A moldy carpet is more than something that’s just unappealing to look at. It can also create a foul odor and damage your health. If you suspect that your carpet might have mold growing in it, then there are several things that you can do to find out for sure.
If you do happen to find mold or mildew in carpets, then you want to replace or clean them as soon as possible. Interested in learning more? Continue reading and we’ll walk you through how to check for mold in your carpets.
Identifying Mold and Mildew in Carpets
Just because you can’t easily see mold or mildew on the surface of your carpet doesn’t mean that it’s not there. In fact, mold is usually only visible on the surface of a carpet in extremely severe cases of growth. For example, if your carpet was damaged in a flood and stayed wet for an extended period of time.
Below, we’ll go over several examples that you can use to identify if mold growth has occurred or if it’s likely to occur.
Visible Mold Growth
As we mentioned above, actually seeing mold on your carpet is actually quite rare. But it can sometimes be obvious from visible inspection that there’s mold on your carpet.
In these situations, your carpet is usually beyond repair. It’s advised that you dispose of your carpet as soon as possible and simply replace it.
Even if mold growth might not be visible on top of the carpet, it may be happening underneath the carpet, making it difficult to notice. If you suspect that your carpet might be moldy, then you want to inspect both sides of it.
Carpet Is Wet
Any carpet that’s undergone water damage, either from standing water or flooding, most likely needs to be thrown out. Conditions are ripe for mildew growth in these scenarios.
Even if you can’t visibly see any mold, it’s very likely to take place unless you completely remove, clean, and dry the carpet as soon as possible. Because it can be so expensive to replace a carpet these days, it’s usually worth trying to clean it first.
Wet Padding Under Carpet
If the padding underneath your carpet has become wet for any reason, or it’s become moist due to condensation, then the padding – and also the carpet on top of it – are at risk for mold growth. The padding might have to be replaced, as will the carpet in some instances.
Stains and Odors
There are a variety of things that can cause stains and odors on carpets. If you suspect there’s mold, then you can take samples and put it through a mold test kit.
The Importance of Knowing How to Check for Mold and Mildew in Carpets
Having mold and mildew in carpets can be damaging to your health and your home. Because of this, it’s crucial that you know how to identify areas of mold so you can stop it from spreading.
Are you looking to get your carpet cleaned? If so, contact us today and see what we can do for you!
