Thursday, March 21, 2024

How Do You Know If Your Carpet Has Mold

Is Mold A Health Problem Beyond Allergies

What to do when you have Sub Floor Mold and Moisture issue.

In one word Yes.

Weve shown that carpet can hold pollutants, but did you know that mold itself is a health hazard?

Mold is an insidious, invisible predator in your home. It hides in places no one ever thinks to look like under cabinets, in crawl spaces, and behind furniture. Mold is most often associated with allergies, but mold is much more menacing than people know. While all molds have the potential to cause irritation and allergy symptoms, molds can also cause much more dangerous health problems including: fungal poisoning and mental health problems.

Did you know that mold can cause problems for your pets as well? To learn more check out our post: Mold and Pets 10 Things You Most Likely Didnt Know.

Some Exceptions To This No

  • If there was only very small moldy spot caused by a limited-scope, well understood event – such as a child left a piece of apple wet-side down on the carpet- that’s such a localized problem that ordinary cleaning should suffice, and replacing the carpet ought not be necessary. That’s because we know the cause, we know there was no extensive wetting nor mold growth, and we are not facing conditions that make further mold growth likely – at least not from the apple.
  • If occupants of the building where moldy carpeting is or has been installed need to inform their physician, pulmonologist, or allergist about the molds to which they have been exposed – in which case other building screening samples and a more thorough inspection may be in order, lest we focus on the “wrong mold” reservoir or miss something else important.
  • Carpeting that is not permanently installed – better called area rugs – can be removed and sent out for professional cleaning and drying and if appropriate, tested before it is reinstalled in the building.

What Happens When Mold In Carpet Is Not Completely Removed

Most strains of mold grow pretty quickly and also spread easily, so if even small traces of mold remain in the carpet, you may find yourself dealing with a serious mold problem again in the future. Mold may begin to grow beneath the carpet and can ruin your floorboards. It can also spread to other areas of the home. If it enters your heating and air conditioning ducts, it will quickly spread throughout the entire house as soon as you turn on your heat or air conditioning.

Of course, the continued presence of even small amounts of mold in your carpet will continue to pose a health risk. The longer you are exposed to mold, the greater the risk to your health.

Read Also: How To Clean Mold Off Of Ceiling

How Can You Prevent Carpet Mold

How can you prevent carpet mold? If your carpet gets wet in any way, its important to act quickly. By doing so, you dont give mold and bacteria any time to form or spread. Be sure to pull back the pad and dry the floors.

An air mover can help dry the affected areas more quickly. The B-Air® VP-25 air mover is one of the most effective tools you can have for drying effectiveness. Make sure the carpet itself is fully dry, too. Once dried out, have your carpet steam cleaned as a final precaution.

How Dangerous Are Moldy Carpets

Mold On Carpet

Moldy surfaces on our showers and tiles tend to spike our attention immediately. The unsightly green or black mold is known to carry health risks that we want eliminated immediately. However, carpets are one of the largest furnishings of a home, and one of the least to be routinely cleaned. Unkept carpets harbor dirt, debris, allergens, and mold spores.

Dangers

When mold exists in carpeting it can take time before it is visibly noticeable, and by that time it has become a severe contaminant. Mold can cause health issues ranging from a runny nose or headache, up to possible hair loss. Mold presence is especially dangerous to those suffering from respiratory issues such as COPD and asthma. When mold is residing in your carpeting there is also a chance for dermatitis, a type of skin rash, to occur. Children, especially infants and toddlers can be at greater risk for these irritants due to the increased amount of time they spend on the floor playing and crawling.

Common symptoms of mold exposure include:

  • Sneezing
  • Exasperated asthma symptoms

Identifying Problems

Mold is not visible on carpet until the situation has become severe. In some extreme cases, fungi can even begin to grow in your carpet. But if the mold is not detectable to the eye, how do you know it is growing?

Remediation and Replacement

Prevention

Read Also: How To Remove Mold From Leather Bag

In The Shower And Bathtub

Showers and bathtubs are one of the most common places you may find mold. With repeated use, these areas tend to be damp most of the time. If you arent properly ventilating during and after your shower or bath, mold spores will thrive. But mold isnt always visible and obvious be sure to check for mold on your shampoo bottles, washcloths and loofahs, shower curtain, in and around the faucet and shower head, and in the tile grout.

For Help Dealing With Moldy Carpet

As you can see, since you can’t kill mold in carpet and instead must remove and replace it, dealing with moldy carpet is a pretty big job. The job is made even bigger and further complicated if you must remove and replace floorboards. If you need help with the job, or if your doctor recommends you not handle moldy carpet yourself due to health concerns, we suggest scheduling a free consultation in your home with an experienced mold removal professional. Follow this link to find qualified professionals in your area.

