How to Get Mold Out of Your Carpet

Struggling with dirty floors? Call Steam Smart Pro Carpet Duct & Tile Cleaning at 520-416-4308 for top-notch floor cleaning services!

Dirt, dust, and pet hair — all these things can find their way into your carpet and make your floors look less appealing and significantly older. While dirt, dust, and pet hair aren't really a cause for concern, there is one thing that you should be worried about when it comes to dirty carpets: mold. 

Knowing how to get mold out of carpet is very important not only for making your floors look nicer but for protecting your family. As Vail's expert carpet cleaning services provider, our Steam Smart Pro Carpet Duct & Tile Cleaning team has you covered. We know that if you find mold in your carpet, you probably have a lot of questions and want to get rid of it ASAP.

The good news is that you can eliminate mold spores in your carpet and renew your floors! Here's how.

Step 1: Confirm That It Actually Is Mold

Mold isn't like other debris that can dirty up your carpet. It requires a careful and thorough cleaning process, so you want to make sure that the stains you're seeing on your carpet are actually mold or mildew.

Generally, you'll find mold near the bathroom, kitchen, basement, or wherever else moisture can be present. If your carpet stains are consistent with these areas, there's a pretty big chance it's mold.

Here are some other signs that you have a moldy carpet:

• You smell a strange, musty odor coming from your carpets.
• There's white discoloration on the carpet, which often indicates mildew.
• You notice green, black, blue, or red spots on the carpet.

In some cases, you can just look at your carpet and tell that it's growing mold.

Step 2: Ventilate and Dry the Area Containing the Moldy Carpet

Mold thrives in dark, warm, and moist environments, so before you start to remove it, you need to ventilate the area. 

Open up any windows in the room to let in some air, and get whatever fans you have. Turning on the fans and opening up the windows will help ventilate the area so you can get rid of any moldy smell while drying the area. If the mold is on a rug, take it outside and leave it there for about 48 hours. 

For even better results, use a dehumidifier to dry the area and moldy carpet.

Step 3: Use a Mold Killer to Clean the Carpet

When learning how to get mold out of carpet, you'll have a lot of options for mold killers. But if you want the most effective cleaning solution, just go into your pantry and grab these three ingredients:

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Hydrogen peroxide

Vinegar and baking soda are a famous cleaning combination for a lot of different things, including anti-fungal cleaners! To get started, take the baking soda and sprinkle it on the moldy spots on the carpet. Let it sit overnight before vacuuming it up in the morning. 

After you vacuum, take the white vinegar and pour it onto the moldy spots. Use a scrub brush (preferably with a handle) to rub the vinegar into the carpet. If you can, scrub the back of the carpet or rug as well. Finally, vacuum over the spot again and repeat the steps as necessary. 

If you're dealing with especially stubborn mold, you can break out the hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural anti-fungal cleaner, making it a decent bleach substitute when cleaning mold out of carpet. But the best thing about using hydrogen peroxide as a cleaner is that you can use it on pretty much any surface!

Mix around 3% hydrogen peroxide with some water and put the solution in a spray bottle. Spray the moldy area, then leave it to soak for ten minutes. Next, scrub the area until it's clean.

It's very important to note that these DIY cleaners are really only best for small mold problems. If the mold in your carpet is due to a serious flooding issue or it covers more than just a couple of small spots, it's best to call a professional.

Step 4: Dry Out the Area Again

Now that you have moist carpets again, you need to ventilate the area. Open up the windows and grab your fans to dry out the carpet.

The above DIY cleaning solutions are natural, so you won't have to worry about them damaging or staining your carpet. Just make sure that you get all of the mold because it can spread quickly.

Step 5: Prevent the Mold From Coming Back

After you've removed the mold and restored your carpet, it's crucial to make sure that the mold or mildew doesn't come back. A great way to do this is by placing a dehumidifier in moisture-prone rooms, like those that are often dark or near water (carpet near bathrooms and basements). A dehumidifier is a great way to prevent mold because its sole job is to reduce the amount of humidity in a room, which is mold's best friend.

Another way you can keep mold and mildew at bay is by promoting better airflow. Open up the windows more often, and run your air conditioner when this isn't possible.

But perhaps the best way to prevent mold is by keeping your carpets clean. Vacuum regularly, and consider steam cleaning your carpets to ensure they stay as clean and healthy as possible.

Contact the Carpet Cleaning Experts Today!

Our experts at Steam Smart Pro Carpet Duct & Tile Cleaning have seen it all and done it all when it comes to dirty and moldy carpets. We know how stubborn mold can be and how essential it is to remove it. If you need a little help figuring out how to get mold out of carpet, we've got you covered.

Dealing with reappearing carpet stains? Have mold and mildew that won't seem to go away? Call Steam Smart Pro Carpet Duct & Tile Cleaning at 520-416-4308 today to schedule your professional carpet cleaning service.