What Does Carpet Mold Look Like?
Feb 20, 2023
How to Spot Carpet Mold
If you spot signs of mold in your carpets, it’s time to take action. Rugs are often more susceptible to retaining mold spores than alternate flooring options like tile and hardwood. This poses a serious health risk as these spores can enter the lungs leading to ailments such as asthma and eye irritation.
Common Signs of Carpet Mold
Common signs of possible mold growth in your carpets include:
Discolored Carpet Can Show Mold Growth
What to Do If You Discover Mold in Your Carpet
If you think your carpet might be hosting mold, further investigation is essential. Highly developed stages of mold can cause the surface and underneath portion of your carpets to exhibit discoloration.
Look for All Mold
Pulling back the carpet and looking for additional growth under the top layer of the carpet is crucial. Typically, mold will have taken root in the sublayers before visible indications can be seen on the surface.
Clean Your Moldy Carpet
It may be possible to clean your carpet with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda, an antifungal cleaner, or bleach. Note that bleach should be a last resort because it could discolor your carpet.
Replace Your Carpet
If you notice any green, white, or black patches on your carpets, especially on the underside, it is an unmistakable sign that mold has grown in the area. Unfortunately, this advanced level of growth may be too far gone to recover with even the most competent carpet cleaner due to its hazardous health effects. If this is the case, you may need to replace your carpet entirely.
How to Prevent Carpet Mold
The best way to deal with mold is to stop it from happening in the first place. To do this, you’ll need to know what causes mold and prevent those conditions from occurring. You’ll also need to know the earliest signs of mold.
Look for Early Signs of Mold
Before being seen, one of the top indicators that mold is growing in your carpets is a musty odor. Because carpet is made of multiple layers of absorbent materials, moisture can seep through the top layer and become trapped in the padding and subfloor. Prolonged moisture accumulation in these sub-layers can quickly result in mold growth. Therefore, before mold can ever be seen on your carpet, this musty odor can tell you you may have mold growth.
Check for Humidity
If your home maintains high levels of humidity, you may find that your carpets become damp without a spill or flood. Moist bathrooms and basements are the ideal atmospheres for mold growth on or below carpeting. If this occurs to yours after just one day, mold is likely to form. So it’s essential to be aware and take necessary safety precautions when dealing with damp carpets in humid climates.
Notice When Your Allergies Are Worse
Mold can lead to respiratory issues, such as allergies, asthma, and bronchitis. If you or individuals in your home suffer from any of these conditions, inspecting the carpet for possible mold growth is wise. If you notice that your allergies are worse than normal, that’s a good time to check for mold as a cause.
Know the Age of Your Carpet
As your carpet ages, so does the padding underneath. As the carpet pad ages and breaks down, it can become clogged with dirt and grime, creating an ideal mold breeding ground. This problem may increase with flooding, continual spills, or animal accidents on your carpet.
If you suspect mold in your carpets, call the professionals at Flooring HQ to discuss your flooring needs.