How To Get Mold Out Of Your Carpets
Molds can damage your carpets easily. A wet carpet provides the perfect condition for mold spore germination and the natural fibers of your carpet become the ideal food.
The sooner you tackle the problem, the easier you will find it, as the spores proliferate fast. As some molds show toxic characteristics, you must deal with mold problem not only from the cleanliness point of view but also as a health issue.
The easiest way to get rid of the mold in your carpets is to use a carpetcleaner. They will deep clean the carpet and get rid of mold and spores that exists on the fibers of the carpet. See our comparison guide to choose the best carpet cleaner for mold on our homepage and check out our ratings and reviews.
Always remember to get to the core of the problem. The reason to why there is mold in the first place, to be able to prevent it in the future. Maintain your carpet.
If you dont have a carpet cleaner it is a bit tougher, but here is a guide:
- Remember to wear a protective gear goggles, gloves, facemask and clothing that covers your body well while trying to remove the mold from the carpet.
- Pay attention to ventilation factor. Keep your doors closed so that moldspores do not spread to other parts of the house, but, let the windows remain open for air circulation.
- Use a dehumidifier for the next two days to get rid of residual spores. Clean the equipment used for the process with an anti-fungal solution to prevent spores from lodging in other parts of your house.
Get Your Supplies And Gears Ready
To kill mold in carpet, you need a reliable cleaning solution. You can use cleaning supplies that you probably already have such as vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or bleach. Alternately, you can purchase a carpet mildew remover or mold cleaner. Also, make sure you wear hand gloves and mask before you start with your carpet mold cleaning project.
Does Bleach Kill Mold No It Doesnt
Mold, a resilient and tough organism that is not only unsightly but also brings a lot of havoc in the form of structural damage and potential health effects.
Mold spores are ubiquitous, but moisture can be a limiting factor for active mold growth.
A musty odor and multi-colored patches on surfaces can be its hallmark characteristics that indicate its presence.
Many different products have been marketed to help homeowners say goodbye to mold infestations.
Your over-the-counter bleach is one of them.
It can produce the intended results but only on non-porous surfaces such as metal and glass. Bleach is less effective on any porous materials such as wallboard, wood, and most furniture commonly found in your home.
Porous materials have open pores and air gaps that provide a perfect breeding ground for mold spores. This characteristic of porous materials renders the use of bleach ineffective in most cases.
Porous items such as sponges, drywall, and furniture would provide a habitat for molds to grow deep beneath the surface.
No matter how often you clean the surface of the material, molds will continue to regrow unless the moisture source is eliminated.
The EPA often discourages individuals from using bleach to remove mold growth. Especially on porous surfaces. However, bleach can be used to disinfect non-porous surfaces when professional judgment is used.
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Open The Windows Use A Fan Or Dehumidifier
The carpet will be moist again from the vinegar so open the windows or bring in a fan or dehumidifier to dry out the room. White distilled vinegar is a fantastic cleaning agent that does not harm your health, objects, or the environment. Anytime you can use vinegar before other chemicals like bleach.
How Problematic Can Mold Be On Your Health
Mold spores are tiny structures naturally found in the air. They are attracted to and rely on moist conditions to thrive. They also have no problem finding their way into your home. They can travel through doors, windows, heating and cooling systems, or even hitch a ride on your clothes or pets. Once they have found a conducive environment, such as your carpet, and have combined with the dust in your home, the perfect condition has been created for mold to grow.
Mold spores will exist in your home air in some capacity. Theyre everywhere and not really harmful at low levels. The key to successfully “managing” mold spores is keeping it from collecting in large numbers. To do this, one must deprive the spores of moisture, cellulose, and time.
When left untreated, mold can impact your health in several ways. It releases allergens and can even release toxic substances, called Mycotoxins. If touched or inhaled, it can result in throat, skin, and eye irritation, as well as coughing and a stuffy nose. In more severe cases, when coupled with a weakened immune system, mold inhalation can even cause respiratory infections or bronchitis, as well as exacerbate symptoms in asthma sufferers.
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Removing Mold From Tile And Grout
Bathroom humidity and body soil on surfaces create the perfect environment for mold growth. There are plenty of commercial cleaners that you can buy, but chlorine bleach and water are just as effective and much less expensive.
Simply mix one part bleach to 16 parts water and apply to the mold-affected areas. Allow the solution to remain on the moldy area for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing or retreating. Rinse with water and wipe dry, keeping windows open until fully dry.
Use An Enzymatic Cleaner For Mold Caused By Pet Stains
Some mold and mildew spots arise from organic stains, such as pet urine. Pet stains may occur on occasion, and in some instances, you may not be aware of the accident until its too late. Once pee spots have settled into the carpet, they cause a musty smell as a result of mold growth.
