How to Get Rid of Mold on Carpet in your Home

If you have moldy carpet, the odds are high that you’ll end up needing to replace it. However, if you want to attempt removing the mold yourself first to see if it can be salvaged, you can give it a try. Always wear the appropriate PPE like a respirator mask to protect your health when working with moldy materials.

Removing mold from carpet in your home is a multi-step process. If you plan on taking a DIY mold removal approach instead of hiring a local mold company, you can follow these steps:

1. Get fresh air into the space, if possible. While you might now be able to open a window in the winter, opening the windows nearby is a great step towards getting the area dried out as the weather permits. If you have a fan you can use to push air through the space and out the open window, use that as well to help dry out the affected area. I the space doesn’t have an exterior window, avoid using a fan because doing so can cause the mold spores to become airborne and move to other areas of your home. The goal here is to not only ventilate but also isolate the mold.
2. Remove the mold using a vinegar-based cleaning solutionand a firm brush. Brush off any surface mold first and then tackle the mold that’s down deeper in the carpet. Wet the area with cleaner (or just plain vinegar) and then aggressively brush it away. Dispose of any mold you remove in a tightly sealed bag to avoid letting spores out during the removal process.
3. Wait for the carpet to dry completely.
4. Use a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum to vacuum up any mold that could be lingering down inside the carpet. For carpets with a thicker pile, you will likely need to go over the same area multiple times. If you’re trying to remove home mold from a large section of carpet, this may take a while but it will be worth it because it will reduce the risk that mold will return after all your hard work. If you don’t have a vacuum with a HEPA filter, do not use a regular vacuum because it can allow mold spores to spread either while you’re using it to clean up the affected area, or the next time you use it elsewhere in your home.
5. If you have a steam cleaner, you can use it to at this point to wipe out any lingering mold. Of course, taking this extra step means you will need to wait for the carpet to dry out again, which may be feasible if the affected area is a basement or someplace where you can keep people and pets out. But if the affected area is someplace like your bedroom or living room, you may not have this same luxury. 
6. Remove the conditions for mold growth. One of the issues we see is homeowners with damp basements that end up with mold growth in their carpet and furniture down in their family rooms. If you have a high moisture content in your home, foundation cracks, or a basement that’s prone to flooding, fix these issues to stop mold from growing again in the future. If the underlying issue cannot easily be fixed, you could always consider applying an anti-fungal coating to your carpet to discourage future mold growth. While this isn’t necessarily a guarantee that you won’t find mold in that space again, it can reduce the likelihood of mold growth at least somewhat.

Keep in mind, however, that these steps may not get rid of all the mold, especially if the carpet pad also has mold growth. Leaving mold spores behind can allow the mold to return again at a later date. If you see recurring mold or smell an earthy moldy smell even after cleaning, that is a sure sign that you should bring in mold remediation experts to wipe it out once and for all. Mold is dangerous because it can cause breathing problems. Mold can also be indicative of the kind of conditions that are allowing bacteria growth along with the fungus growth you’re seeing, which is very dangerous for your family as well.

Additional resources:
Does My Home have Mold?
Basement Mold Removal Services
Removing Mold Yourself: Tips & Tricks
Attic Mold Removal Services
Do You Need a Mold Removal Company?
Home Mold Removal in a Crawl Space
Is Water Damage Toxic for Homeowners?
The Dangers after a Basement Flood
How Much Damage can a Flood Do?
How Fast does Mold Grow?
Is that Bad Smell Actually Mold?
Identifying Black Mold
Understanding the Cost of Black Mold Removal
The Cost to Remove Basement Mold
How Much does it Cost to Get Rid of Mold?
Removing Mold from an Attic
Professional Mold Remediation Pricing
Stop Mold from Growing in your Home
How does Mold Spread in a Home?
Removing Black Mold the Right Way
Mold Removal Near Me
What can Clean Up Mold?
How to Get Rid of Mold and Mildew
Getting Rid of Basement Mold
Water Cleanup Techniques
Rug Mold Removal