Regardless of their colors and types, molds are still considered as toxic organisms that can grow in several places at your home. They can even appear on the carpet, a piece of furniture that is frequently in contact with all members of the family.
The appearance of mold on carpet brings bad news: It is harmful to you and other family members living at home. Therefore, you need to know how to get mold out of carpet effectively before the spores infect larger area.
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A. Signs of mold in carpet
The presence of carpet mold can be detected by using your sense of sight and smell. Look out for suspicious patches in white, gray, or green colors which indicate the mold appearance. The sign is also strengthened by unpleasant smell and musty odor.
Among many other types of mold, black mold on carpet grow and spread quickly. Its appearance can be spotted on the sides of the carpet, although it is also possible to appear on the other areas. Black mold has stronger smells, creating an odor like rotting leaves or wet soils.
Read also: How to Spot Signs of Mold
B. What causes mold to grow on the carpet?
Mold loves wetness and humidity more than anything. Any area at home that is persistently wet or humid serves as a good place for mold development. Mold on the carpet, in particular, is the result of several causes. Those causes are mostly related to your daily activities at home or the condition of the home itself.
Leak on the ceiling, for instance, will dampen the carpet if the leak is located right above it. Moreover, the carpet is at risk when you water the indoor plant excessively or spill your drink frequently.
The urine of an untrained pet at home—if there’s any—can also be one of the causes. Without immediate treatment, such conditions will invite molds to grow on the damp area of the carpet.
C. The harmful effects of carpet mold
Moldy carpet is harmful to your health. It can lead to some respiratory problems, such as asthma and bronchitis. In many cases, carpet covered with mold also causes the development of allergy symptoms. Those include sore throats, coughing, rashes, and hives. A headache and sinus infections can appear as well.
Also, the health hazard of mold results in skin irritation and eye disease. If you or other family members experience watery or itchy feeling on eyes while the eyes are starting to redden, molds may be responsible for that.
D. What kills mold in the carpet?
Antifungal spray that is largely available in the store is one of the effective materials which you can use to remove carpet mold, including black mold under the carpet. Alternatively, some other substances also can kill mold in the carpet. They are often used in your daily routine and can be found easily at home.
- Baking soda, useful to take care of light mold infection.
- Vinegar, an effective and easy substance to remove the unpleasant odor of mold.
- Dishwashing detergent can be used as an alternative to antifungal spray.
- Grapefruit seed oil, a natural substance which is rich in antibacterial and antifungal content.
E. A step-by-step guide: How to get mold out of the carpet
The following instruction is a step-by-step guide which you can follow to remove mold from carpet using a chemical antifungal spray. Make sure to use a particular type of antifungal spray that can be safely used on the carpet.
1. Protect yourself
Before conducting the procedure, it is important to protect yourself to avoid any health risks caused by mold. Basic protection equipment includes rubber gloves and a facemask, but you can also wear eye protection as an additional protector.
2. Ventilate the room
It can be done by opening the door and windows or removing the carpet and taking it outside. Do whichever way you think is more convenient.
3. Brush the surface of the carpet
Do it gently using a dry stiff brush, and collect the visible mold spores into a dustpan. You may need to brush the back part of the carpet if the mold infection reaches that area.
4. Use the antifungal spray
Saturate the carpet area that is covered with mold using the antifungal spray. Once it is used thoroughly, wait for about an hour to let the spray do its job.
5. Dry and clean
After 1-hour wait, dry the spray on the carpet using a disposable rag. Do not use water at all as it can make the molds go back to the same place. When all steps are done, the rag and the rubber gloves you used should be disposed of.
Note that removing mold from carpet can be done manually if the infected area is less than 5 feet. If your carpet is infected larger than that, mold removal conducted by professionals is highly recommended.
Read also: Types of Mold Removal Products and How to Use Them
F. How to prevent carpet mold from coming back
Knowing how to get mold out of carpet is not enough. Under some circumstances, molds might have a chance to come back and develop in your carpet.
For that reason, prevention steps are needed to avoid such a threat. Here are some things you can do to prevent carpet mold from growing:
- Makes sure that every room at home has a good ventilation system so that the fresh air can move and circulate smoothly.
- Install dehumidifiers to suppress the moisture in the rooms, especially if your house is located in a humid area.
- Don’t put potted plants or house plants near the carpet.
- Keep your carpet dry. If you accidentally spill water or other kinds of liquid on the carpet, you need to dry it instantly before mold spores starting to regrow.
Molds are toxic organisms you need to get rid of immediately. Considering the harmful effects they bring, it is advisable for you to remove them as soon as you detect their appearance. Conducting the proper procedure of mold removal and following the ways to prevent them from coming back will help you to deal with mold problems completely.