How to Kill Mildew in Wall-to-Wall Carpet
Mildew can occur in wall-to-wall carpeting after a flood or when excess humidity is present in your home. Small amounts of mildew can arise for reasons as simple as a liquid spill not dried up. If mildew takes over even a section of your wall-to-wall carpet, it can turn the entire room into an unpleasant environment as its musty odor fills the air. When you begin to notice signs of mildew, you should take care of it immediately for best results. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Protective mask
- Towels
- Wet-dry vacuum
- Dehumidifier
- Fans
- Sponges
- Carpet shampoo
- Steam cleaning vacuum
- Blow dryer
- Vacuum cleaner
- Baking soda
- Carpet pads
Instructions
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Dry your carpet. If the entire carpet is saturated, soak up the surface with towels and a wet/dry vacuum. Remove the remaining dampness using a combination of fans, open windows and a dehumidifier. The fans and open windows improve air circulation, drawing the moisture outdoors, and the dehumidifier absorbs the humidity in the room.
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Dampen a clean sponge with a mold-resistant carpet shampoo, and scrub mildew-infested areas. Scrub the surrounding areas as well so that you do not miss any mildew. If mildew covers the entire carpet, pour the shampoo into a steam cleaner and vacuum the entire surface. You can rent a steam cleaning vacuum from your local hardware or home improvement store.
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Rinse away the carpet shampoo. A steam cleaner rinses and removes the moisture from your carpet automatically, but if you scrubbed the mildew by hand, rinse using a second sponge dampened lightly with warm tap water. You can dry small areas with a blow dryer. For larger areas, use a dehumidifier or space heater.
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Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area, and wait at least 15 minutes. Vacuum your carpet using your regular vacuum cleaner. This helps remove any deep-set moisture and kill the musty odor.
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Roll up a corner of your carpet, and feel the pads beneath. If the moisture has soaked through to the pads, you need to replace them. Roll up your entire carpet if necessary, throw away the pads and place new, dry padding beneath. If you allow wet padding to remain beneath your carpet, you simply lock in the mildew.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear a protective mask when cleaning mildew from your carpet, especially if you have respiratory problems or suffer from asthma. Mildew is a form of mold and can cause problems with your respiratory system.
