Mold is one of most insidious dangers you can have in your house. Whether it’s growing inside your walls, your water pipes, or the bread in your pantry, you need to deal with mold as soon as you find it because it can be health-hazardous or even lethal.
If you happen across mold on your carpet, there are a few things you can do to clean it. However, in severe cases you should call a professional cleaning service; mold is serious business.
That said, here are a couple of step-by-step processes that explain how to get mold out of your carpet.
Safety
Contents
First, you need to ventilate the room. Mold thrives in poorly-ventilated areas, and you want to prevent it from spreading any further. Next, you need to put on a surgical mask.
Mold spores can float in the air without your knowing, and you don’t want to inhale them so they can breed inside your lungs.
Sweeping and Vacuuming
You need to loosen the mold from the carpet next before you can start to clean it. First, sweep the moldy spot with a broom.
The friction from the broom will likely cause some of the spores to detach from the carpet fibers, which makes the next step easier. You then need to run the vacuum cleaner over the mold, pulling it out of the carpet. After you’ve done this, get rid of the bag.
You don’t want to have mold spores collecting and growing inside your vacuum cleaner.
Washing
If you’re not sure what your carpet can handle at this point, try using some dish soap mixed with hot water.
Get a sponge and use it to scrub the mold stain with that mixture. Scrub from the outside in so you don’t risk having the mold spreading any further than it may already have.
After you’ve thoroughly scrubbed, you need to place a towel over the stain and soak up as much moisture as possible. Mold thrives in moist environments.
Once you’ve gotten as much moisture as you can out of the carpet, pat it dry with a warm towel, then allow it to air dry, keeping the room as ventilated as possible.
As tempting as it may be to use a fan, don’t. Rapid air movement could dislodge and spread mold further throughout your house. Be patient and do it the hard way; you’re more likely to see long-term success.
Using Bleach
Bleach is known as a good mold killer, but is it really good to use on carpets? It depends on the carpet. You should never use bleach on wool because it can dissolve the fabric.
You should always check with your carpet dealer to find out what cleaning tools are best for it, but be warned that the dealer may recommend a more expensive service than you want or need.
Also, you don’t want to use bleach on dark-colored carpets, because it can destroy the color. Test it out on an out-of-the-way spot before applying it to the central problem area.
Mold Cleaners
If you’re desperate or just want to make sure you’re killing the mold, it may be a good idea to skip the DIY remedies and use a commercial mold cleaner. We’ve got a few choices you might find useful:
- Moldex
- Concrobium
- Moldaway
Other Sources of Mold
Mold doesn’t just spring up from nowhere. It usually starts out in your pipes, HVAC system, or other areas.
It can sometimes occur if you leave moisture on your carpet for too long, but other sources are the more likely culprit, especially if the mold spot is near vents.
When in doubt, you should have a professional test your home for mold. Mold can cause harmful allergic reactions and generally have a negative effect on health, so you need to be rid of it as soon as possible.
Carpet Cleaners against Mold
For a healthy and clean carpet, use a carpet cleaner regularly. This is also a great way to prevent mold from ever occurring again. We review the best carpet cleaners for 2020 listed in this post. Use this as a guide to help you find the right carpet cleaning machine for your carpet.
Conclusion
Mold thrives in moist, dark places where there isn’t adequate ventilation, but it can also take root in your carpet. If you’re to have a hope of salvaging your carpet, you need to act as soon as you notice the mold.
By taking away the conditions mold requires to live, you can remove mold out of carpet and keep your carpet looking and smelling fresh.
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