Wet carpeting is an ideal mold breeding ground if it is not dried immediately. Carpeting can dry quickly if you have a low relative humidity air around it. If the surrounding air has high relative humidity, it won't dry. In as little as 24 to 48 hours, mold spores become active.
According to the EPA, "The key to mold control is moisture control." Any wet-process carpet cleaning will always leave enough moisture in the carpet to grow mold. An effective drying process is necessary.
Effective drying can be accomplished with several methods:
One method is by "natural" drying. If the outside air is warm and dry, open the windows. Moisture equalizes quite readily.
A second method is by adding heat. If the outside air is cold (below 50F), ventilating and heating the air quickly will dry the carpet.
By properly using the air conditioning unit...I the weather is hot, the A/C unit cools the air and removes some water. When the A/C shuts off (because the temperature is satisfied), an increase in heat must trigger the A/C to operate again. If the A/C unit is constantly providing low RH to the space, the carpet will dry. But..beware... improper use of the A/C, can create ideal conditions for mold growth!
A last resort and a sure-fire method to work is by using a de-humidifier to provide the dry air necessary to guarantee carpet drying .
In each case, use fans to speed up the drying process.
Simply lowering the thermostat to make the A/C operate, can actually create condensation and increase moisture. For example, if the dew point of the outdoor air is 70°F, cooling surfaces below 70°F will cause condensation. To avoid this problem of "over cooling", an A/C unit requires 'reheat."
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Removing Mold From Carpeting
Whenever working with mold and mildew, you should always wear protective gear. Don't touch mold or moldy items with your bare hands. Always wear gloves that cover up to the middle of your forearm. Non-ventilated goggles, are a must to keep mold and mold spores from getting into your eyes.
The first step in cleaning up moldy areas is to find the source of excess moisture and water. Look for any roof or plumbing leaks or flood damage that still needs repair. Check the air ducts in your home for mold as heating/ventilation/air conditioning systems can spread mold throughout the rest of your home. Complete this step first.
Next, determine if the area of mold growth is small enough that you can remediate it yourself or if you should hire a mold remediator. If the area of mold growth is more than 1 to 10 square feet, you should definitely hire a pro. When looking for a specialist in carpet and rug cleaning, make sure that they specialize in dealing with mold problems.
The final step, is to begin the cleaning process. A very small area on a carpet can be cleaned with a simple solution of detergent and water in a steam-cleaning machine. Wet the surface and suck up the water, repeat until the water starts coming out clear. If detergent and water doesn’t work try some Molderizer or some other organic mold cleaner.
Another method to try is quite a bit more extensive. You can use a sanitizing agent such as hypochlorite, or household bleach. The solution is made with 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water. This solution can be used on hard surfaces as well as carpets and rugs. To be effective the solution must remain on the surface for 15 minutes. For indoor or outdoor carpeting and rugs you must remove them from the home and place them on a flat area outside. Hose both sides thoroughly to remove dirt and soil. Dump several buckets of the bleach solution on each side and scrub with a broom. A better solution would be repeatedly scrubbing the carpeting with Borax laundry detergent [a natural mold cleaner] mixed into warm water. You need to scrub both sides of carpeting and padding in the mold-growth areas. Rinse well, and remove as much water as possible with a wet/dry vacuum. Allow the carpet to dry thoroughly.
Always dry the area completely by opening all windows, using a heater, fan, or dehumidifier. This is very important, or the mold will just grow back. Remember to check for colorfastness in an inconspicuous area 24 hours before doing a complete carpet cleaning.
It is a good idea to know what kind of flooring is under your carpet. If it is something that will be ruined by wetting the floor, even for a short time, you might want to reconsider or be very careful not to use very much water.
Materials, such as carpets and rugs, may have to be thrown away if they become too moldy. Mold grows in the spaces and crevices of porous materials and can keep growing back. It may be difficult, if not impossible to remove. Replacing carpet may be the only way that you can guarantee that mold will not still grow in the area.
