How to Get Mold Out of Your Carpet in 7 Easy Steps?

Do you have mold on your carpet and want to remove it as soon as possible?

Mold bacteria can cause severe health issues. If it grows on your carpet, removing it will require some effort, but it’s not a difficult task.

The mold’s germs are very small creatures, so only scrubbing will not be enough to remove them because they grow deep in the carpet fibers.

You need specific cleaning methods to get rid of it. Luckily, plenty of different ways and cleaners are available to make your carpet mold-free. Let us learn the seven most effective steps to get mold out of your carpet.

How to Get Mold Out of Carpet?

Collect all the required tools and materials.
Open the curtains and windows to let the air circulate throughout the room.
Check the carpet area which is affected by mold. Examine its underside also.
Scrub the mold using a brush, then remove the remaining residues with a vacuum.
Pour baking soda and leave it overnight. Vacuum the area in the morning.
Fill a spray bottle with vinegar, apply it onto the mold, and scrub with a brush. Repeat this step several times.
Now, blot the carpet by wetting a towel to remove the residues and let it dry.

Why Do Removing Mold is Necessary?

Mold germs grow quickly in humid areas and are hazardous to your health. In more severe cases, it destroys your home. So, it is necessary to kill mold in the carpet when you find it. Otherwise, you or your family can develop lung diseases and eye irritation.

If you have crawling children, they can transfer the germs from one place to another through playing. In this way, the microbes will spread into the whole house. They also create an unpleasant smell in the entire house.

If the mold on the carpet is less than 10 square feet, you can easily remove it with easy steps. You can hire a professional to fix the issue if its size exceeds this. In case mold occurs on a small-sized rug, you can easily take it out, wash it, and place it back.

How Does Mold Grow?

Mold breeds through small germs, not visible to the naked eye, and float through the air. It starts growing in any indoor area where they find moisture. Mold is found in different types, but moisture is essential for its survival.

Sometimes its unpleasant odor starts throughout the house while its location is unfound. So, If you notice a bad smell, look for a carpet mold killer.

How to Identify Mold in Carpet?

Some ways are given below to identify mold on the carpet:

Visible Mold Growth

Mold likes to grow in a dark atmosphere and mostly grows on fibers. So, when looking for mold, check the underside of the carpet and its padding also.

Mildew in Carpet

When the mold is growing, its early stage is often called mildew. The big difference between mold and mildew is its color. The color of mold is green, red, blue, or black, whereas mildew is yellow, gray, or white.

Water Damage

The mold growth occurs within 24 – 48 hours after exposure to the water. Hence, act fast to look for the ways that kill mold.

Stains and Odors

Common smells that represent mold are sour, musty, and foul odors. Discoloration or stains also shows the existence of mold. If you want the exact identification of mold, you can get professional help to do the test.

Tools and Materials Required

Mask
Gloves
Brush
Vacuum
Baking soda
Vinegar
Spray bottle
A Small bucket
White towel

How to Get Rid of Mold from Carpet?

It can be unsafe to use harsh chemicals to remove mold from the carpet. There are safe and effective ways to get rid of mold from carpets, especially if you have pets and kids at your home.

Step 1. Gather All the Necessary Tools

Collecting all the required tools and materials before starting the project is important. It will make your task easy, and you will comfortably complete the project.

Furthermore, while working, if you don’t have a specific tool or material, it will waste your time.

Step 2. Ventilate the Room

Open the windows and curtains of the room to allow the air to circulate throughout the space. If possible, expose the carpet to sunlight which kills the mold germs.

If the carpet or rug size is small, it would be best to take it out to clean. All the molds are not dangerous to health, but it’s good to wear a mask and gloves before starting the process to prevent health problems.

Step 3. Inspect Your Carpet

Identify the affected area and examine the mold carefully. Check its padding and the underside of your carpet by lifting it. Inspect each space carefully so that you can remove all mold effectively.

Suppose the padding is too affected by mold and does not cleaned by any method, it’s better to cut that portion of underlayment and replace it.

Step 4. Use a Brush or Vacuum

Before applying anything, use a brush to remove the mold from the carpet as much as possible. If the surrounding walls are affected, scrub them also.

Now, use a vacuum cleaner to remove all the small particles of mold and other dust and dirt. Make sure you have removed the mold as much as possible.

