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People often ask us about carpet cleaning mold out of carpets and unfortunately, it is usually next to impossible. Most of the time attempting to remove the mold does not make good financial sense. The costs involved far outweigh the cost of replacing the carpet and pad. The only time saving a carpet that contains or has been exposed to mold is when the carpet is made of an expensive natural material like wool or silk or an exotic animal pelt like a tiger, or a bear. Even in these cases, it is advised to seek out a qualified professional who has vast experience in dealing with these types of carpet.
When mold affects carpet it becomes imbedded in the carpet fibers and more importantly the carpet backing. Most of today’s carpetshave primary and secondary backings that contain latex. Latex is an organic material, thus, a food source for mold. Mold, just like every other living thing, requires water and a food source to grow and thrive. In carpets, the latex in the carpet backing provides that food source. Mold will not actually cause damage (it may be present but it will not cause structural damage) to synthetic carpet fibers because they are not organic. Most synthetic carpet fibers are nylon, acrylic, polyester, or olefin.
What Makes Mold Removal from Carpets Difficult?
It’s next to impossible to completely remove mold from porous materials, materials like fabrics, carpets, mattresses, and cushions. These materials may have thousands of microscopic pores or holes. You may be able to easily remove the mold on the carpet’s surface, but you may not be able to scrub away the mold deep inside the carpet’s backing materials. The carpet may look clean, but you will not be able to determine if all of the mold spores are gone. If any spores remain, the mold will begin to re-grow once any type of moisture is accidentally added to the area of carpet (water off your shoes when you come in from outside, a water or drink spill, etc.).
DIY Carpet Mold Removal
There are many means to “naturally” attempt to remove mold from your carpet. Some of the “natural” methods are to use vinegar or tea tree oil (tea tree oil can be rather expensive, just a few ounces can cost upwards of $20). The problem with vinegar and tea tree oil is that they are only known to inhibit mold growth, not kill the mold. Some so-called experts recommend bleach, but bleach will also discolor some types of carpet fibers (before using bleach, test its affect on your carpet in an inconspicuous place like inside a closet or preferably, on a leftover remnant piece).
To treat carpet for mold contamination, first vacuum the affected area with a HEPA-rated vacuum (using a normal vacuum cleaner will allow any mold spores to past through the machine and become airborne, possibly spreading the spores throughout your home). Next either move the carpet outside if possible or lift the affected area so that you can also inspect and treat the carpet backing. Thoroughly saturate both sides of the carpet’s affected area (both front and back) with whatever anti-microbial product you have chosen use. Also treat the carpet padding (again, both sides), making sure to treat a slightly larger area than what is visibly affected. Blot the solution that you have used with a disposable cloth to remove as much of the solution as possible. Dry the affected area for at least 24 hours (avoid using fans in case any mold spores are still present) by placing a dehumidifier near it.
Another way to solve a carpet mold problem is to cut the entire affected area out and discard it. If you have leftover remnants from when the carpet was first installed, these remnants can be professionally pieced back in to save the expense of having to totally replace a room of carpet. Many professional restoration companies can provide patch-in services like this.
Even professional carpet cleaners cannot and will not guarantee that all traces of the mold will be removed. Sometimes it is better to completely remove and replace the carpet rather than risk the possible side affects of mold contamination. The problem is that when you have your carpets professionally cleaned, the carpet will remain damp for 24 hours or longer. If moisture is added to any mold spores that escaped removal, your mold problem could return in as little as a 24 or48 hours.
If you carpet is one of those exotic materials listed above, there are experts who specialize in cleaning carpets of this type. Their services are never inexpensive, but if the value of the carpet warrants it, their services are worth looking into.
Professional Support
The removal process must be done with great care in order to prevent the spread of mold spores to other areas of the home and to also prevent exposing you and your family members to mold spores that could make you sick. The proper setup of containment is required, along with protective clothing and HEPA air scrubbing machines. These specialized machines will remove 99.97% of contaminants from the air down to 0.3 microns in size (the average mold spore is between 3 and 40 microns, a human hair is 100-150 microns in size).
If the mold has been identified as a particularly toxic species, a more cautious approach to removal should be made. If any mold-sensitive individuals live in your home, you should consider having them relocate until the entire remediation process has been completed. At-risk individuals would include young children, seniors, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems (HIV/AIDS, etc.), and people undergoing chemotherapy.
We suggest consulting with a mold remediation professional like Water Mold Fire Restoration before attempting to clean, remove, or replace moldy carpets or carpet padding on your own, especially if the mold affects an area greater than 10 square feet. We respond 24/7 and can have IICRC-certified technicians on site in less than one hour. We can be reached by email at help@watermoldfire.net or by calling 800-905-0277. Our initial inspection and consultation is free with no further obligation.