Cleaning these types of mold may require an enzymatic cleaner which is uniquely designed to target pet stains. Most pet cleaners already use enzymes to break down pet stains, so check your carpet cleaning solution for pet stains before you remove molds.
Vacuum the area before applying the enzymatic cleaner to ensure you get rid of loose particles. Spray the moldy area thoroughly with the enzymatic cleaner, then let it sit for 30 minutes.
Afterward, dab the area dry with a clean towel to remove any excess moisture from the carpet. Once dry, vacuum the area again.
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Removing Mold From Interior Walls Flooring And Carpet
If the mold is fuzzy and black, it may be much worse than just unsightly. The area should be opened to check for structural damage. Wear safety glasses and respiratory protection. All building materials should be bagged in heavy-duty plastic bags and disposed of properly. Allow the area to dry out thoroughly and make any needed repairs.
To clean porous surfaces like wood and drywall, a detergent should be added to the bleach and water solution to help it adhere. Mix one part dishwashing detergent, 10 parts bleach, and 20 parts water. Apply with a sponge or mop, trying not to over-saturate the surfaces. Do not rinse away, and allow the solution to air dry.
Carpet with mold or a musty smell should be removed completely. Wearing a respirator, cut the carpet and pad into small sections. Mist the materials and under-flooring with water to help prevent the spread of airborne mold spores. Wrap the carpet in heavy plastic for disposal. Use a wet/dry vacuum to thoroughly clean the area and allow to air dry for several days before replacing flooring.
Use A Steam Cleaner Or Carpet Cleaner To Remove Mold
A simple solution for removing mold from carpeting is to use a steam cleaner or carpet cleaner. Steam cleaning uses high temperatures that are hot enough to kill most mold colonies and bacteria. The brushes on both steam cleaners and carpet cleaning attachments also flake away excess dirt and dust particles from between the carpet fibers to ensure a deep clean.
Carpet cleaners are equally as impressive at killing mold colonies due to their heat levels and effectiveness of cleansing shampoos. If using a carpet cleaner, use an industrial cleaner solution for carpet or make a DIY carpet cleaner.
- 1 teaspoon of fabric softener
- 1 gallon of hot water
Combine the ingredients in a large bowl. Most carpet cleaners have a reservoir where you add clean, hot water and an additional one where you add the cleaning solution. Use this cleaning solution for every gallon of water you add to the first reservoir.
Add your homemade carpet cleaner to the shampoo reservoir and use the machine to clean your carpet. Its as simple as that!
For tougher areas or places with visible patches of mold, use a stiff brush attachment to chip away at the stuck-on flecks of mold. Vacuum the carpet after you finish cleaning to collect remaining particles.
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How To Clean Mold From Carpet Diy
When the carpet cannot be carried outside, the first thing you should do is inspect the backside of the carpet. If only a small amount of mold can be seen on the backing you can attempt to remove it. If there is more than that, the carpet should be discarded.
First, you need to get rid of the moisture. Open all of the windows and doors in the room with the moldy carpet. This will allow airflow to lessen the humidity that mold thrives on. If the room has no windows, place a fan near the door and blow air OUT of the room .
Next you want to dry the carpet. Putting baking soda or talc-free baby powder on the affected areas can do this. Make sure that if you do use baby powder, that it is talc-free. Another possibility for this process would be to use cat litter.
After removing any moisture, scrub the moldy areas with white vinegar and a stiff brush. Vinegar will kill most species of mold. Use only white vinegar, as it will not stain the carpet. Thoroughly wet both sides of the carpet that displays mold contamination. After allowing the solution to dwell for at least 30 minutes, extract as much moisture as you can using a wet-vac or shop-vac. Use a fan to blow air across the surface and underneath the carpet to speed drying. After the treated areas are dry, vacuum the entire carpet with a HEPA-rated vacuum to collect any leftover mold spores that may have become airborne and then settled.
How To Get Mold Out Of Carpet Naturally
Removing mold from your carpet does not always have to include harsh chemicals. If you are around others who may not react well to harsh chemicals such as children or pets, it is best to take the natural route when cleaning your carpet. One of the best ways to naturally remove mold from carpet is to use baking soda and vinegar.
- Simply apply the baking soda to affected areas of the carpet and leave it overnight.
- The baking soda will then absorb the moisture and bad odor coming from the mold.
- Vacuum and scrub your carpet with vinegar and a stiff bristle brush the next day to completely remove it.
- Make sure that your vacuum has a HEPA filter that can collect any remaining mold spores.
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Look At The Carpet And Determine How Bad The Mold Is
Get some gloves and maybe even a mask if it is affecting your breathing and take a real good look at the affected area. If you can lift the carpet up, do so. Now you can see if the mold has spread all the way to the base of the carpet.
If it has, you should consider calling in a professional. If the mold has spread over a considerable amount of the base of the carpet, it may be easier to replace the whole carpet.
