Carpet mold is a real problem. Not just because of the widely-known side effects – but because it's damn hard to remove. Seeing mold grow on a hard surface, such as a wall or ceiling is bad enough, but at least it's easy enough to clean off. Wiping down the surface with a bleach infused cleaning solution is usually all there is to it. Cleaning carpet mold is a whole different animal. It usually plagues the backing of the carpet, and you might not actually know you have mold until a little while after it begins to colonize your living room, as the backing is hidden from plain sight.
We're going to put our 40 years of experience of carpet cleaning and shampooing in and around the Arvada area to use in this post, and explain why mold affects carpets, the signs to watch out for and how you can prevent it.
The Reasons Why Mold Affects Areas of Carpet
In our experience, there are generally 3 common reasons for the development of carpet mold, these are:
- High Humidity Levels – Without a doubt, this is the biggest factor. The conditions that mold needs and thrives in are high humidity and warm temperatures. If those are both present and not kept in check (buy a dehumidifying unit), it's very likely that at some point mold will appear. And this process can be accelerated if there any accidental spillages that are not properly cleaned up.
- Infrequent Cleaning Schedule – Companies like ours don't emphasize the importance of regular carpet cleaning as they want your business (well, they do, but…). They also stress its importance because dirt build up and any food and drink accidents that are not cleaned up create the ideal environment for mold. A professional carpet cleaning company will “reset” you carpet and remove these favourable conditions for mold.
- Poor Quality Carpets –They often say you buy cheap, you buy twice. And this is very often true in the world of carpeting. Lower quality carpets and carpet padding are less resistant to moisture, so are not able to prevent the ideal conditions for mold growth we described above as well.
How You Can Tell If Your Carpets are Moldy
At first, you might not see carpet mold, as it typically grows on the carpet padding/backing. You'd only see it at that point if you were really looking for it. But pretty soon after, there will normally be some tell-tale signs…
- Horrible Musty Smell – Nobody wants their living room to smell like my sports jersey after I've been working out for 2 hours. Mold can kick up a really horrible smell from your carpets. Most people describe this smell as “musty”. It's not at all pleasant.
- Allergies Playing Up – If there's anyone in your home that has a compromised immune system or that is allergic to mold, they'll likely become your very own “mold alarm”. You will often see them cough, sneeze or suffer from a runny nose frequently when the mold starts to grow.
- Visible Discoloration of Carpets – You might not notice the mold visibly straight away, especially if you have darker colored carpets, but eventually if the mold is left to it, you will see visible signs of it on the carpet surface. Unfortunately, once it's this point, professional carpet cleaning won't be able to do too much. You'll likely need to rip the carpet up and have a new one fitted.
Depending on the severity of your mold problem, a professional carpet cleaning company in Arvada (or wherever you live) may be able to remedy the situation.
How to Prevent the Growth of Mold on Your Carpets
If this article has you panicking, thinking that an invasion of mold is inevitable in your home at some point, you shouldn't worry. There are some very easy to implement steps that you can take to significantly minimize the chances of your carpets being affected by mold.
- Make sure that any room that is fitted with carpets has sufficient ventilation.
- Does the interior of your home suffer from problems with extremely high humidity? Consider purchasing a dehumidifier – it's truly amazing how much moisture they pull out of the air. Generally, if indoor humidity falls somewhere between 30 and 60%, your carpets should be safe.
- Make sure the air filter on your air conditioning unit is changed periodically, as this will dramatically reduce the amount of dust build up on your carpets.
- Vacuum regularly. This will assist in reducing the amount of dirt and dust that finds its way into your carpet.
- Never allow moisture to sit on carpets. If you accidentally spill a glass of water (or your favorite beer) or a pipe leaks and soaks your carpet – you have to act quickly otherwise it can quickly become a haven for mold. Call a professional carpet cleaning contractor – the commercial grade equipment they use will thoroughly clean and then pull out the maximum amount of moisture out of the carpet, giving it the best chance of preventing mold.
Need Help With Moldy Carpets in Arvada? Call Steve's Carpet Care & Restoration
We've seen some carpets in truly horrendous condition, plagued by mold over the 40+ years we've been in business. Some of them we weren't able to save, some of them we were. If you're facing a battle against carpet mold and need our help, give us a call on (303)530-4900. We're up to the challenge.