How to Get Mold Out of Carpets Effectively

Mold is not only unpleasant to look at and smell but also very harmful to our health. So, if there is mold on your carpet or anywhere else in the house for that matter, it is imperative that you get rid of it as quickly as you can.

Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of how to get mold out of carpets. Thankfully, you have reached the right page as we will tell you exactly how you can do it.

In order to get rid of mold from your carpet, you will need to use some special cleaning techniques. Below, we have provided you with an effective method you can use. But before we talk about that, we would like to shed some light on why mold grows on a carpet in the first place.

Why Does Mold Grow on Carpets?

Mold is basically a fungus. It spreads around by releasing spores. These spores are all over, even inside your home. In order to grow and then turn into mold, these spores require moisture.

This is why you will always notice mold appearing in places that are damp, such as a bathroom that is poorly ventilated or a wet basement. The reason why mold grows on carpets is that carpets have a great tendency of trapping moisture.

A carpet can get wet for a variety of reasons. These include a leak in the ceiling, plumbing issues, a flooded basement, high levels of humidity, or the most common of all, if you cleaned the carpet, but it was not dried properly. If such issues do occur, it will end up trapping the moisture in its dense fibers and also all the nooks and crannies that make up the carpet’s weave.

Most of the carpets also come with a backing where the weave is attached to. If this backing gets damp or wet, it will end up trapping the moisture under the carpet. So, unless you are actively working towards drying a wet carpet by using a hot blow drier, or by using fans, or even a dehumidifier, a wet carpet will continue to remain wet, and this won’t take too long to form mold.

There are quite a few areas inside our home where we do not pay much attention to the carpet. For instance, there could be carpet inside a closet or even under a piece of heavy furniture that is not moved often. If the carpet is indeed in such spots and does get wet, it is unlikely you will even notice it. Thus, giving the mold ample time to grow and spread.

How to Get Mold Out of Carpets

As mentioned earlier, a damp or wet carpet is the ideal environment for mold to grow and spread, so it is essential that you tackle this problem as quickly as you can. Doing this sooner rather than later will make getting the mold out of the carpet easier.

Keep in mind that the spores proliferate quickly, which is why you must act fast. Additionally, some mold shows toxic characteristics, making it a serious health issue.

Cleaning with a Carpet Cleaner

One of the easiest ways to remove mold from your carpet is by using a carpet cleaner. This cleaner effectively deep cleans the carpet and will remove all the mold and the spores that are on the carpet’s fiber.

It is also important to find the core of the whole issue. Rather than just deep cleaning the carpet, find where exactly did the mold spread from. Doing that will help to do a better job at preventing it in the future and maintaining your carpet.

Cleaning a Carpet Manually

With that said, not everyone owns a carpet cleaner. So, is there a way to get the mold out of the carpet without a cleaner? Yes, it is possible to get rid of mold from the carpet even if you don’t have a cleaner, but it is a slightly more difficult process.

Let us give you a brief guide on how to do so:

• Always begin by wearing protecting gear such as gloves, goggles, facemask, and appropriate clothing covering your entire body.

• Pay close attention to the room’s ventilation; you have to keep all the doors closed. This will ensure that the mold spores don’t spread to other areas of your home. However, you can keep the windows open for proper air circulation.

• If you are removing the carpet out completely, you will need to take it outside your home and let it dry under the bright and hot sun for a minimum of 48 hours. The more time under the sun, the better. On the other hand, if you have a fitted carpet, you can dry it with the help of a humidifier, a fan, or with the help of a hot blow drier.

• Use a high-quality string-bristled brush to remove as much of the mold and its debris out from the carpet. Ensure you clean it up quickly and don’t let it spread to other parts of the carpet.

• You can further protect your carpet by applying an anti-mold spray. Apply it all over the carpet generously and ensure you let it dry properly. It’s best that you follow the instructions mentioned on the spray bottle to the T.

• You can use certain standard cleaning agents, which are typically used for car seats and couches. These too are quite effective in getting rid of the mold from the market.

• Apply this cleaning agent all over and make sure it dries completely. Do not forget to apply this cleaning agent on the floor area below the carpet. You can use a dehumidifier for the next 48 hours to completely get rid of the residual spores.

• All the cleaning equipment you use to remove mold from the carpet should be thoroughly cleaned with an anti-fungal solution. If not done properly, this too could be responsible for spreading the spores on to other parts of your home.

Conclusion

With this article, you are now well aware of how to get mold out of carpets. Learning this process, especially if you don’t own a carpet cleaner, may seem challenging, but we hope our detailed guide to cleaning the carpet helps you out well.

Always remember, it is best to prevent the whole issue instead of spending days cleaning it. So, keep a close eye on your carpet, especially in those hidden corners that you would typically miss.