Mould in your home is bad news: not only is it unsightly, it can cause severe allergic reactions and, in some cases, be deadly. Unfortunately, under the right conditions, your carpet can fall victim to mould even if you’re keeping it in top shape.
How can this be? Well, in order to form, mould needs oxygen, moisture, a food source (typically dust), and a surface to grow on. Wall-to-wall carpeting can provide all of these things, particularly if the carpeted area is located below ground level, in a particularly humid climate, or has been saturated for any period of time. Plus, carpet hides mould from view, allowing it to grow undisturbed. In fact, carpet mould is generally visible on your carpet’s surface only in extreme cases, such as significant flood or water damage that wasn’t properly addressed.
If you’d like to know how to protect your home and your family from carpet mould, read on.
Treatment
If the mould in your carpet is relatively new, and has yet to invade the deep recesses of its fibres, professional cleaning may salvage your carpet. If, however, the mould is more advanced and widespread, the mould-infested areas of your carpet will need to be removed by a trained professional. At Aquamist, our skilled mould remediation team is full of experts that will safely and efficiently solve any mould problem.
Prevention
The most effective way to deal with carpet mould is to prevent it from forming in the first place. Here are three ways to stop mould before it starts.
Dehumidify
To thrive, mould needs moisture, something abundant in locations with consistently high humidity levels, such as southwestern Canada. To deprive mould of the water it needs to survive, consider using dehumidifiers to control the moisture level of your home’s air. Shoot for an indoor humidity level below 50%.
Anti-Mould Carpet Padding
Another mould prevention strategy is to make areas susceptible to spores, like carpeting, as inhospitable as possible. A great way to do that is to install rubber-slab carpet padding with anti-microbial properties. Although it may cost a bit more than traditional carpet pads, it may save you from a much larger expense down the road: completely replacing a mould-ridden carpet.
Clean Intelligently
Spills and stains are unavoidable, but making smart decisions as to how to clean them can go a long way towards preventing mould. For example, try a powder cleanser on your carpet before using a liquid product. If you do use water or a wet cleanser, be sure to dry the affected area quickly and thoroughly.
If you suspect your home has a mould issue (particularly if it has been affected by water damage, leaky pipes, or excessive condensation), get in touch with Aquamist today before a small problem becomes big disaster.