How to Remove Mold and Mildew from Rugs
What is mold? Mold is a type of fungus that gets its energy from the organic matter on which it lives. To “eat,” mold secretes enzymes that degrade the organic matter into substances it can absorb. It reproduces by sending out small spores, allowing mold to spread quickly through the air. Mold needs certain conditions to grow and thrive. A damp, dark, humid environment, as well as organic material, is needed for the mold to establish itself. Sadly, rugs provide the perfect organic material if the proper dampness and humidity occur.
Never place potted plants on or near your valuable rugs. If a pipe bursts or your rug becomes damp some other way, dry your rug immediately. Because air circulates in and out of your home through open doors, you likely already have mold spores inside looking for a place to settle and grow.
You should check your rugs regularly for signs of damage or dampness, dark areas are especially susceptible to things like moths and mold. Once you have identified the areas that harbor mold, you need to call the experts. Behnam Rugs offers professional rug cleaning that removes all traces of mold and completely dries each rug so that it is not at risk of developing mold again. If you want to try to remove mold from your rug at home, follow these steps:
At Home Remedy for Moldy Rugs
-Spray infected area with white vinegar (5% acidity preferred)
-Agitate the area with a brush or spoon
-Rinse vinegar after 1 hour by spraying water on the area and toweling it off
-Place the treated rug outside in the sunshine all day if possible
-Completely dry the rug with fans
-Check for wetness, repeat step above if still damp
When it comes to removing mold and mildew at home, the DIY method does not guarantee success. This is why we recommend taking the rug to the rug cleaning experts at Behnam Rugs instead of treating it yourself. We eliminate tough mold thanks to generations of knowledge, special products, and equipment that safely kills mold and mildew without damaging your delicate rugs. Professional rug cleaning sanitizes your rug following mold infestation to ensure the problem does not return.
In addition, you may notice after treating the rug yourself that black residue or discoloration remains. Dead mold often looks black and even though the mold is no longer alive, those dead spores can still cause allergies and aggravate asthma. Because mold feeds by decomposing organic matter, your rug may sustain damage in the form of discoloration. Professional color restoration treatment is the only way to fix unsightly mold damage. In addition, mold left to its own devices for long periods of time will eat away at the rug fibers causing holes and threadbare areas that will need patching or reweaving.
Trust the Experts
Fortunately, Behnam Rugs has been treating mold-damaged rugs for decades. The sooner you bring your mold-infested to us for removal, the lower the chances that your rug will need extensive color restoration treatment or patching. We also recommend purchasing fresh padding if your rug experiences mold to lower the chances of re-occurrence and improve air quality.
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