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Black Mold in Carpet: How to Get Rid of Them? (Explained)

Carpets are one of the most comfortable and elegant elements in our houses. But if the carpet grows mold, it will make the carpet look ugly. 

Moreover, mold in the carpet is pretty unhygienic. Black mold especially makes the appearance of the carpet unattractive. 

You might be confused about why black mold builds up in the carpet. Moreover, you might want to know how to get rid of them. 

You must know the reasons for building up mold in the carpet. Otherwise, you can’t solve the problem of black mold. Let’s see details about it.

What causes black mold in the carpet?

Moisture causes black mold in the carpet. Dry air and humid weather help black mold growth in the carpet. Dust and dirt in the carpet make it easier to grow black mold. Carpets are suitable for black mold for their moisture and dust-capturing ability. Dust enhances the rate of black mold growth.

However, carpets can be of different types. Various carpets can have other conditions to grow black mold. So let’s see what causes black mold in different carpets.

On regular carpet:

Generally, regular carpets don’t get too many elements to dirty them. But regular carpets are placed indoors. These carpets are often cleaned. Still, carpets can get black mold. Because black mold can grow from different elements.

Moisture is the main element that causes black mold growth. You might think regular carpets don’t have too much dirt and dust. But traditional carpets still have enough dust that can help black mold growth.

On outdoor carpet:

Outdoor carpets also grow black mold. Moreover, outdoor carpets face more difficult conditions to growing black mold. For example, outdoor carpets face rain and water more frequently. Wet carpets are suitable for growing black mold.

Moreover, outdoor carpets have more dust and dirt. These elements enhance the growth rate of black mold. Besides, outdoor carpets remain wet for a long time. This will improve the growth of black mold faster.

On car or boat carpet:

Car or boat carpets are the most common places to grow black mold. Because car or boat carpets face the water and moisture the more. Moreover, these carpets are harder to dry in the sunlight. So moisture will build up black mold in the carpet.

On the other hand, boat carpets are wet for a long time. Mainly the moisture will grow black mold in the carpets. But these carpets also preserve dust and dirt.

Signs of black mold in carpet:

Now that you know the reasons for black mold in the carpet, you might want to know the common signs of black mold in the carpet. If you don’t know what black mold looks like on a carpet, you can’t get rid of the black mold on the carpet.

Color:

The first sign of black mold in the carpet is the color change. Generally, black mold in the carpet makes the carpet discolored. You will see black patches on the carpet. These patches will be different from the carpet’s actual color.

Even if the actual color of the carpet is black, you can still recognize the black mold with the appearance. So you will see black colored mold on the carpet.

Odor:

When your carpet grows black mold, it will create a foul odor. The odor might not be recognized at once. But if you smell from closer, you will get a foul odor from the black mold.

So, the odor is another parameter from which you can know about black mold. If you see both black patches on the carpet and a foul odor, you can be sure about black mold.

Allergies:

Black mold is supposed to cause an allergic reaction. The allergic reaction might not cause in everyone. But most people face allergies and irritation from the black mold.

How to get rid of black mold out of the carpet?

You can get rid of black mold on the carpet by cleaning the carpet with vinegar and baking soda. Moreover, you can use commercial black mold remover to get rid of them. Besides, you can control the moisture, humidity, dryness, and other factors that grow black mold to get rid of it.

Let’s take deep dig about how to get rid of the black mold from carpet.

Cleaning the carpet:

Cleaning is the most efficient way to get rid of black mold. But the cleaning process should be efficient. You must wear safety glasses and clothes to clean the black mold. Then you have to remove the carpet from the place it is placed.

Initially, you can clean the carpet with dry cleaner or other ways. Then you have to use a cleaning element. For example, you can add baking soda with vinegar. You have to spread this cleaning element on the carpet.

Then you can use a brush to scrub the carpet. After scrubbing for sufficient time, you can clean the carpet with water. Then you have to dry the carpet in the sunlight for adequate time. Otherwise, wet carpets can grow more mold.

Use commercial element:

You can also use commercial black mold remover on the carpet. The application process is similar to using vinegar and baking soda. Commercial elements will clean the black mold efficiently.

Using bleach:

You can also use bleach to clean black mold from the carpet. For example, you must use bleach similarly to the vinegar and baking soda application. To do this, you must remove the carpet from the place and clean the dust and dirt from the upper surface.

You can vacuum clean the carpet first. Then you have to soak the carpet in water for a sufficient time. Then you can sprinkle bleach on the carpet. After some time, the bleach will be absorbed on the carpet.

Now you can scrub the carpet with a brush. Cleansing efficiently will terminate the black mold. Then you can wash the carpet with clean water. After cleaning the carpet, you must dry the carpet in the sunlight.

Is black mold on the carpet dangerous?

Black mold on the carpet can be dangerous. Black mold on the carpet doesn’t cause any damage immediately. But it can cause other medical issues.

For example, black mold can cause an allergic reaction. Moreover, it can irritate if you get closer to the black mold. Besides, black mold can cause breathing problems if you get closer to the black mold.

If you inhale the black mold on the carpet, this can lead to a medical emergency. So, you must get rid of black mold from the carpet. Otherwise, it can cause different medical issues.

So, black mold on the carpet is not always dangerous. But it can lead to medical issues if you don’t treat the black mold or remove it from the carpet.

How to prevent black mold on the carpet from coming back?

Now that you know black mold can cause different problems, you might want to know the prevention process. So, let’s see how you can prevent the carpet’s black mold from returning.

Ventilation:

You can provide enough ventilation to the room where the carpet is placed. Ventilation can prevent black mold from the carpet. Even it can help reduce black mold growth in the entire room. So providing ventilation is essential.

Cleaning:

Keeping the carpet clean can help to prevent black mold growth from the carpet. Because dirt and dust in the carpet enhance the growth rate of black mold in the carpet.

If you can clean the carpet regularly, black mold will not grow frequently. Moreover, black mold will not come again and again.

Drying in the sunlight:

You can keep the carpet in the sunlight sometimes. Drying the carpet in the sunlight will keep the carpet dry for a long time.

Moreover, the moisture will be dried from the carpet. So you can dry the carpet in the sunlight once a month. It will prevent the black mold from returning again and again to the carpet.

Moisture control:

You might know that moisture is essential for the growth of black mold in the carpet. So if you can control water in the room or the carpet, it will prevent black mold in the carpet.

When to ask for professional help?

When you see the black mold discoloring the carpet, you need to ask for professional Help. You might have already known how to get rid of the carpet’s black mold. If these processes don’t work, you must ask for professional help.

Sometimes you will see that a foul odor is coming from the carpet. That means the condition of black mold in the carpet is bad. 

You must remove the black mold immediately. Otherwise, it can lead to some severe medical conditions for you and your family.

Moreover, when you see that you or your family members are facing an allergic reaction from the black mold, you have to take the thing seriously.

Sometimes you can face breathing problems for the black mold. You can’t keep the carpet clean from black mold even after cleaning. Then you have to ask for professional help.

Final Thoughts

Black mold in the carpet is one of the ugly things. Moisture, dry and humid weather, and poor ventilation can cause black mold in the carpet. Moreover, dirt and dust grow black mold on the carpet. You can remove black mold in the carpet following different processes.