Additional Reading:

Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Bathroom Ceiling Mold

Who Is Most At Risk For Health Problems Associated With Exposure To Mold

People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds. People with immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections. Individuals with chronic respiratory disease may experience difficulty breathing. Individuals with immune suppression are at increased risk for infection from molds. If you or your family members have these conditions, a qualified medical clinician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment.

How To Check For Mold And Mildew In Carpets

4 Things You Should Know about Mold & Mildew! (Clean My Space)

A moldy carpet is more than something thats just unappealing to look at. It can also create a foul odor and damage your health. If you suspect that your carpet might have mold growing in it, then there are several things that you can do to find out for sure.

If you do happen to find mold or mildew in carpets, then you want to replace or clean them as soon as possible. Interested in learning more? Continue reading and well walk you through how to check for mold in your carpets.

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How Do I Know If Carpet Mold Has Set In

If you have an area in your home that is at higher risk, its important to inspect the entire area regularly. Things to watch for include:

Increased allergies or sickness do you or a family member exhibit increased allergy symptoms that are otherwise unexplainable? Do you have symptoms that just wont go away? It might be a sign of a problem.

Musty odors does it smell funny when you walk into the room? Does the stale air linger day and night? Its worth further investigation.

Damp carpet any spill that sets for any length of time can lead to carpet mold.

Change in carpet color walk through each room occasionally and pay attention to corners, along the wallboards, and other areas that may be hidden from view. Does the color or texture of the carpet change? It may be a sign of carpet mold underneath the fibers settling in.

If you believe carpet mold has settled in, it might be time to consider replacing it to give your house a clean slate. Whether you choose to replace it with new carpet, or explore other options luxury vinyl planks are in high demand we can help you select the right flooring for your home.

Keep Your Carpet Clean

The potential for moldy carpets prevents many homeowners from installing carpet in their basements. Basements are notoriously damp places, even those that seem dry to our sight, touch, and smell. Light humidity in the largely enclosed environment of a basement builds up over time and can cause problems for carpet and other materials. But is humidity not the only cause of mold?

A scientific study sponsored by the Carpet and Rug Institute has provided a more complex picture of how mold grows in carpeting and how best to avoid the problem. Studies were conducted to find out whether high humidity caused mold growth on carpeting.

Carpets in various conditions were subjected to various levels of humidity. Researchers, in particular, wanted to see if high humidity provided mold/mildew with an incubator in carpeting. What they found was that dirt, more than humidity, contributed to mold growth.

Carpets that were heavily or even lightly soiled, bred far more mold than clean carpets when subjected to the same levels of moisture. Simply put, high humidity plus dirt equals mold.

While there is no official definition of clean, it is recommended to vacuum a carpet weekly to help prevent mold growth.

Dirt on carpeting grows mold for two reasons. First, the dirt contains mold spores. Second, dirt itself contains moisture. The moisture in the dirt combined with the room’s ambient humidity, therefore, provides a rich breeding ground for mold.

Also Check: Mold Or Mildew On Bathroom Ceiling

Carpet And Mold 12 Things You Need To Know

Carpet is never supposed to get wet. Within 24 hours of moisture being introduced mold can begin to grow. Time is NOT on your side! Youve got to get that carpet dry ASAP. Come read and learn what to do about wet carpet, and how to stop mold. Learn why carpets are not the best flooring for your home, and all about carpet alternatives.

Can You Control Mold

How Do You Know If Your Carpet Has Water Damage?

Although molds are part of the natural environment and are found everywhere, indoors and outdoors, its not a problem until it begins to grow indoors. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in your indoor environmentthe best way to control mold growth is to control moisture. In areas where moisture is a perpetual problem, its recommended not to install carpeting.

Also Check: Best Way To Get Mold Off Bathroom Ceiling

When Should I Call A Professional Carpet Cleaner To Get Mold Out Of Carpet Instead Of Cleaning It Myself

Sometimes a mold infestation is too much for us to tackle on our own. Mold can have detrimental effects on a persons health and is not something to disregard when it comes to your family. Calling a professional cleaner is imperative in these situations, and the only way to start the mold remediation process.

How do you know when to handle the mold problem yourself, and when to call in reinforcements? Patches of mold should only be dealt with by hand when they cover an area smaller than 10 x 10 in space. A professional carpet cleaner should treat anything more significant.

Some patches of mold may not appear significant at first, so if you are unsure of where the source of mold came from, you should double-check for mold growth. For mildew caused by pet stains, spills, or other known origins, it will not spread far if you catch it soon enough.

If you are unsure of the source, however, peeling back the piece of the carpet will help. If the mold has spread into the floorboards or wood on the walls, its time to call a professional.

Safety is the number one priority when managing mold problems and when getting rid of mold in carpets. If the mold has spread to other areas of the house, a mold remediation or removal service may be necessary. Otherwise, these nine different solutions will work great and save you money in the process.

