Getting Mold Out of a Rug

People ask us all the time, “Is a mold stained carpet ruined?” and “Can you salvage a moldy carpet?” We have good news for you! While individual circumstances may vary (extent of the mold damage, style and color of the carpet, etc.) getting mold out of a carpet is possible! Now, carpet has one complicating factor – carpet padding. When your home has water damage and the carpet gets wet and turns moldy, the padding underneath it may be ruined. But the good news is that your carpet itself is likely salvageable. Why is this important when talking about getting mold out of rugs? Because a rug is basically the top layer of carpet that is portable. So, if you can get mold out of your carpet, you can almost certainly get mold out of your rugs too!

How do you remove mold from a rug? As is always the case when talking about water and mold damage, time is important. The faster you can act. The more likely you are to be able to remove the mold. However, even more set in mold may be able to be removed if you have the right tools and use the right techniques. So, let’s get started…

1. Remove the rug from where it normally sits. Clean up the flooring underneath it and thoroughly dry that area to prevent water damage from setting in there as well. Then move the rug to somewhere with less delicate flooring, if possible. For instance, if it normally sits on hardwood flooring or tile, move it to a concrete or laminate flooring because these surfaces are likely more durable.
   
   
2. Once you have the rug where you plan on working on it, isolate and ventilate it as best as possible. This means cutting off a direct path from there to the rest of your home and opening up as many windows and doors as possible to minimize the likelihood that the spores will make their way back into your home. A garage is a great place to remove mold from a moldy rug because it’s easy to ventilate and is separated from the rest of your home by a door. But, if that is not a possibility, do your best to find another space that meets these criteria. 
   
   
3. Don a respirator mask and gloves and then get to work! Brush off the mold using a brush with stiff bristles that you do not plan on using again for anything else in your home. (Depending on the style of the rug, you may need to use a softer bristled brush to avoid damaging it but a stiffer brush will be more effective so go as stiff as your rug will allow.) Brush the mold into a trash bag that you can dispose of afterwards. Do not use your household vacuum cleaner because it will not contain the mold spores effectively, allowing them to spread to the rest of your home when you use it again.
   
   
4. Once you have removed as much mold as possible, use a mold cleaning solution. You can buy pre-mixed cleaner or mix up your own cleaning solution. Borax and white vinegar make an effective mold cleaner, although some people prefer to use a gentler cleaner made of baking soda and water (as a bonus, this help to deodorize the rug to remove the stinky mold smell from your carpet). Depending on how color-safe the rug is, hydrogen peroxide may also be used. However, before using anything on your rug, always test the cleaner on an area of the rug to ensure it won’t fade or yellow the color or cause the colors to run. If you have a steam cleaner, you can use this as well to not only clean the mold off but treat it with heat to kill off the spores more effectively.
   
   
5. Let the rug dry thoroughly for as long as that takes. In humid weather, it may take several days before the rug is actually dry instead of just “not wet.” Don’t rush this step!
   
   
6. Once the rug is completely dry, if you have a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner, you can vacuum it off to catch remaining mold spores. Just be sure that if you do, you thoroughly clean the vacuum cleaner off outside afterwards to avoid letting mold back into your home when you use it again indoors.
   
   
7. If the rug smells foul from either the original mold damage or the type of cleaner used, at this point you can opt to apply baking soda to remove some of those odors. Just keep in mind that you will need to rewash the rug and then allow it to dry thoroughly once again. Another option would be to get it dry cleaned to help improve the smell if the care tag indicates that is an option and the size makes it feasible.

If you’ve tried these steps and are still battling mold, call a professional mold removal company to come and assist. Mold remediation experts have the tools and expertise needed to get mold out of most surfaces and are eager to help. Our mold remediation team is standing by ready to assist you with any of your home mold problems.

Or, if you would just prefer to forgo the hassle of trying to remove the mold yourself, that’s fine! Give us a call today! We service the greater Chicago area and have significant experience restoring homes and businesses after water damage has wreaked havoc. Call us today for top-rated mold remediation services!

Additional resources:
Is there Mold in my House?
Basement Mold Remediation
DIY Mold Removal
Mold Removal from an Attic
Do You Need Mold Remediation?
Mold Removal Crawl Spaces
Is Water Damage Dangerous to Live With?
The Danger of a Home Flood
What Kind of Damage does a Home Flood Cause?
How Fast Can Mold Grow?
Is that Smell Mold?
How to Identify Black Mold
Black Mold Removal Costs
Basement Mold Removal Fees
How Much is it to Get Rid of Mold?
Attic Mold Removal Costs
Mold Remediation Pricing Explained
How to Stop Mold Growth in your Home
How does Home Mold Spread?
Removing Black Mold like a Pro
Finding Mold Removal Services Near Me
What Cleans Up Mold after Water Damage?
Getting Rid of Mold and Mildew
Who can Get Mold out of a Basement?
Does Home Water Damage Cause Mold?