Carpets enhance the overall appeal of your space, but when mold finds its way into your carpet, it threatens the integrity of your flooring. Not to forget, there are a number of health risks that it poses.
In this detailed blog, we will walk you through the essential steps to get mold out of the carpet so that you can ensure your home as well as the carpet stays clean, fresh, and safe for everyone.
6 Simple Steps to Tackle Mold on Your Carpet
1. Inspect the Carpet
So firstly, inspect your carpet to know the extent of the mold. Inspecting the carpet lets you know whether you can deal with the mold on your own or need professional help.
This is because if the mold reaches the backing of the carpet, it may take tremendous effort to get it removed. And that being said, it’s better to call a professional in such cases. Moreover, if the mold has grown across a large portion of the backing, you may need to replace the entire carpet.
2. Ventilate the Room
Next, open all the windows and doors in the room. This will enable natural air to circulate in your carpeted room and reduce the humidity that otherwise encourages mold. If there are no windows in the room, use table fans, pointing them towards the doorway.
3. Sun-Dry the Carpet
After ventilating the room, move your carpet outside and hang it over a sturdy clothesline for a minimum of 24-48 hours. This will help kill mold spores and remove the moisture as well.
4. Apply the Solutions
Next in line is to get mold out of the carpet and the good thing is that all you have to utilize is a few household items. But whichever option you go with, make sure to test it in a hidden area of the carpet first to ensure it does not yield any harmful effects.
Not testing the solutions before is one of the most common carpet cleaning mistakes you should avoid when cleaning your carpet on any day.
→ White Vinegar
Initially, you can begin with white vinegar. White vinegar contains 5% acetic acid for breaking down mold. In other words, when you apply it over the mold, the acetic acid seeps into the mold’s cell, disrupts it, and eventually kills it.
Therefore, mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and sprinkle it over the moldy area of the carpet. Then, allow it to sit for some 30 minutes so that the vinegar has ample time to break down the mold.
→ Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is another fine option to remove mold from your carpet. When applied, it reacts with the mold by breaking down its cell walls through a process we call oxidation. This reaction disrupts the mold’s structure and ensures it doesn’t grow back.
Thus, fill a spray bottle with 3% hydrogen peroxide and lightly spray it over the moldy area of the carpet. Next, allow it to sit for about 10-15 minutes. Once the wait is over, use a soft brush and gently scrub the carpet to lift the mold out of the fibers.
Finally, take a clean, white towel and blot the area to soak excess moisture. Press firmly to lift as much moisture out of the carpet as possible.
5. Steam Clean the Carpet
Apart from using household items, you can also opt to steam clean your carpet. Steam cleaning uses high temperatures (between 150°F to 250°F), which are lethal enough to kill mold spores that are embedded deep within the carpet.
What makes such a method important as well as essential is that it can kill mold to its core that usually thrives below the carpet surface and where traditional cleaning methods may not reach (in some cases).
6. Allow it to Dry
Finally, allow your carpet to air dry properly. Sometimes, the reason why your carpets smell after cleaning is that dampness often emits a kind of moldy odor because it creates a perfect ground for mold to reappear or germs and bacteria to grow.
Hence, to avoid this, open all doors and windows in your carpeted room to let natural air come in and serve your purpose. Additionally, you can also use table fans or dehumidifiers to speed up the drying process.
Final Thoughts!
Mold is one of the most common issues with the carpet. Although it’s quite common, it is important to take note of its harmful effects on both your carpet and your health.
And with the help of that, you can effectively get mold out of the carpet and help maintain it for many years to come.
