When you have a flood or leak in your home or office building, the first thing to do is clean it up. But as soon as you’ve removed damaged property and cleaned up the mess, it’s time to focus on preventing mold growth on carpets and subfloors. Even if you’re unable to fully dry out your carpet after a flood or leak, take steps now so you don’t have to deal with the consequences later on when mold takes hold.

Carpet mold takes hold quickly

Mold can begin growing in as little as 24 hours after a flood or water damage. Mold spores are microscopic, so they’re everywhere—on every surface in your building, including carpeting. You can’t see them with the naked eye, but they will grow into mold if they find moisture to feed on.

If you see any signs of mold growth on your carpeting or other furniture items that were exposed during a flood or other type of water damage event (such as flooding from a broken pipe), it’s important to clean up the area immediately before it spreads further.

Here are some important steps to take to prevent carpet mold after water damage:

1. Dry the carpet immediately.

Use fans to dry the carpet. If you have a fan, turn it on and point it at the wet area of your carpet. This will help speed up the drying process by circulating air through the fibers of your rug or carpeting. Use dehumidifiers to dry out rugs or carpets after water damage occurs in your home or business. Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air by collecting condensation from warm air that passes through coils filled with refrigerant (a special type of liquid). As this happens, most of what makes up humidity or water vapor becomes ice crystals inside an evaporator coil. This process causes further cooling, in addition to drying out any remaining moisture left behind.

2. Clean the area with a sponge and water.

Use a sponge and water to clean the carpet. Don’t use harsh chemicals or cleaners, as they can damage the carpet fibers and make them more susceptible to mold growth. Don’t scrub hard with a brush, which can also damage your carpet’s fibers and increase its susceptibility to mold growth later on.Avoid using a regular vacuum cleaner because it will pull up moisture from underneath the affected area (which you want to keep contained) and could even spread spores throughout your entire home if you’re not careful.Steam cleaning is also not recommended as steamers tend to be very hot and may cause further damage if left alone for too long in one place.

3. Use a dry shampoo on the carpet to soak up excess moisture.

If you don’t have access to a vacuum, try using a dry shampoo on the carpet. Dry shampoos are powders that absorb water and can be found at most stores that sell beauty products. If you have pets around and are worried about them having access to this powder, make sure it’s one that’s safe for pets.

4. Remove soaked carpeting.

Remove wet carpeting as soon as possible. Don’t wait, or you’ll have to replace it. Also avoid using bleach or other cleaners on moldy carpets until you have removed all of the moisture from underneath the padding, which may require professional help.

5. Dry the area with fans and dehumidifiers.

If you have a carpeted area that has been flooded, the best way to dry it out is with fans and dehumidifiers. Fans help distribute heat throughout the room while dehumidifiers draw moisture from the air. You should also run your HVAC system at full power if possible; this will help dry out carpets faster.If there’s standing water on your floors after a flood or leak, never use fans—they can cause more damage than good!Instead of using fans right away after an emergency, focus on getting rid of excess moisture by mopping up as much liquid as possible with towels or rags. Then you can go ahead with drying out processes such as using dehumidifiers or running HVAC systems at full power, until carpeting has reached optimal dryness levels (about 48 hours).If possible, open windows as well. This will help remove excess moisture from your home while also allowing fresh air into the room, which helps discourage mold growth.

6. Apply mold paint to the affected location.

Mold paint is a special type of paint that kills mold. It’s available at hardware stores and can be applied with a brush, roller or sprayer.

7. Repair your carpeting.

Replace carpeting that is damaged. If there are large sections of your carpeting that are stained and beyond repair, consider replacing them with new flooring.Repair carpeting that isn’t damaged. You can have a professional dry cleaner or upholsterer repair small tears or stains in your existing carpets for you. For example, if water damage has caused mold to grow on one corner of your rug but not elsewhere on it, you may decide to keep the rug and have an expert repair only this part before returning it to its place in your home or office space.Remove carpeting if it’s beyond repair altogether and replace with new flooring materials such as hardwood floors or laminate tiles instead.

8 .Call a professional if you suspect mold growth.

If you suspect that mold growth is present in your home or office, contact a professional. The presence of mold can be caused by a leak in the roof or walls, basement or foundation, plumbing system and more. In most cases, it’s best to trust mold concerns to a professional – for the immediate and long-term safety and well-being of people who inhabit your home or office.

Concerned about carpet mold after water damage?

That’s where we specialize. Give us a call at (214) 741-3714 or contact us online.