Wondering how to clean mold in your carpet?

Mold is never a welcome sight inside your home, especially when it settles into high traffic areas such as your carpet. Carpet mold can be very difficult to remove in many cases and it’s best to clean it as soon as possible before it becomes a health hazard. You should always call a mold remediation specialist when dealing with mold, as there can be many hidden dangers that your eye can’t always see. With that said, there are ways to safely and naturally remove certain cases of mold from carpet without using harsh chemicals or spending a fortune. Before we start, you must always properly protect yourself. Mold has many health hazards and can cause bad irritations to your eyes, throat, nose, and other allergic reactions. When removing mold in your carpet, wear protective gloves, mask, and goggles to protect your vulnerable areas.

1. Dish Washing Detergent and Water

This is the most basic solution in this list, but can be effective for the less severe mold contaminations. You can use it in combination with either a shop vac or a rug shampoo machine. Use hot tap water and roughly a tablespoon of dish soap, remember to add the soap after you add water to prevent an excess of bubbles. Follow the rug shampoo machine instructions and you’ll have a mold free carpet in just a few minutes.

2. Vinegar and Baking Soda

Vinegar and baking soda are known to slow down the development of mold, while removing harmful odors at the same time. Start by soaking the infected area with vinegar for about an hour before rinsing it out with hot water. Next, using warm water and baking soda to create a thick paste, apply it to the carpet and leave it for another hour. Use a brush or shop vac to remove the paste from the mold area in the carpet.

3. Lysol and Water

You can easily remove mildly infected carpet mold with lysol and hot water with only a spray bottle. Mix one cup of Lysol into the bottle of hot water and spray onto the infected area. Let it sit for 25 minutes before using a vacuum or shop vac to pull the mold and contaminants out of the carpet.

4. Tea tree and Grapefruit Seed Oil

These super powerful natural oils have a ton of useful cleaning benefits, including the antifungal and antibacterial ingredients they both possess. Using the spray bottle method, fill a spray bottle with a cup of hot water and either a teaspoon of tea tree oil or 10 drops of grapefruit seed oil. Apply the spray to the infected area and let stand for 10 minutes before using a vacuum or shop vac to pull the mold and contaminants out of the carpet.

What To Do After Cleaning?

Mold grows and thrives in warm and moist areas. After cleaning your carpet make sure to dry it thoroughly to avoid future mold growth. Make sure the area has great ventilation, and place a fan over the damp area. A dehumidifier can also help speed up the drying time.

How to Prevent Mold From Growing on Carpet

The best tip on cleaning mold from carpet is to prevent the mold from ever growing! You can’t always prevent mold damage from happening due to flood or emergency water damage, however you can be proactive in preventing common carpet mold with these tips:

• Avoid carpeting any bathroom floors in your house
• Hang towels and shower mats up to dry after use and wash them weekly
• Make sure wet items are never in constant contact with your floors
• Make sure your home has a good ventilation system

If you think you have a considerable carpet mold issue, you need to act quick before it turns into something bigger. Zona Restoration specializes in Mold Remediation and Removal in Phoenix, AZ.