Mold is notorious for producing allergens, irritants, and other toxins that can cause deadly health issues. Unfortunately, these fungi don’t know boundaries when growing in a home. It can grow on wet furniture, wood, walls, and carpets.
Unfortunately, mold isn’t among the things you can quickly deal with. It’s tough to remove and can spread rapidly. Fortunately, with the help of water damage specialists, you can clean mold and eradicate its existence on your carpet.
Suppose you’re worried about carpet mold growth and want to know the causes and how to deal with it. Read along to learn. You may contact water damage specialists with the expertise and tools that are able to help remove and stop mold growth on your carpet.
The Common Causes Of Carpet Mold
Understanding the common causes of carpet mold can help homeowners prevent and remediate this problem. The following are the most common causes of carpet mold:
1. Unattended Water Damage
Water damage causes extensive property destruction. It affects your home and furniture integrity. Among the most vulnerable possessions during water damage is the carpet. It can absorb excess water within a short period.
Unlike when your home is experiencing mass water destruction, minor leaks can go unnoticed for quite a while. Suppose the water contacts the carpet. In that case, mold and mildew might grow without you noticing. In most cases, you might overlook mold and mildew until you smell a musty odor or the growth becomes visible.
2. Liquid Spills
Sometimes, you spill liquid on your carpet and fail to attend to it before it gets absorbed by the fibers. Some homeowners take liquid spills seriously and begin carpet drying procedures, but others ignore them. Unfortunately, after a day or two following the spill, the carpet dampness encourages mold and mildew growth. Once mold has begun growing, it multiplies quickly, becoming a menace that’s difficult to handle; hence it’s advisable to hire a cleaning company to do the job.
3. High Humidity Levels
Mold and mildew thrive in humid environments. It’s, therefore, likely to grow in areas experiencing constant moisture in your home. An area with excess humidity refers to an environment with a high moisture level in the air. In such a case, the air is likely to feel heavy and thick on hot and humid days, encouraging condensation once moist air comes into contact with cooler air. If your home is highly damp, your carpet will slowly absorb the moisture and become dumb with time, creating a conducive environment for mold growth.
4. Poor Ventilation
A carpet in a poorly ventilated home is likely to encourage mold growth. That’s why most homeowners experience this menace in winter when they keep their doors and windows closed for a prolonged period. A poorly ventilated home allows mold to settle and grow on various surfaces, including the carpet. If your home has poor ventilation and water issues, you’ll likely experience too much mold growth.
How To Prevent Mold Growth
Mold growth in carpets can be a major problem for most homeowners, but it can be prevented. As a homeowner, you must be familiar with some simple steps to prevent mold growth in your carpets. The following are practical ways to prevent carpet mold growth.
1. Reduce Indoor Humidity
The first step towards preventing mold growth is reducing indoor humidity. This can be successfully achieved by the use of dehumidifiers. Ensure indoor humidity ranges between 30 and 60 degrees to keep mold off the carpet.
2. Avoid Stagnant Water From Accessing Your Carpet
It’s advisable to ensure your carpet doesn’t come into contact with standing water. Whether from leaks or spills, any standing liquid on your carpet should be dried immediately. When drying stagnant water on the rug, ensure to handle both the top and bottom.
The floor underneath the carpet should also be cleaned and dried thoroughly before laying the carpet. However, if the water has been on the rug for a prolonged period, mold will likely start growing, and the carpet should be replaced or professionally cleaned.
3. Avoid Installing a Carpet In High-Humid Areas
Installing a carpet in a high-humid area equals welcoming mold into your home. Once you subject a carpet to too much moisture, it’s likely to encourage mold and mildew growth. To prevent this, avoid installing a carpet or rag on areas experiencing frequent humidity.
4. Clean And Inspect Regularly
Regular cleaning is essential to prevent mold growth in carpets. Carpets should be vacuumed at least once a week to remove dirt and other particles that may serve as food for mold spores. Additionally, regular inspection of carpets is important to identify and address any potential mold growth. If any signs of mold are detected, it is important to take action to remove the mold as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading.
Conclusion
Mold and mildew can grow on any surface and be removed DIY or professionally. Unfortunately, when it grows on the carpet, it might be challenging to remove and can result in you replacing it. Luckily, the causes of mold growth on carpets are known and preventable. If you’re looking for ways to prevent mold growth on your carpet, keep it dry, install proper ventilation, and avoid installing a carpet in areas experiencing excess moisture.
