Mold can grow in your carpet anytime if it has stayed wet for a while, without the opportunity to dry out thoroughly. And if your home had some flooding and the carpet was damp for more than 24 hours, it is the beginning of the threat.
Mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours. They reproduce by spores - tiny, lightweight “seeds”- that travel through the air. Molds digest organic material, eventually destroying the material they grow on, and then spread to destroy adjacent organic material.
Unattended wet carpet is prone to mold and mildew. When you leave moisture sitting in a warm, dark place, these toxins will invade your home – and once moisture and mold permeate a carpet pad, it's impossible to eradicate.
The big danger with wet carpet is mold. If your carpet and padding stay wet for a long period of time, mold can begin to grow quickly. Mold loves dark, humid environments – and wet carpet provides the perfect environment for it to multiply. Mold can be a major health risk.
Water left to linger can cause mold growth among other problems that will zap the comfort right out of your carpet. But before you act, do a quick assessment of the situation to determine the best next steps.
If it was soaked with clean water and it can be completely dried (meaning the carpet and the flooring underneath) within 48 hours, you may be able to clean and reinstall it. If it has been longer than 48 hours, regardless of the source of the water, general EPA/FEMA/CDC guidelines recommend removal and replacement.
Because carpet water damage affects both your physical property AND your physical health. Wet carpeting is infamous for exposing dander, allergens, mold and mildew spores to the air. For some individuals, mold exposure can cause serious health issues, especially for those with suppressed immune systems.
Air Dry the Carpet
If the water damage is minimal, you can speed up the drying process with the use of a hairdryer. Hold it a few inches from the carpet and move in a back and forth motion allowing the area you just blow-dried to cool off before checking it to see if it's dry.
If a carpet has been wet for 72 hours or longer, consider replacing it and especially if it has added layers of padding underneath. Mold often takes no longer than 72 hours to form and spread, and can be difficult to clean thoroughly after that time.
Will wet carpet smell go away? Not unless you do something about it! You can temporarily quell the smell with bleach and baking soda, but to cut it at the source, you need professional-grade equipment or full carpet replacement.
How Long Does It Take to Dry Carpet? It will take between 12 and 24 hours to dry wet carpet using the right equipment and lift it up off the floor. However, it will take two to four days if you house fans or don't lift it up. You should dry the carpet as quickly as possible for two reasons.
It's really straightforward – all you need to do is sprinkle a generous among of baking soda over your wet carpet and let it sit. The baking soda not only absorbs moisture, but it'll also absorb any nasty odours.
For homeowners who prefer natural cleaning methods, a baking soda and white vinegar mixture can be effective for killing some mold. In addition, baking soda and vinegar can help eliminate tough odors resulting from musty fungi. For light mold problems, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the carpet.
Apply Sanitizer Once the Carpet Is Dry
It's a recommended step for safely cleaning your basement even after small floods. Pine-based cleaners or an antibacterial carpet solution from a home improvement store costs about $30 and are good options.
Carpet mold can produce or trigger allergic reactions abruptly and an estimated 10% of Americans are fully allergic to mold. People who are vulnerable to airborne allergies may develop respiratory illnesses or other symptoms such as: Asthma. Coughing.
The smell of mold is typically described as “musty.” It's a stale and damp scent that lingers in the air. It's one of the first and the clearest sign of mold or mildew. If the initial scent is not very pungent, then it's likely that the mold has just started to form.
Sprinkle baking soda over affected areas: Baking soda absorbs odors and excess moisture. Sprinkle baking soda over the most affected areas and let it sit overnight to absorb as much of moisture and odor as possible. You can simply vacuum the baking soda the next day.
Mold and musty smell on your carpet is the result of excess moisture. It simply indicates that your carpet has been wet for some time and has become musty. If you are dealing with water damage, find and fix the source of the problem and dry out the area.
In addition to cleaning, baking soda is also an effective deodorizer that absorbs moisture and smell. Apply a suitable amount of baking soda to the affected carpet or rug and leave it overnight or for 48 hours. This gives the baking soda time to get to work cleaning out your wet carpet.
Concentrating on anything, let trying to get some sleep at night can be difficult with carpets that give off a musty smell. But this isn't the only problem; if your carpet contains mold or mildew of any kind, it can pose a serious health risk to you and everyone on the property.
Musty Smells: A musty odor smell is a key sign of water damage. Musty smells are generally caused by dampness and mold. Musty smells can occur even without visible mold growth. The combination of moisture, lack of air circulation, and darkness all contribute to a moldy smell or musty odor.
Musty smells in houses may be attributed to several causes, including: Mold and mildew: Leaky pipes, a damaged roof, high humidity, and exposed dirt in the crawlspace may all contribute to moisture buildup. This moisture combined with the stagnant air and dark corners can lead to the growth of mold and mildew.
Most people describe the smell of mold as musty, stale, and earthy — somewhat similar the odor of wet socks or decaying wood. Although mold smells can vary, here are some of the most common characteristics: Musty and Stale — like old socks or a stuffy attic that hasn't been aired out in months.