How to Prevent Mold In Your Carpet

Coming into contact with mold can cause a myriad of unpleasant reactions. Whether you’re allergic to mold or not, mold exposure can cause irritation in your eyes, skin, nose, throat, lungs, and more. What you may not realize is that your carpet could be at high risk of growing mold.

Identifying Mold

If your carpet is in a room or area that has high humidity or moisture levels, it is at risk of growing mold. If there are areas of your carpet that have remained wet for 24–48 hours, mold could already be growing and you should consider having your carpet cleaned. When determining whether your carpet has mold, look for these signs.

Mold Is Visible

Mold is visible rarely and usually only in extreme cases. If you suspect mold in your carpet, be sure to inspect it on both sides when checking for visual signs. If mold is visible, a new carpet may be the only solution. If your carpet has a musty odor or is discolored, this may be due to mold.

Wet for Long Periods of Time

If you know your carpet has been wet for more than 24 hours, it’s very likely to contain mold. The best thing to do if your carpet becomes wet is to remove it, clean it thoroughly, and dry it as quickly as possible. If the padding beneath the carpet is wet, they are both at risk and should be cleaned and dried immediately. In some cases, the padding will need to be thrown out all together.

More-Than-Normal Allergy Problems

Reactions to mold often appear as allergies, asthma, and other respiratory system problems. If you or your family are experiencing repeated instances of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to do a check for mold in areas where it would be likely.

Preventing Mold

Control Humidity

Using a dehumidifier to keep the humidity of your home between keep the humidity of your home between 30% and 60% will help keep your home and carpets mold free by depriving mold spores of the moisture they need to grow. 

Control Temperature

In addition to humidity levels, temperature can affect the amount of mold growth your home experiences. In hot weather, keep the indoor temperature at 80 degrees or below; while setting your thermostat higher can save you money on utility bills, it also creates an ideal environment for mold growth. Having your HVAC system checked to ensure that it is working properly can help keep both the humidity and the temperature of your home under control. 

Keep Carpet Clean

By simply cleaning up spills quickly and vacuuming regularly, you can reduce the chances of mold growing in your carpet. Don’t allow spills to sit, and schedule a thorough cleaning as soon as possible to ensure all the moisture is cleaned up.

Keeping your carpet clean and free of mold is an important part of protecting your investment as well as your health. For more information on keeping your home safe and healthy, subscribe to the Dream Steam blog!