This article will teach you how to remove black mold from wet carpets.

Dealing With Black Mold On Carpet

If you thought black mold could only grow on walls, ceilings, and tiles, then you’re wrong. Mold can also grow on other types of organic material such as fabric, cushions, and carpets!

So what kills mold and mildew in a carpet?

  • How To Remove Black Mold From Carpet

Since you’re reading this we assume you’ve found some blackish-green patterns on your carpet. It probably smells bad too!

To make matters worse, black mold can cause allergies when the microscopic spores are inhaled or when physical contact is made. You don’t want your crawling child making any form of contact with this health hazard.

Not to worry, we’ve got you covered.

Keep reading!

How Did I Get Black Mold Under Carpet?

Black mold, just like all the other species of mold, need damp environments to grow. So if you find mold growing on your carpet, then it has been exposed to moisture and has formed a perfect environment for mold growth.

  • Mold In Carpet From Water Damage

Because of their fluffy nature, carpets can easily absorb and retain moisture, and this might be as a result of spillages, leakages, or high humidity.

It doesn’t take long for mold to start growing, 24 to 48 hours is all it needs. This means a damp carpet that isn’t taken out to dry can begin growing mold faster than you know!

Water damage predisposes a wet carpet to mold growth as air drying does not necessarily reduce the potential for such growth.

What Kills Mold In Carpets?

There is a wide variety of substances that can kill the mold growing in your carpet.

Do you know how to get mold out of carpet naturally and with the use of chemicals?

  • Bleach
  • White vinegar
  • Borax
  • Tea tree oil
  • Lemon juice
  • Commercial mold removal products

If you prioritize safety, then using non-toxic mold cleaning products like lemon juice or white vinegar is your best bet. Both of these can kill black mold in your carpet, but they aren’t as potent as substances like borax, bleach, and commercial mold removal products.

So how do you get black mold out of carpet? Here is all to know about this process.

How To Clean Mold From Carpet

If you find black mold on the carpet, then follow these tips to remove them.

Step 1: Take the moldy carpet outside

The last place you would want to beat off mold from your carpet is indoors.

If you do this, then there will be mold particles and spores flying all over your house and members of your household will be further exposed to it.

This is why the first thing you need to do is take the carpet outside. Place it in free space then proceed to the next step.

Note: If the carpet is small enough to be machine washed, then you may not need to take it outside. You can wash off the mold using your washing machine.

We will discuss how to machine-wash a mold-infested carpet later in the article.

Step 2: Prepare the rug for cleaning

Now that you have your carpet outside, the next thing to do is clear of all the debris from it.

You can do this by hanging the carpet on a line and beating it with a broom to get rid of dust and other particles that may be lodged in it.

When the carpet is free of debris, you will have a clearer view of the mold and it would be easier to clean.

You can also use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust and debris from the carpet, just so you’re sure that only the mold will be left behind.

Step 3: Prepare a cleaning solution for carpet mold removal

If you’re not one to buy commercial mold cleaning products, then you can try other home remedies for mold in carpet.

Do you know how to remove mold stains from carpets? One of such remedies is bleach.

There are other mold cleaning products you can try like vinegar and tea tree oil, but bleach is highly recommended. This is because of its ability to remove tough stains like the one mold leaves behind on your carpet.

Besides its cleaning power, it can also be used to prevent mold from coming back.

To make a bleach solution, mix a cup of bleach with a gallon of water and stir thoroughly so all the elements are perfectly blended. You can now pour the solution into a spray bottle and proceed to the next step.

Step 4: Apply the solution to the affected areas

Before you spray the bleach solution all over your carpet, first apply it on a small part to see how much it would discolor it. If the solution doesn’t cause any significant change in the carpet’s original color, then you can apply it to the other affected areas.

Leave the solution to work on the mold for about 10 minutes then move on to the next step.

Step 5: Scrub to remove wet carpet mold

Now that the stubborn carpet mold has been killed by the bleach solution, you still have the stains to deal with. This is where your brush comes in.

Use it to gently scrub off the mold from the carpet. We said gently because using maximum force to scrub the rug might discolor it more than you’d care for.

As long as the scrubbing is consistent, the mold stains will eventually go off.

To make the job easier, you can mix a mild detergent with water, then dip your brush into it and scrub.

Step 6: Rinse the carpet

When you’ve scrubbed off all the mold, give the carpet a good rinse. You can use your garden hose to blast water onto the carpet so all the leftover mold particles will be dislodged from the carpet.

Step 7: Spread the carpet out to dry

Now that cleaning is done, you can spread the carpet on a line and allow the heat from the sun to do the rest. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can kill mold too, so any bits of mold you may have missed will be destroyed by the sun’s rays.

It would be wise to check the weather forecast before taking your carpet out for cleaning. If you’re sure of at least two days of bright sunlight, then you can be confident cleaning the carpet outdoors.

Make sure the carpet is 100% dry before you bring it back inside. Remember, moisture is the reason your carpet grew mold in the first place and you wouldn’t want a reoccurrence!

How To Machine Wash A Moldy Carpet

If your carpet is machine-washable, then you wouldn’t need to take it outside. Follow these steps to machine-wash your mold-infested carpet.

Here are the basic steps involved in carpet cleaning mold removal.

Step 1: Vacuum the carpet

Before you throw the carpet into the machine, make sure you get rid of all the dust and debris lodged in it. You can do this with a vacuum cleaner.

The less dirt you have on the carpet, the easier it would be to clean.

Step 2: Wash the carpet

During the wash, set your washer to delicate, then add warm water into the machine (warm water is best for mold cleaning). Throw in the carpet and begin the cycle.

We have to warn you though, do not use chlorine bleach if the carpet has a rubber backing. This will make the rubber deteriorate during the wash cycle and lead to an even bigger mess!

An oxygen-based bleach is best for carpets with rubber backing.

Step 3: Dry the carpet

After the wash cycle has been completed, take a look at the carpet to see if there are any mold stains left. If there are, then you can scrub them off with a brush, or repeat the wash cycle if the stains aren’t minor.

When you’re sure the carpet is totally free of mold, take it outside to dry. You can spread it across a line and allow the blazing sun to do the rest!

Once again, make sure the carpet is completely dried before you bring it back inside!

How To Prevent Mold From Growing On Your Carpet

Cleaning the mold from your carpet is one thing, stopping them from returning is a whole different ball game.

Follow these tips to keep mold from growing in your carpet again.

Keep the area ventilated:

The more airflow you have in your home, the less moisture there will be. You can ventilate your home by keeping the doors and windows open. You can also turn on your fans to keep the area dry.

Remember to have mesh screens installed by your windows and doors. This will keep the air coming in, and keep the outdoor pests out.

Use dehumidifiers:

Dehumidifiers are widely used to keep humidity levels in control. Mold thrives in areas with humidity of 60% and above, so you can use this device to keep it below these levels.

Make sure the carpet is always dry:

When there is a spillage, be sure to take the carpet out to dry immediately.

It only takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to start growing!

Conclusion

Follow the tips in this article to remove mold from your carpet and keep them from coming back. If you’re not a DIY person, then you can call a professional carpet cleaning service to handle the job.

We hope the information provided here has been helpful.

Thanks for reading!

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