which may also lead to mold growth.
Unvacuumed carpets that house dust and moisture are an ideal environment for mold spores to settle on. To lessen your chances of getting mold, read this article about eradicating mold spores.
What are the signs that there is mold growth on carpets?
Learning about the causes of mold is not enough. You have to know the signs of mold growth to be able to identify them.
Foul odor
Mold from under the carpet is not immediately apparent. However, the moldy smell would be hard to miss.
Read here to know more about the mold’s odor.
Allergies
Another sign of mold growth in your home is the increased allergic reactions among your family members. It is likely to be mold allergies if they get a runny nose and eye irritation problems out of nowhere.
Removing Mold From Under The Carpet
If the majority of the carpet has been compromised, then you may need to replace it. If only a small portion is mold-contaminated, then proceed with the following steps:
Step #1. Remove the furniture
The carpet occupies a large expanse in your room. You have to move the furniture on top of it.
Moreover, inspect if they have also acquired mold.
Step #2. Clean the carpet
Before working on removing mold, you have to steam-clean the carpet first. Use a steam cleaner along with detergent and water, then allow the carpet to dry outside afterward.
You can use standard rug-cleaning products or any detergent in cleaning the carpet. However, to be safe, do a spot test first before you use anything.
Step #3. Remove stains
Mold inevitably results in stains. To get rid of the mold stains, sprinkle baking soda on the area and leave it there overnight.
Vacuum the carpet again after that. Also, clean off the floor where your carpet is installed.
Attend to possible water damage on the flooring or adjacent walls as well. This is to prevent mold from growing on your carpet again.
Tips in carpet mold prevention
Knowing proper mold prevention measures is also essential besides looking into ways to fix water damage and eradicate mold spores. Here are some of our tips on mold prevention:
Invest in HVAC and dehumidifiers
The cold season makes your home extra vulnerable to mold growth. This is why we recommend having a proper HVAC system or dehumidifiers to maintain the humidity levels.
Maintain your home
One way to prevent water damage and mold growth is to have proper home maintenance.
As mentioned earlier, accumulated dust and leak issues are symptoms of an unmaintained home. These are simple issues that pile up and may ultimately lead to mold growth.
To prevent mold from contaminating your carpet, clean it every week. Vacuum it to avoid dust build-up and to get rid of inactive mold.
Conclusion
After learning about how to get rid of mold under carpet and some mold prevention tips, we hope you’re equipped to deal with carpet mold!