One of the telltale signs of something going bad or being damaged is when mold grows on it. The carpets in your home or your car are no exception. But when you find mold on your carpet, all is not lost, and you still can rescue it using various methods. The best ways to remove carpet molds are white vinegar, sunlight, non-iodized salt, baking soda, clove oil, and commercial carpet mold cleaners.
Molds are bad in the best of days, but they are especially bad when they grow on your carpets. They can severely damage the fibers of the carpet, can be difficult to spot and remove, and can cause health issues for you and your family. So you must know how to get mold out of carpet.
Now, let’s take a good look at various carpet mold removal procedures.
Why does mold grow on carpets?
Before knowing how to remove mold from carpet, one first know why it grows in the first place. Knowing the root cause of mold growth will help in the removal of the fungi. Here are the main causes of carpet mold:
- Not drying the carpet after spilling liquid
- Keeping the carpet in damp areas
- Letting rainwater fall on the carpet through open windows
- Flood damage
- Water leakage
- Inadequate ventilation
Now that you know why mold grows in your carpets, here is how to get rid of mold in the carpet.
How do you clean mold out of carpet with white vinegar?
White vinegar is a universal mold cleaner. No matter what the surface is, you can rely on distilled white vinegar to remove mold from it. What makes white vinegar one of the best for carpet mold cleaning is that it does not harm the fabric of most carpets.
Spray a diluted solution of white vinegar onto the area with mold. Wait for a few minutes for the vinegar to work its way into the mold spores. After 20 minutes, start to scrub with a soft-bristle brush to remove the mold particles. Finally, vacuum to clean the residue.
How to rescue a moldy carpet using sunlight
As far as mold cleaners go, sunlight is one of the most underrated. It works wonders, especially if the mold in the carpet is not too stubborn. All you have to do is let the carpet dry in direct sunlight for a few hours, and the mold will die off due to dehydration. But keep the fiber of your carpet in mind when keeping the carpet in direct sunlight for a long time, since the color can fade and damage the carpet even more.
How to get rid of mould on carpet with noniodized salt
When you think about mold cleaners, salt doesn’t immediately come to mind. But it can bery effective against mold. Since salt is hydrophilic, it can absorb a ridiculous amount of water from its surroundings.
Before applying salt on the moldy area, vacuum all the loose mold particles. Then mix a generous amount of salt in water to make a viscous solution of salt. Apply the salt directly onto the moldy area, and wait for a few minutes. The salt will absorb all the water from the mold spores, which will kill off all the fungi.
Once you are done, let the carpet dry in direct sunlight. You will notice crust forming on the carpet. Vacuum clean the crusty areas.
Remove mold from the carpet with baking soda
While white vinegar acts on mold due to being slightly acidic, baking soda acts the opposite way, that is, being alkaline. Alkaline materials dissolve organic materials, which is a great way to get rid of mold from carpet.
Before applying baking soda on the carpet, clean up the area using a vacuum cleaner. Then sprinkle some baking soda onto the mold. Let the soda work its magic and dissolve all the mold particles. After about half an hour, use a vacuum cleaner again to clean the powder-like residue from the carpet.
Use clove oil to remove mold from carpet
Clove oil is an antiseptic that works wonders on toothache, but it also works very well to remove molds from carpets. Mix a little clove oil in one liter of water. Let it rest, and then clean the carpet surface with a vacuum cleaner. Apply the clove oil mixture onto the carpet. Scrub the carpet using a soft brush until you see all the mold coming off. Then dry the area and clean it off.
How to remove black mold from carpet
Black molds are a bit tricky to get rid of, and they are also the most harmful. For black mold on carpet, most conventional methods don’t work. You will need commercial-grade mold cleaners to remove black mold from your carpet. Keep the type of fiber of your carpet in mind and find the one that suits you the most.
While using a store-bought carpet cleaner, always follow their instructions written on the bottle. These are written keeping the best interests of both you and your carpet in mind.
Finding the Right Professional
Choosing the right person or company can make a big difference, so take a moment to check a few important things before you book someone.
- Check Reviews and Licenses: Make sure the professional is fully licensed and has good reviews from other customers. This shows they are experienced and trustworthy.
- Ask About Emergency Services: Not all companies are available after hours. If the leak happens at night or on the weekend, you’ll need someone who offers 24/7 emergency service.
- Get Multiple Quotes: Don’t go with the first option you find. Ask a few companies for quotes so you can compare prices and see who offers the best value.
- Look for Leak Detection Services: Some companies have special tools to find hidden leaks inside walls or ceilings. These experts can save time and avoid extra damage.
Final Words
Removing mold is a must if you want to keep your carpets and household healthy. Find the best way to deal with carpet mold according to your carpet fiber, and get rid of all the harmful fungi growing in your precious carpets.
FAQ
1. How to get mold out of carpet without bleach?
Although bleach can be a good mold remover in most cases, when it comes to carpets, it is better not to use it for a few reasons. First, bleach can seriously damage the fibers of the carpet. Second, it can fade the vibrant colors of the carpet. Third, when it comes in contact with skin, it can cause tissue damage or irritation at the very least.
There are quite a few good alternatives to bleach when it comes to cleaning mold from carpets. You can use distilled white vinegar, Hydrogen peroxide, or even store-bought mold cleaners instead of using bleach to remove mold.
2. How to get mold out of carpet naturally?
Not all mold cleaning agents have to be chemical or inorganic. There are some pretty effective natural ways to remove mold from carpets. You can use non-iodized salt to remove carpet mold. You can even use sunlight to get rid of surface-level mold from your carpet.
3. What kills mold in carpet?
Since carpets have fibers, mold can grow pretty deep before being discovered. Even when they’ve been discovered, deep-rooted molds can be pretty tough to deal with. A good mold cleaner will penetrate the fibers, kill the mold, and prevent it from growing again. White vinegar, baking soda, and store-bought commercial-grade mold cleaners are the best in this regard.
4. Can mold be washed out of carpet?
It is very much possible to remove mold from carpet by washing it. But to do so, certain conditions have to be met.
- The mold must not be deep rooted
- The mold infestation is not too severe
- You must dry the carpet off properly after washing it.
5. Does vinegar kill mold on carpet?
Yes, vinegar does kill mold on carpet. In fact, it is one of the best mold cleaners out there. But you must make sure to use white vinegar instead of red vinegar, since the red vinegar will cause stains on your carpet, which will end up opening another can of worms.
6. Does Lysol spray kill mold in carpet?
If you are looking to kill surface level mold on your carpet, you can use lysol spray. But it is a very weak mold killer. If your carpet’s mold infestation reaches deep into the subfloor, then Lysol spray will be of no use at all.