Are you constantly congested? Are your eyes red and itchy? Do you have shortness of breath and a cough that just won’t go away? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is a chance you may be suffering the consequences of a mold infestation in your home. If you own carpets, the odds of a mold infestation increase significantly if you’re not performing regular cleaning. If your carpets have an untreated mold infestation, there is a very real risk of that infestation spreading to other parts of your home, which could lead to you replacing more than just your carpets.
But how do you know if you have a mold infested carpet? And once you know, what do you do about it? In this article, we will answer these questions in detail so that by then end, you will know exactly how to detect, prevent and eliminate mold from your carpets.
At Hialeah Carpet Cleaner, while carpet cleaning is our expertise, we also specialize in mold testing and mold remediation. As you can imagine, we’ve seen everything from pervasive black mold infestations to mushrooms growing out of carpets, so when it comes to mold, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into some different methods of mold detection, prevention and treatment.
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How To Detect Mold In Your Home
From your eyes and nose to specialized detection meters and cameras, there are quite a few different methods at your disposal. Regardless of which method you go with, if you think there is mold growing in your home or carpet but you aren’t 100% confident, give us a call at (786) 733~4183. Let’s take a look at the menu of detection methods available to you.
Visual Inspection
This is the most obvious and easiest method of detection, but the trick is knowing what to look for. When performing a visual inspection, keep an eye out for any discoloration or fuzzy growth in your carpet. Depending on the type of and color of your carpet, the signature fuzzy look of mold might actually blend seamlessly with your carpet fibers. For a more effective visual inspection, use a flashlight and magnifying glass to get a clear view of anything in and between the carpet fibers.
Smell Test
Most mold gives off a musty earthy smell similar to that of a damp or very humid concrete basement. The good news is that the smell is very potent and easy to distinguish from the naturally circulating air in your home. The bad news is that if you can smell mold, you’re likely suffering some of the symptoms of mold exposure. Similar to a visual inspection, a smell test indicates a general area where mold is present and should be paired with more targeted methods to secure an accurate diagnosis.
At Home Test Kits
The results of at-home tests can vary quite a bit and we tend to caution against using these due to the high rate of false positives and negatives.
Professional Mold Inspection
In order to ensure accurate results, we always recommend professional mold inspection over DIY methods. In addition to years of experience, professionals have access to specialized equipment that generates consistently accurate results. Some of the equipment that professionals use to detect mold include:
- Moisture Meters
- Humidity Meters (Hygrometers)
- Infrared Cameras
- AIr Sampling Devices
Mold Prevention
The surest way to get rid of mold is by preventing mold growth from happening in the first place or, if it does happen, creating an environment that highly discourages continued mold growth. Let’s take a look at some simple yet effective methods of mold prevention.
Humidity Control
Most mold requires an air humidity of 55% or higher in order to grow. The best way to control humidity is by investing in a dehumidifier. A decent dehumidifier will run you between $200 and $300. If you are operating on a shoe-string budget, you can pick up a simple Hygrometer for around $16 which will allow you to monitor the humidity in your home so that you know when to take action to reduce humidity levels.
Ventilation
Speaking of taking action, natural ventilation of your home is an excellent way to keep air humidity at bay. Some simple ways to achieve ventilation include opening your windows, directing a fan at the chronically under ventilated and overly humid areas of your home. That said, if you are considering opening your windows to get some air flowing, be sure that the humidity outside is not greater than the humidity in your home as you’ll just be adding to the problem.
Clean Quickly, Dry Thoroughly
As soon as you see that glass of orange juice headed for the carpet, you should be running for the paper towels, baking soda and a portable fan. Moisture from spills can deeply penetrate your carpet, and, if not thoroughly dried, can slowly spread across the carpet, increasing overall humidity levels and pushing your carpet one step closer to a mold infestation.
Consistent Cleaning
Lastly, we recommend that you vacuum your carpet at least once per week (twice is ideal). This removes not only mold spores that may be budding in your carpet but organic matter (e.g. food, dirt, debris etc.) that attract bacterial growth, which can generate enough moisture to catalyze mold growth.
How To Get Mold Out Of Carpet
There are a large variety of DIY recommendations out there on how to eliminate mold from your carpets and home. However, with almost all of these recommendations, they don’t really have the comprehensive cleaning power that you need to completely eliminate mold. If you are trying to get rid of a black mold infestation with white vinegar and baking soda, good luck. Mold is very difficult to fully eradicate. If you are determined to take on this challenge solo, we can only really recommend the use of fungicides and steam cleaning, which on their own are exceptionally lethal, and, when combined, the best shot you have at DIY mold removal. Remember, if you’re in the middle of DIY cleaning and you feel like you’ve gotten in over your head, call a professional carpet cleaning company and they can either walk you through it or finish the job.
Fungicides
The best mold and mildew killer we would recommend is RMR-141. This stuff is like a nuclear bomb for mold and just about any type of microbial or virus. This cleaner comes in a handy spray bottle that you’ll use to cover the entirety of your carpet and then work the solution in deep with a hand brush or push broom. While this solution is very effective, it is also toxic and definitely not pet or human safe so make sure the carpet is fully dry before allowing any foot or paw traffic.
Steam Cleaners
Steam cleaners are another guaranteed kill anything it touches method. The temperature of the steam being blasted out completely sterilizes any surface it comes in contact with. Steam cleaning is one of the most common methods of carpet cleaning and sterilization and it has the added benefit of leaving no toxic chemicals behind in the carpet fibers.
Conclusion
When it comes to mold, the most important action you can take is proactive prevention through controlling the humidity, light, consistent cleaning and ventilation of your carpeted areas. The tricky thing about a mold infestation is that not all of the infestation will be visible so the only true way to detect and verify complete removal is through professional laboratory testing.
At Hialeah Carpet Cleaner, we have access to respected and accredited third party laboratories that deliver results with unparalleled accuracy. If you’re unsure about the results of your at home test kit you picked up at the local hardware store, don’t settle for lingering doubt and hoping for the best. Call a professional mold testing and mold remediation service and get the guarantee and safety you and your family deserve.
Lois Lane is a professional blogger and a seasoned Content writer for wellhousekeeping.com. With a passion for simplifying complex Home Decor topics, he provides valuable insights to a diverse online audience. With four years of experience, Lois has polished his skills as a professional blogger.