What Are Black Mold Health Symptoms

We all know mold isnt welcomed in the home, but did you know too that breathing in the presence of mold can harm your health? There are over 2,000 different species of mold and the most dangerous of all is called Stachybotrys Chartarum, also known as black mold or the invisible killer.

Why is black mold so dangerous? Black mold releases toxic spores that linger in the air and attack your respiratory health. The potency of these toxic spores has proved to be the most detrimental to human health.

Black mold often appears as slimy and greenish-black. If its water source runs out, it can also appear as dry and powdery. Black mold is also dangerous because its sometimes difficult to distinguish from other species of mold.

The following are health symptoms associated with black mold exposure:

  • Eye irritation

In severe cases, symptoms caused by inhaling black mold can lead to the following health troubles:

  • Vomiting
  • Asthma
  • Respiratory complications

Sometimes mold invades spaces that are hard to see and reach. It spreads fast, burrowing into walls and ceilings and hiding in cupboards and under carpets. Quite often, people are exposed to black mold without even knowing it. If you or anyone in your home is experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms without knowing why, you may be exposed to mold.

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All Carpet Cleaning Companies Should Give You A Precise Quote Over The Phone

As much as you would like to know exactly how much you will have pay for carpet cleaning, a serious company will rarely give you a quote over the phone.

The price will depend on the type of carpet, the amount of dirt and the amount of furniture that has to be moved. None of these can be determined over the phone, so cleaners will have to come to your house to perform an assessment. Only then will they be able to give you an accurate quote.

Natural Ways To Clean Mold Off Of Carpet

DOES YOUR SHOWER FLOOR HAVE MOLD??? THIS COULD BE THE REASON

There are natural ways to remove and clean black mold from carpet and they can be very useful if you prefer avoiding chemicals, As we discuss three natural options, keep in mind that they may or may not be ideal depending on your rug and mold situation.

  • Hydrogen peroxide. This is not a good solution if you are trying to kill black mold on carpets and colored rugs. Thats because peroxide will bleach out many materials. If you are working with white or extremely light carpets, this could be a good option. Use a spray bottle filled with peroxide and spray the molded area until it is thoroughly saturated. After about 10-15 minutes, use a brush to scrub the carpet and finally blot with a towel.
  • Baking soda. This is a good option if you have children or pets because baking soda is non-toxic. In addition to cleaning up the issue, it will also deodorize the rug. Make sure you are mixing baking soda with water so it can thoroughly saturate the carpet and reach all sources of mold. A general measurement is about one tablespoon per spray bottle of water. Spray the area then scrub with a brush. Since baking soda is safe, you can also use it diluted or in powder form regularly on the carpet for prevention of the problem too.
  • Recommended Reading: Getting Mold Off Leather

    Call A Professional Mold Remediation Specialist

    Carpet cleaning companies will tell you that they can dry and remove mold without taking up your carpets, but they really cant. You see, mold grows inside of its food sources. Since mold grows inside the food source , you have to remove the affected carpet, pads, wood, drywall, etc. Only after you remove the affected materials and thoroughly clean the area will the mold be truly gone or remediated.

    S To Prevent Mold Forming In Carpet

    Routine is key to preventing mold from forming in your carpet. Having a weekly regimen in place will help you stay proactive in the constant fight to keep your home a healthy one. Below are some tips that will keep you one step ahead of mold:

    • Regularly use a dehumidifier in areas prone to higher humidity to help keep moisture levels from reaching a point where mold spores need to grow. Anywhere from 30% to 50% humidity is normal for the inside of your home. It is important to check humidity levels frequently as they can change throughout the day. A/C units can also help manage humidity in your home.
    • Keep your home well ventilated by opening windows. This is an easy way to reduce moisture in your home.
    • Vacuuming often will help keep the dust that accompanies mold at bay. Steam clean any wet areas as this will help remove any toxins found in your carpet.
    • Do not install carpet in areas where moisture is often present. Clean rugs in bathrooms or basements often.
    • Do your homework when installing carpet. Be sure to choose moisture resistant padding and check that it is installed correctly.
    • Regularly replace your home air filters with ones that guarantee they filter out allergens such as dust and mold.

    Mold can be scary, but removing it from your home is pretty easy. Remember, as your mother always said, “A healthy home is a happy home,” and “Prevention is the best medicine.” And if she didn’t say that, I’m sure she was still a great mom.

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    Heat With A Steam Cleaner

    Heating mold and mildew in carpets has been found effective in killing fungi. Steam cleaning is one way that the average homeowner can kill mold and mildew in carpet via heat treatment. To be effective, heat must be applied to each affected area of carpet for at least 12 seconds. Once the carpet has been efficiently treated, it must be dried immediately as the moisture from the steam can encourage new mold to develop. If you do not have a steam cleaner and do not want to purchase a new one, you can usually rent a steam cleaning machine from your local home improvement store.

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