Step 5. Sprinkle with Baking Soda

Moisture is the main thing that mold needs to grow, so it should be removed properly. Baking soda is effective in absorbing humidity and bad odors from carpets.

Sprinkle it on the affected area generously and leave it overnight to let the baking soda fight the mold. In the morning, check the area and vacuum it to remove the baking soda. If you don’t want to use baking soda, salt or baby powder can also be used for this purpose.

Step 6. Use Vinegar

Vinegar is the best cleaner for removing different stains. It is also used to clean mold without damaging the carpet. It’s not possible to kill every type of mold, but it can remove it. The acidity of vinegar removes stains safely, unlike harsh chemicals.

If the floor under the carpet is made of wood, you must be extra careful. Use vinegar in such a way that it does not spread to the wood floor because it will damage the color of the wood.

Pour vinegar into a spray bottle and take a brush. Now apply the spray onto the mold and scrub it with a brush. Move it in a circular direction but don’t spread it on the carpet’s fibers. Perform this process several times until you find it clean.

Step 7. Rinse the Carpet

After completing all the steps, you have to rinse the carpet to remove all the residues of cleaners. Take a small bucket and pour clean water into it. Now, soak a clean towel in it. Then, take it out and wring it to remove extra water.

Apply the towel to the affected area and keep blotting it until the area is completely clean. While doing this step, ensure you are not rubbing the area; otherwise, the residues will spread into the fibers.

Use a fan to remove excess moisture. Drying is very important to prevent mold from growing again. The drying time can be increased by using a dehumidifier.

Prevention of Mold Growth in Carpet

If you like indoor plants, place a water-resistant mat under the plant pot so that the carpet doesn’t absorb moisture.
If you use firewood in your room, a moisture barrier should be placed between the carpet and the firewood.
Most areas of the house have greater humidity, like the basement. So, spending some money purchasing a dehumidifier will keep your space mold-free. A dehumidifier absorbs excess moisture from the environment effectively. This way, your wall art, and hardwood floors will also be safe. The humidity level should be less than 60%, and it’s good to use an air conditioner with it.
Air purifiers are also available; spending some money on them will also help clean the air and keep it germ-free. This is a good option for people who are sensitive to mold.
Keep the setting of the air conditioner on AUTO. Don’t keep it on the ON setting; otherwise, the humidity level will be high.
Don’t allow your pets to enter the room to avoid pet accidents.
Open the windows doors and keep your room ventilated. Also, open the curtains in the daytime to expose the room to sunlight. This reduces the chances of mold growth a lot.
It is better not to install carpets in high-humidity areas. If you have placed rugs in basements or bathrooms, wash them often.
Select a moisture-resistant underlayment for your carpet.
Make sure wet items are not in contact with your carpet.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Quick Way to Get Mold out of Your Carpet?

Baking soda is an effective solution to get mold out of your carpet. Sprinkle it on the area and leave it overnight. It will absorb the excess moisture.

In the morning, remove it using a brush or vacuum. Now apply vinegar and use a brush to scrub the area. Scrub the underside of the carpet also. Rinse by dipping a towel in clean water.

Is Vinegar Effective in Killing Mold Under the Carpet?

80% of the mold species can be killed using vinegar. You can use it by mixing it with baking soda to increase its power.

Can I Leave the Vinegar on the Carpet for a Long Time?

Don’t leave the vinegar on carpets for a long time because it contains acid, which can discolor your carpet. After applying it on a surface, leave it for one hour, then rinse with clean water.

Is Lysol Spray Effective in Killing Mold in a Carpet?

Lysol Spray kills mold on the carpet because it contains hydrogen peroxide. This is a powerful item that kills mold and mildew successfully.

Can Mold in Your Carpet Make You Ill?

Some molds are unsafe for our health and can make us sick. If you have allergies or asthma, the mold can create more problems. It can cause lung, skin, eyes, nose, and throat irritation by exposure to it for a long time.

Final Thoughts

Mostly the areas of your home where air does not circulate and are humid are more prone to mold growth. So, you must be extra careful if you have installed carpet in basements or any other humid space.

If there are small rugs in these areas, wash them frequently to avoid mold growth. It would be good to expose the carpeted rooms to the sunlight and keep them well-ventilated.

Sunlight is a natural killer of all types of germs and bacteria. I hope the seven steps in getting mold out of the carpets will be helpful for you.