Need to know how to get mold out of carpet? Anyone who has had a mold problem in their life knows just how difficult it can be to kill mold and get it out of the carpet fibers.
We want to prevent future mold growth and remove mold spores, but not destroy the carpet in the process. Lucky for you, there are some great ways to do this, and you might even have everything you need at home!
What Is Mold, And What Causes It?
Mold is a type of fungus that can grow in houses and other structures. There are different types of mold, and they can each look different depending on the species.
Their colors range from purple, orange, green, white, and the dangerous black mold. Both mold and mildew appear in places because of humidity.
Humidity, or high levels of moisture in the air, can vary from place to place but is strongly linked with the appearance of mild. Extended periods of wet weather can lead to mold infestations, and the affected area will change color and take on a furry appearance.
This is a common occurrence in rooms that are frequently humid, such as bathrooms, where there is often hot air. These moist conditions are the perfect breeding ground for mold growth and becoming a problem.
Mold can trigger allergic reactions in many people. These allergies can cause eye irritation, a stuffy nose, and sneezing. For people who react to mold, the experience is likely to be very unpleasant, and you will want to act quickly.
How To Get Rid Of Carpet Mold
Getting rid of mold can be difficult, especially when it is in hard-to-reach areas. While most mold will appear in places like bathrooms, where there are typically no carpets, throw rugs, or other materials except for towels, there are occurrences where this is not the case.
If you need to know how to get mold out of your carpets, get ready to start a deep clean.
Finding the root cause of your mold infestation is the most important thing. Without finding the root cause, you are likely to experience this issue over and over again.
As mold appears due to moisture and humidity, it is significant to decrease humidity and moisture wherever you can. This may mean opening windows, using dehumidifiers, and air purifiers to help counteract the issue.
Eliminating Carpet Mold Naturally
To get rid of mold in your carpet naturally, all you need are a few basic ingredients. For this, you will need baking soda, vinegar, and some fresh air. This is a great method for homes with pets and children in it, as traditional mold sprays can be very hazardous.
Inspect the carpet and find where the mold is growing. You may have mold growing from the carpet fibers or from the padding. Wherever the source of mold, don’t worry – something can be done about it.
Opening windows, turning your fans on, and getting light in the area is the first step to getting rid of mold and preventing future mold growth. In order to thrive, this fungus needs warmth, darkness, and moisture, so if you take all of those things away, it will not be able to thrive. Increasing airflow will also help eliminate the unpleasant odor that will have formed in the area where the carpet is wet or moldy.
You can use baking soda to get rid of any moisture in the wet carpet. This fine powder is a very effective way of getting rid of moisture by absorbing it. Be careful not to add too much baking soda or let it fall to the bottom of the carpet, or else you will not be able to fully vacuum it up. If you do not have baking soda at hand but do have a cat, you can use cat litter to absorb any liquid on the wet carpet. When you sprinkle baking soda, be mindful of how much you are using – a little goes a long way, so don’t overdo it!
Finally, once the baking soda has been vacuumed, you can use vinegar. Vinegar is used all over the world and is a great cleaning product, which includes removing mold stains. White vinegar will not be able to handle every type of mold, but it should be able to take care of most types. To use vinegar on your carpet, add it to a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar over the contaminated area and start scrubbing the area with a stiff brush.
When the area is to your satisfaction, dry the area using a blow-drier or a fan. All the moisture will need to be removed from the carpet so that the mold does not come back in the future and cause more problems.
Using Chemicals To Get Remove Mold
Chemicals are a sure-fire way to get rid of mold for good. If you don’t want to deal with this same issue again, arming yourself with chemicals might be the way forward.
Remember, if you have children or pets in the house, be sure to keep them away from the chemicals, as they can be harmful.
To do this, you might need to head down to your local hardware store if you won’t already have mold spray. If you don’t want to leave the house for any reason, you can also check out Amazon and get some mold-killing chemicals there to be delivered to your home.
Make sure that you pick a mold spray that is safe for carpets since regular mold spray and the ones used in bathrooms and kitchens will discolor your carpet.
If you are using a mold spray, you will need to follow the instructions printed on the label. Every brand will have different rules to use its product. As a general rule, however, anything containing bleach should not be left on any kind of fabric for more than a few minutes.
You will have to get the stiff brush out again and gently scrub the area to get rid of the mold. If the fungus is still there after the first blot, you may need to go in again and apply more spray and scrub again.
You can also use a carpet cleaning product to eradicate your mold infestation. If you are unable to, try using chlorine dioxide. This is a very effective method for removing mold but can discolor carpet quickly, so be careful.
Using Steam Cleaners To Remove Mold
If you don’t want to use chemicals or baking soda on your carpet and have a steam cleaner at hand, that will work well, too! Steam cleaners emit extremely high temperatures that can remove and kill the mold living in your carpet fibers.
Be careful with your carpet, though, as temperatures that are too high can have a detrimental effect on your carpet. To be safe, it is recommended to rent a specialized steam cleaner from your local hardware store. Steam cleaning is effective but tricky!
When you finish steaming your carpet, make sure to use a blow-drier and remove any excess moisture. If you leave the carpet wet, there is a good chance that the mold will simply return.
Cleaning mold and mold growth can be done easily with these steaming devices, but always check the carpet’s manufacturing guidelines to see if it can withstand such temperatures.
Preventing Mold From Growing In Your Home
You can prevent mold from growing by doing a few simple things. Since mold relies on moisture and warmth to grow, if you eliminate those, you should be mold-free. To do this, you can:
Use a dehumidifier
Have good ventilation
Vacuum regularly (this will vacuum up any mold spores. A great vacuum that has a HEPA filter and vacuums up 99.9% of allergens is the Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum)
Make sure there are no water leaks
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to get mold out of carpet, hopefully, you feel better equipped to deal with it if it ever happens again. Even though mold can be scary and potentially dangerous, it can be relatively easy to get rid of.
If you have found mold in your carpet, or anywhere else in your house, use the above guidelines to get rid of it. In the rare chance that nothing you do can get rid of the mold for good, you might need to call in the professionals to deal with the issue.
In these cases, your carpet may need to be replaced. Thankfully, however, this rarely happens and the above methods work well to take care of the issue.
