So you’ve got a mould problem? Perhaps you’ve tackled the ceiling and removed mould from your wardrobe – but what about the carpet?
Mould can start growing if a wet carpet goes unchecked for more than 48 hours. If you’re worried that removing mould from the carpet seems like a big job, you’re right.
Looking for more ways to get rid of mould?
Why does mould grow on carpet?
Mould spores are everywhere; they need the right conditions to grow and thrive – moisture, humidity and nutrients. Carpets are an extremely porous substance which holds water, making them the perfect breeding ground for mould.
Prevention is the key when it comes to mouldy carpets. Once a rug or carpet gets wet, you must make sure you dry the area thoroughly.
Can mouldy carpet be saved?
Unfortunately, if mould has well and truly embedded itself in your carpet, it will likely need to be replaced.
Lucinda Curran is an Indoor Environmental Health Consultant. She says, “Carpets, like plasterboard, are a porous material, and as such, it is nearly impossible to clean and is usually replaced.”
Similarly, NSW Health says in a mould fact sheet that “absorbent materials, such as carpet, may need to be professionally cleaned or replaced if they are contaminated with mould.”
How to get mould out of the carpet with baking soda and vinegar
If the mould growth is only on the surface and hasn’t made its way to the back of your carpet, you may want to try removing it and hope for the best.
To do so, ensure the room is well ventilated, and you wear gloves and a mask.
Using a vacuum cleaner with genuine HEPA filters, you can vacuum up as much of the mould as possible.
Next, you will need to try and kill the spores in the carpet using vinegar or something similar that is known to kill mould.
Lucinda says, “Bleach is to be avoided at all times. Bleach whitens mould, and it also is carbohydrate-based, so provides a food source for mould.”
After you have cleaned the area, make sure it dries thoroughly. You can use microfibre cloths to help remove as much moisture from the carpet as possible. Sprinkling bi-carb soda on the carpet will also help remove moisture and eliminate nasty smells.
Once the carpet is dry, vacuum again to pick up any remaining spores.
The carpet will need to monitored and checked regularly to see if the mould returns – it’s likely that it could become an ongoing issue.
You may also like:
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The best dehumidifiers to use on wet and muggy days in Australia
How to remove mould from your plant’s soil and leaves
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