Tips for tackling carpet mould
Carpet mould is a real nuisance, ruining fabric and posing health risks in our homes. What’s more, by the time we identify carpet mould it’s already spread far and wide. Here we will look at some of the ways we can spot carpet mould, deal with it and mitigate further outbreaks in the future.
Mould is a dangerous fungus which breeds in moist conditions and clings to the fine fabrics of carpets. Once mould has attached itself to fabrics it is difficult to remove, however that is not the only problem. Mould is dangerous for our health and inhalation of fungus spores can be damaging, particularly for those with underlying respiratory conditions such as asthma, or those with weak immune systems such as the young or elderly.
In dark or moist areas mould can begin to multiply very quickly and before you know it can destroy your furnishings, ruining your carpet but also working its way across furniture, clothes, walls and other areas of your home given the chance. This is why it’s important to not only deal with mould as soon as you spot it but also find ways to prevent it from every occurring.
Mould develops in moist and humid environments so you need to try and prevent both those things. A common cause of mould in carpets is when a carpet comes into contact with liquid and it is not properly dried. Left to its own devices wet carpet fibres become a perfect breeding ground for mould fungus. So, if your carpet becomes wet then you need to dry it quickly and keep the area well ventilated. Try to avoid drying clothes in carpeted areas as the condensation can also encourage mould growth if the room is not properly ventilated.
Prevention is the best cure but if you’ve failed to stop mould from occurring then you need to know how to deal with it. The process of removing mould from your carpet can be quite complex and you might want to first consider either replacing the carpet or hiring a professional cleaning company to take care of it for you. However if you want to tackle the job yourself then these are some steps that you can follow which require little training.
First of all it’s important to remember that mould spores can be dangerous to our health so always wear protective clothing including facemasks, particularly if you have repertory problems. Before you get to work be sure to close all the doors of the affected room but open windows, as this allows proper ventilation but stops the mould fungus from travelling around your house extending the problem further.
If the weather is bright and sunny then you can take up your carpet and leave it outside to dry out. Alternatively pull the carpet up in affected areas and try and dry or remove any areas which are damaged. Now brush as much debris from surface of the carpet as you can and consider using a steam cleaner. Now scrub both sides of the carpet thoroughly before leaving it to dry out. A few hours later come back and apply an anti-fungal solution which will help to destroy the fungus in your carpet. Now once this has dried apply an anti-mould spray on both sides of the carpet and allow it to dry out once again. This deep cleaning should help to eliminate the mould but if you notice your mould is continuing to come back then you may need to take further action. It could be that there is a leak causing the carpet to become too wet, or it might be that the mould spores are simply too settled in to be removed and a new carpet is required.
Please visit our blog for more helpful tips and advice on carpet maintenance, cleaning, and care. If you're interested in getting a new carpet, check out our range of carpets for sale at Lincolnshire Flooring. Visit us at our showroom on Outer Circle Road, Lincoln or call us now on 01522 524374 to learn more.
