When you are in the carpet cleaning business like me, you’ll see some of the gross carpets there could ever be!
And it gets even worse when you have to clean them…but hey! That’s why we are called the carpet cleaners.
Therefore, it was never surprising to me because I knew what I had signed up for.
But the surprising part was that there were homeowners who actually let their carpets reach a point where they became smelly, dirty and full of mold.
The two primary reasons I figured were…
- Ignorance
- Lack of proper knowledge
People were able to deal with the dirt and smell to a certain extent.
However, when it came to mold, they had no idea what it was or how to clean it.
Hence, when the situation got out of hand or when it was time for the yearly cleaning they called the professionals in.
Therefore, I realized it’s high time to enlighten people about mold and the ways to clean it.
So, What is Mold?
Before talking about the symptoms and elimination of mold, let’s first understand what is it that we address as mold.
A rotten and foul-smelling fungus which sustains due to organic matter is called mold.
It eats the bacteria on the carpet, and that’s how it survives and grows.
When proper checking isn’t done, mold tends to devour the whole surface it’s been growing on, eventually destroying the surface.
It also has many health hazards other than being smelly and gross. It causes direct damage to lungs when inhaled.
Also some variations of mold cause blood disorders, heart conditions and cancers.
3 Symptoms of Mold on Your Carpet
The surface of the carpet stays clean.
Hence, you can’t detect the growth of mold.
So, when you look for mold, you need to check under the carpet pad because it mostly begins there.
When you see your carpet growing mold, it means it’s very contaminated.
Hence, checking the pad is crucial.
The usual symptoms are mentioned below.
1. Odor and Stains
Odor or any kind of discoloration is a result of mold.
2. Wet or Damaged Due to Water
When carpets don’t dry completely, and water remains in it for an extended period, it is more likely to grow mold.
This also happens when there is a leakage or flooding in the house.
Often, people don’t pay attention to a wet carpet.
3. Carpet Padding Gets Wet
High humidity or condensation that causes moisture can result in mold growth under the carpet padding.
Therefore, never forget to check the padding of your carpets when you come across these signs.
How can You Remove and Eliminate Mold?
Now, that you have found some mold on your carpet, the first thing is to conduct a test to check if it has spread to your furniture or even your HVAC system.
There’s a test kit available, which has a tape.
You need to apply it on the surfaces where you think mold has developed.
Send it back to the laboratory.
There are kits available to check the air quality for mold which will indicate whether you have mold in the HVAC system or not.
The air test kit is pretty costly yet, cheaper than hiring a professional for the job.
Some DIYs to Clean the Surface
Let’s first establish that it’s a DIY job only when the mold is spread on a small surface or just started budding on your carpet.
In case, it is spread on a larger surface and looks dark, then you need to call a professional carpet cleaner.
9 DIY Steps to Remove Mold Safely
- Use a cleaner which is bleach or borax-based and don’t forget to wear safety equipment like gloves, mask, and goggles.
- Open windows in the room so that you don’t inhale the odor from the cleaning solutions.
- Dry the carpet if they are damp.
- Pour a small amount of the cleaner on the mold and make sure you don’t overuse it as it is toxic.
- The solution should stay on the carpet for at least an hour.
- After an hour, vacuum it so that all the dead mold is sucked in.
- Ensure the room is well ventilated.
- Don’t forget to dry the carpets completely.
- Use an antifungal spray to ensure mold doesn’t grow again.
#ProTip
Make sure the room is ventilated and the carpet is dried immediately. This is because moisture enhances the growth of mold.
Use Dishwashing Detergent to Get Rid of Mold
Dishwashing detergent along with water can be used to clean the carpet in the presence of mold.
Since detergent isn’t a very rigorous product, you can alternatively also use the combination of Lysol and water in the carpet cleaning machine.
- Spray the solution on the carpet, let it sit for about half an hour and then vacuum it.
- Make sure you get all the water out so that it doesn’t cause more mold growth.
- If you have a dehumidifier, then use it to completely dry your carpet and make sure there’s proper ventilation in the room.
All these given steps will help you get rid of mold.
In spite of these methods if you find yourself still struggling to get rid of mold then you need to call in a professional for better help.
They will help you get rid of that stubborn mold and also advise you on preventive measures so that it doesn’t grow again.
Dri-Masters for Professional Carpet Cleaning
If you are a looking for carpet cleaning in Lancaster, then hands down Dri-Masters are one of the best professionals you can ever find.
They are punctual, affordable, polite and friendly.
They have been in the business for over 20 years so you can definitely count on them, they have created a legacy in the market.
Check the services and prices Dri-Masters offers in Lancaster, here
Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for more tips, tricks and hacks on carpet cleaning.
