How To Get Rid Of Mould On Your Carpet

Mould is a far more common issue for carpet than many people realise. Though it’s frequently less visible than dust, dirt or staining, it can still be present beneath the surface. Lurking at the base of the fibres, it waits for the right conditions to spread to the top and across your floor, all the while spreading allergens, diminishing the air quality of the room it’s in and potentially contributing to respiratory issues or inflaming allergic reactions. 

And even if you do spot it making its presence known on the top surface of your carpet, it can be remarkably difficult to get it out of your house. Surface cleaning measures such as baking soda, white vinegar and a stiff brush can be effective at dealing with the initial outbreak or with less intrusive forms like mildew — but if spores remain at the base of your carpet or underneath the carpet’s padding, you can still end up with a rapid recurrence of the problem. 

Mould can appear on your carpet for a number of reasons. It’s most closely associated with large-scale water leakages, such as flooding or burst pipes beneath the floor — but in truth, virtually any spill can result in mould growth if the carpet isn’t fried out rapidly enough. The good news is that with proper carpet cleaning, it can be relatively easy to deal with the issue and get rid of mould for good. While serious longer-term, carpet damage from mould can necessitate tearing it out and replacing it, early intervention can help restore your carpet to its old self and get rid of mould for good. 

When you suspect you have mould issues, a number of other inspections and cleaning should also be carried out — for example, rug cleaning, given the exposure they have also likely had to mould on the floor. Additionally, any leather goods, mattresses, drapes and upholstered items should also be checked as a precautionary measure — they can also harbour mould and mildew spores, even after the initial issue has been addressed. 

But it’s also a job best left to professionals. They’re equipped to properly investigate the scope of any mould-related problems with your carpet, rather than simply dealing with the surface-level problems. Getting rid of mould is a holistic process; not only do you need to deal with the overt issues, but you also need to root out the underlying cause to ensure that it won’t come back. On top of this, you need to make sure that you use the correct treatments in the process, to avoid inadvertently killing the mould…but ruining the look and feel of your carpet in the process. 
At Jim’s Cleaning, we’re longtime experts in the process of getting rid of mould and restoration after water damage. We can inspect your property to diagnose the underlying cause of the mould and then take the appropriate steps to ensure that we get the mould out of your carpet for good. Steam cleaning is one of our most powerful tools for this process, although we do vary our methods according to the specific requirements of your home. If you’ve got a mould issue, we’re only a phone call away.

FAQs

What causes carpet mould?

Carpet mould is usually caused by a variety of different factors — specifically, excess moisture in damp or humid surroundings, which allow the mould to both breed, thrive and spread. Occasionally, outside sources can cause the introduction of mould into an environment, too. For example, older books can carry mould; if they’ve been left on a bookcase or on the floor, there’s the potential for the mould to spread throughout the house and onto the carpet. 

While carpet mould is most commonly associated with large scale problems like flooding or broken pipe, in truth virtually any liquid spill can end up causing problems with mould. If the carpet isn’t dried out properly quickly, or is already in a dank area with ventilation issues, it’s prone to developing mould on the carpet fibres. It’s not always immediately obvious, either; the mould can remain undetected at the base of the fibres or uneven on the underside padding. It may take a considerable amount of time to make its way to the surface and be recognised as a visible problem.

How can I detect mould in carpet?

There are a number of tell-tale signs for mould issues with your carpet; sometimes the problem will be immediately obvious, with visual signs like brown, black or green circles forming on the carpet. Unexpected dampness or stains can also be tell-tale signs of mould growth. But even if there are no visual signs, you may also notice unpleasant, musty or sour odours within a room. Additionally, if you suspect that you may have mould in your carpet, you may call in a mould cleaning professional; they will also often have tools such as moisture and humidity meters to detect issues that may otherwise remain hidden. 

What are the health risks of mould in carpet?

The full health effects of mould in carpet vary according to the specific type of mould uncovered — but the short answer is that a number of health problems can arise as a result of having mould in your carpet. Mould spores released into the air can cause both allergic reactions and respiratory issues. These are serious in their own right but can be even more problematic if you have people in your household with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or compromised immune systems. It’s important to get a professional on to the case as soon as possible for carpet cleaning to eliminate the problem.

Is carpet mould dangerous?

Carpet mould isn’t necessarily immediately dangerous — but it will definitely be detrimental to your health in the long term. It’s also a serious issue if you have animals or young children in your home who may be more prone to either rolling in it or inadvertently consuming it. Make sure that you get it professionally cleaned as soon as possible, in order to minimise the risk to yourself, your family and any visitors to your home or commercial space. 

What other services does Jim’s Cleaning offer?

As well as taking care of your carpet and mould-related issues, Jim’s Cleaning offers an extensive range of other services. No matter your home — house, townhouse or apartment — or your commercial space, we can help you with your cleaning needs. 

Additionally, we also carry our more conventional deep cleaning for homes and commercial properties, including tile grout restoration, duct cleaning and floor stripping and sealing. 

How can I book Jim’s Cleaning for carpet cleaning? 

If you need to get rid of mould in your carpet, Jim’s Cleaning can help. Google “Jim’s carpet cleaning near me” and you’ll find a huge number of dedicated Jim’s Cleaning carpet cleaning professionals all over the country. You can be sure that you’ll get the service you need — and get rid of mould from your carpet for good. Get in touch with your local branch of Jim’s Cleaning for a quote today.