Keep your carpets safe from the clutches of mold! Water damage is a common culprit behind mold growth in our homes, and if not promptly detected, it can wreak havoc on our beloved carpets. Whether it’s a leaky roof, a broken pipe, or even flooding, the moisture becomes a breeding ground for mold, posing serious health concerns and allergy risks. Those pesky mold spores can trigger asthma symptoms, hay fever, and other allergies, making it essential to take preventive measures. Don’t fret, though, as with the right precautions and perhaps a “one-time cleaning service,” you can shield your carpets and ensure a healthy, mold-free environment.
The best way to avoid extensive damage is by preventing the mold from spreading. Outlined below are six ways on how to prevent mold growth (on your carpets) after water damage.
1. Ensure all the flooded water is removed
A wet/dry vacuum will come in handy in removing the remaining water from the carpets and other areas. You could rent one out from professional carpet cleaners or water and smoke damage remediation companies for an effective clean and water/moisture removal.
2. Get the fans running
Fans will get air moving around the house, thus increase chances of the carpets drying up quickly. It might, however, take several days to get the job done. That said, you should leave the fans going all day every day for at least one week. You could also opt to rent a high-power drying fan from home improvement stores near you to speed up the process.
3. Use a dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is designed to extract and remove excess moisture from any space. It also lowers air temperature, thus limiting mold/mildew growth. Have the dehumidifier run for several days to extract all the excess moisture.
4. Steam clean both the floor and carpets
Steam cleaning the carpets and floor should help get rid of dirt and excess moisture. Pay particular attention to water-damaged carpet padding and have them replaced immediately. Replacing damaged carpet paddings is much cheaper than choosing to re-carpet the entire floor.
5. Sanitise baseboards and walls
Everything that came into contact with stormwater should be sanitized to remove any germs and mold spores. This includes hard-surface floors, walls, and any other household surfaces. You could use soap and water to sanitize these. Add 1.5 cups of chlorine bleach to a gallon of water to ensure a thorough clean and germ removal. Have rubber gloves on when sanitizing the surfaces.
6. Inspect Furniture
Your furniture might have been exposed to stormwater as well. Rugs underneath this furniture could still be moist paving the way for mold growth. Inspecting everything under the furniture, and ensuring the carpets are clean and free of moisture should help prevent mold damage.
Reach out to Think Maids today if you need help with a moldy carpet or just give us a call to try preventing carpet mold.