Carpet mold is a really nasty thing to think about.  It stinks.  It’s usually ugly.  And it can actually make us sick.

Mold spores are everywhere – in the air and on every surface, inside or out.  A little mold is usually not a problem and we don’t even know it’s there.  When the conditions are right for growth of a mold colony, however, things can get out of hand quickly.

Carpet mold colonies begin when carpet becomes damp consistently or for an extended length of time.  This might happen when water pipes or the roof spring a leak.  Even a small leak can lead to an unsightly, even dangerous, mold colony so even the small repairs need to be completed in a timely manner.

In order to become an issue, the microorganisms that make carpet mold need moisture to live in and something to eat.  The leak provides the moisture and almost everything that falls onto the carpet becomes a feast for the mold.

The organisms that cause carpet mold feed on all the foods and beverages we do so any spills will leave a residue behind.  So will pet hair, human hair, and the dead skin cells we constantly slough off without even knowing it.  These things don’t seem too appetizing to us but the mold loves them.

Even the most meticulously cleaned carpets and rugs are subject to invasion by carpet mold because the amount of feeding matter and moisture required of these tiny creatures is much smaller than we can see and much smaller than most cleaning devices or solutions can eliminate entirely.

It takes a long time for a carpet mold colony to build to noticeable proportions under normal everyday wear.  People who have allergies to mold may get headaches or other allergic symptoms from the carpet but most people will not notice it.

It’s when really big problems occur that carpet mold becomes a problem for just about everybody.  Burst pipes due to freezing weather conditions; storm damage from rain or windstorms. tornadoes, or hurricanes; or prolonged periods of neglect cause the most obvious carpet mold problems.

Repairing the damage done by any of these situations will certainly eliminate the source of the problem but may not be enough to eliminate the carpet mold build-up.

It’s likely to be months before a colony becomes big enough to be detected.  It’s not unusual that the problem will call for replacing carpet, flooring, and perhaps even walls months after the original problem occurs if carpet mold issues aren’t addressed at the onset of the problem.

And it’s almost impossible to thoroughly remove carpet mold colonies without the help of professional technicians trained and equipped to remedy the problem in a way that is safe for everyone.

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