Cleaning Mold In Carpets During Mold Remediation
If a mold problem is present in a home where the mold spores have become aerosolized in an area where carpet is present, the cleaning of the carpet should be part of the mold remediation process even if it were not water damaged.
Carpet can act as a reservoir for particles such as fungal growth to settle in.
Even though you do not visibly see the mold because the spores can be microscopic, it can still be present within the carpet. Normal everyday vacuum cleaners will not be able to remove mold particles in a carpet because of the size of it.
Mold remediation professionals use a special kind of HEPA vacuum that can help remove mold spores and fragments, but even that can be unreliable in removing all the mold.
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Use Lemon Juice For A Fresh Fragrance
If you are struggling with how to clean smelly carpet, lemon juice is the way to go. Not only is it a fantastic disinfectant, but it smells fresh, clean, and much better than vinegar. There are multiple ways to use this natural mold remover depending on the level of cleanup required on your carpet. Here is a wonderful carpet cleaning recipe.
- cup of lemon juice
- ¼ cup of vinegar
After combining the ingredients, add them to a carpet cleaner for a full-floor wash. For tough to remove patches of mold, create a paste using a ½ cup of lemon juice and a ¼ cup of salt instead.
Using a toothbrush, scrub the moldy carpet until the particles loosen from the carpet fibers. Blot any wet areas until dry, then vacuum.
Car Cleaning And Mold Safety
Wear skin, eye, and breathing protection. The mold in your car might not look dangerous, but its impossible to tell the effects it can have without testing.
If youre using chemicals to scrub or clean the inside of your vehicle, be sure that you are disposing of any leftover materials in a way that is recommended by the manufacturer. Its also important to make sure that youre using a cleaner that is safe for the materials that make up your cars interior.
If the mold has spread to other items inside your car, such as clothing, its best to wash or dispose of the items before using or storing them elsewhere.
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What Does Carpet Mold Look Like
Before we move on to removing mold from carpeting, you must first know how to detect mold in carpets.
- Mildew often occurs first before mold. The color of mildew is usually white, whereas mold is either black, blue, red, or green.
- When mold growth has reached its peak stages, you will begin to see discolored patches on your carpet. Check your carpet for any black, green, or white growth as it is most likely mold. You should also check underneath your carpet as mold usually grows under the carpet before moving to the top.
- Mold will grow within 24 to 48 hours of being exposed to moisture, so in case your carpet has been exposed to water, make sure you dry it immediately.
- Sometimes, mold in the carpet is not visible as it could be growing inside the pad or in the fibers of the carpet. If you cannot detect any visible signs of the growth of mold or mildew, try smelling your carpet as mold usually has a unique, bad smell. If your carpet smells bad, then this is a clear sign of mold growth.
Allowing mold to grow on your carpets may cause sicknesses, especially if you are prone to allergies or if you have asthma. Whether or not you are allergic to mold, being exposed to it can still irritate you.
Why Is Carpet Mold A Serious Problem
Mold in your house has a serious negative effect on air quality. Inhaling mold spores could lead to health problems, especially in people who are sensitive to mold. The Centers for Disease Control found that people with mold sensitivity can experience upper respiratory symptoms, increased asthma symptoms and eye irritation when exposed to mold and mold spores. The World Health Organization examined multiple studies and found a correlation between the presence of mold and respiratory symptoms, as well as more severe asthma symptoms. Mold spores can also trigger allergic reactions in people who have mold allergies. This makes carpet mold especially problematic since children often play on the floor, and simply walking on moldy carpet can send spores into the air.
Mold also causes problems not directly related to health. The musty mildew odor associated with mold can spread throughout your entire house. Mold also causes damage to the surfaces it grows on. Mold trapped under a carpet could end up damaging the floor or baseboards.
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Getting Rid Of Carpet Mold Today
The first thing you need to do if theres mold in car carpet or mold in your home is identify exactly where it is and how deeply it goes.
If youve got mold under carpet pad, simply cleaning the fibers on the surface will not do the trick. You need something that can penetrate through and kill the mold at its roots underneath.
Choose an option from the suggestions above based on where the mold stain is and how deeply or widely it has spread.
By attacking the exact mold problem that you are dealing with, you are learning not only how to clean the mold but also how to get mold smell out of carpet. Because once the mold is gone, that unpleasant odor will leave with it!
When you actually get down to the dirty work, make sure that you are wearing protection.
This is true even if you are using nontoxic cleaning agents because the mold itself can be toxic and the scrubbing will cause it to spray mold spores into the air. So, at minimum you will need a respirator. But protective goggles and rubber gloves are also recommended.
As you can see, there are many variables in any mold issue, from the type of mold, the severity of the mold infestation, to the type of chemicals you should use.
If all this is too overwhelming, there is always the option to hire a professional who will be able to identify the extent of your problem and solve your mold problem for you. This is a more expensive option, but sometimes the peace of mind is worth it.
