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Does Carpet Steam Cleaning Prevent Mold?

Published by SEO on December 28, 2021 in category: Uncategorized

Tips to get rid of moldCarpets look beautiful in homes. Unfortunately, they are a high risk of getting mold. If your carpet suffers exposure to water and is not dried properly, the moisture will interlock in the weaves of the carpet. This will lead to mold growth, which requires moisture to grow. Wall-to-wall carpeting is especially at a higher risk.

Mold will quickly ruin carpets, and these mold spores will then spread to other parts of the home. Mold is dangerous to human health and organic materials in the home. Due to this, homeowners are always looking for ways to stop mold growth from ruining their carpets. But how do you identify moldy carpets?

Tips to Identify Mold in Carpets

Here are a few ways you can detect the presence of mold in carpets and rugs. 

Odor

At times, you cannot see mold on carpets. However, mold is most often identified by its musty odor. If you notice an unpleasant smell inside your home, you should look under your carpets to identify the presence of mold. Do not smell this from a closer distance, as mold can release harmful toxins. 

Discoloration 

If you see any discoloration on your carpet, do not let this go ignored. Water stains followed by any discoloration on the carpet is indicative of mold. These stains can be green, brown or even black in color. Carpet mold is not always present on top but beneath the carpet as well. 

Presence of Moisture

If there is a stain on the carpet, touch it to see if it is damp as well. A damp stained area on the carpet indicates the presence of mold. Make sure you wash your hands as you don’t want to expose your skin to moldy materials. 

Does Carpet Steam Cleaning Prevent Mold?

Since carpets are very susceptible to mold, homeowners want to know of ways that can help prevent the growth of mold. For this reason, carpet steam cleaning has been touted as a very effective way to kill mold. The heat from the steam is able to successfully cause 90% mold destruction when applied to the area for about 10-15 seconds.

The reason behind this is that steam cleaning is the only deep cleaning method for carpets. It penetrates to the very lowest layer of carpet to thoroughly clean it. To understand how steam cleaning kills mold, we need to first understand how this process works. 

Steam cleaning uses water at very high temperatures. When the steam vapor is released from the nozzle, it penetrates the fabric of the carpet, which interlocks moisture, and causes mold to form. When this heat reaches the deepest layers, it successfully kills mold spores. Moreover, the brush attachment with steam cleaners also reaches the crevices of the carpet, successfully removing any dirt, grime and mold.

The reason behind this is that mold has the tendency to perish in high temperatures between 150 degrees and 364 degrees Fahrenheit. Since steam cleaners use a temperature of about 200 degrees Fahrenheit, they are able to prevent and kill mold. Steam cleaning is also able to get rid of the odors associated with mold, which will leave you with clean, odorless, mold-free and stainless carpets!

Precaution With Steam Cleaning

While steam cleaning can kill mold, it can also be counterproductive if the method is not applied properly. Since steam cleaning uses water vapor, it also includes moisture, which is one of the things mold needs to thrive. While the heat from steam cleaning will prevent mold growth for some time, the presence of moisture may cause mold spores to form again. 

To prevent this, you need to dry your carpets thoroughly after steam cleaning. On average, it would take at least 6 hours for the carpet to dry after the process of steam cleaning.  You can use fans to dry the carpet effectively before using it after steam cleaning. 

Other Ways to Prevent Mold Growth on Carpets 

While steam cleaning will kill mold, it will not prevent mold growth alone for long without using other methods in tandem. If you spot the presence of mold on your carpets, you should conduct steam cleaning and then dry the carpet thoroughly before use. However, here are some other methods you can use in conjunction to make sure mold does not enter your home. 

Use Dehumidifiers

Using dehumidifiers near your carpets will balance humidity levels that create the perfect environment for mold growth. You should strive to keep humidity levels between 30% and 50% indoors. 

Choose Higher Quality Carpet Padding

Invest in higher quality carpet padding with antimicrobial properties that may be slightly costlier but will help prevent the growth of mold on carpets. If you live in an area that has high humidity, you should consider this. 

Remove Standing Water 

Do not let your carpets be exposed to standing water, whether it’s from an AC leak, roof leak or pipe burst. When moisture seeps into the fabric of carpets, it will take ages to dry. This interlocked moisture will then cause mold spores to form.

Water Damage Restoration 

If your home is exposed to a water leak or flood, get in touch with the 911 Restoration of Austin in a timely manner. They will help conduct water damage restoration to save your property and valuables like carpets in your house that could fall prey to mold and mildew.  

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