The first step in cleaning up moldy areas is to find the source of excess moisture and water. Look for any roof or plumbing leaks or flood damage that still needs repair. Check the air ducts in your home for mold as heating/ventilation/air conditioning systems can spread mold throughout the rest of your home. Complete this step first.
Next, determine if the area of mold growth is small enough that you can remediate it yourself or if you should hire a mold remediator. If the area of mold growth is more than 1 to 10 square feet, you should definitely hire a pro. When looking for a specialist in carpet and rug cleaning, make sure that they specialize in dealing with mold problems.
The final step, is to begin the cleaning process. A very small area on a carpet can be cleaned with a simple solution of detergent and water in a steam-cleaning machine. Wet the surface and suck up the water, repeat until the water starts coming out clear. If detergent and water doesn’t work try some Molderizer or some other organic mold cleaner.
Another method to try is quite a bit more extensive. You can use a sanitizing agent such as hypochlorite, or household bleach. The solution is made with 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water. This solution can be used on hard surfaces as well as carpets and rugs. To be effective the solution must remain on the surface for 15 minutes. For indoor or outdoor carpeting and rugs you must remove them from the home and place them on a flat area outside. Hose both sides thoroughly to remove dirt and soil. Dump several buckets of the bleach solution on each side and scrub with a broom. A better solution would be repeatedly scrubbing the carpeting with Borax laundry detergent [a natural mold cleaner] mixed into warm water. You need to scrub both sides of carpeting and padding in the mold-growth areas. Rinse well, and remove as much water as possible with a wet/dry vacuum. Allow the carpet to dry thoroughly.
Always dry the area completely by opening all windows, using a heater, fan, or dehumidifier. This is very important, or the mold will just grow back. Remember to check for colorfastness in an inconspicuous area 24 hours before doing a complete carpet cleaning.
It is a good idea to know what kind of flooring is under your carpet. If it is something that will be ruined by wetting the floor, even for a short time, you might want to reconsider or be very careful not to use very much water.
Materials, such as carpets and rugs, may have to be thrown away if they become too moldy. Mold grows in the spaces and crevices of porous materials and can keep growing back. It may be difficult, if not impossible to remove. Replacing carpet may be the only way that you can guarantee that mold will not still grow in the area.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Minimize Health-Related Risks from Carpets
Recently, many consumers have associated a variety of health symptoms with the installation of new carpeting. Scientists have not been able to determine whether the chemicals emitted by new carpets are responsible. If you are installing new carpeting, you may wish to take the following steps:
1) Talk to your carpet retailer. Ask for information on emissions from carpet.
2) Ask the retailer to unroll and air out the carpet in a well-ventilated area before installation.
3) Ask for low-emitting adhesives if adhesives are needed.
4) Consider leaving the premises during and immediately after carpet installation. You may wish to schedule the installation when most family
are away from home.
5) Be sure the retailer requires the installer to follow the Carpet and Rug Institute's installation guidelines.
6) Open doors and windows. Increasing the amount of fresh air in the home will reduce exposure to most chemicals released from carpet. During
and after installation, use window fans, room air conditioners, or other mechanical ventilation equipment you may have installed in your
house, to exhaust fumes to the outdoors. Keep them running for 48 to 72 hours after the new carpet is installed.
7) Contact your carpet retailer if objectionable odors persist.
8) Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper carpet maintenance.
1) Talk to your carpet retailer. Ask for information on emissions from carpet.
2) Ask the retailer to unroll and air out the carpet in a well-ventilated area before installation.
3) Ask for low-emitting adhesives if adhesives are needed.
4) Consider leaving the premises during and immediately after carpet installation. You may wish to schedule the installation when most family
are away from home.
5) Be sure the retailer requires the installer to follow the Carpet and Rug Institute's installation guidelines.
6) Open doors and windows. Increasing the amount of fresh air in the home will reduce exposure to most chemicals released from carpet. During
and after installation, use window fans, room air conditioners, or other mechanical ventilation equipment you may have installed in your
house, to exhaust fumes to the outdoors. Keep them running for 48 to 72 hours after the new carpet is installed.
7) Contact your carpet retailer if objectionable odors persist.
8) Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper carpet maintenance.
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