Trask Research, Inc. - Mold Problem Solving

Mold Remediation in Carpet

By Matthew Yurina, Mold Inspector/Remediator

CONTAIN- the mold from spreading into uncontaminated areas;

KILL- the mold;

REMOVE- the dead mold and materials used for remediation; and

PROTECT- the cleaned out area against future mold infestations.

Before starting any mold remediation project be sure you have the proper personal protective equipment: P100 respirator, gloves, goggles, and protective clothing. If you don’t have a Tyvek suit or some form of disposable coveralls, you’ll want to make sure you have long sleeves and long pants that you can wash thoroughly after each day of work. The Oxy Mold product, an enzyme based mol d c leaner, deodorizer and stain remover is excellent at removing mold and mold spores from most types of clothing, and it’s safe for use in the washing machine.

Second you’ll need to dry out the carpet completely. Use a dehumidifier, a shop vac, etc. It may be necessary to pull up the carpet in order to get to moisture beneath it, or to clean the padding separately. Remember, mold spores will be spread around very easily when you’re drying the carpet out, so you need to be protected with a P100 respirator. If you leave certain places damp mold will keep growing back. Treat all the surfaces, not just the ones that have visible growth.

A steam cleaner is required to apply the Oxy Mold MX-501™ fungicide concentrate to the carpet. This is the only way you’ll be able to get the fungicide deep enough into carpet to kill the mold spores that will be trapped there. If you’re just mixing the MX-501 with water, you may want to go a little stronger than the standard 4 ounces per gallon. Carpet is very porous so mixing the MX-501 at 6-8 ounces per gallon may be more effective. If you’re using shampoo, then mix the MX-501 in straight, undiluted.

However, if your carpet has obvious, visible mold growing on it, there’s very little chance that this carpet can be saved. Ultimately the easiest and cheapest option will be to have the carpet replaced. If the problem is just a mold spore contamination then it should be rectifiable. You’ll want to apply the MX-501 at least twice, allowing the carpet plenty of time in between to dry.

Also, if the carpet is contaminated with mold spores, the odds that the air in the room is contaminated are very high. Mold Tests should be performed of the air in this area, as well as of adjacent rooms to find out if it’s contaminated, and if the air itself needs to be filtered out. Tests should also be performed on the HVAC system if one exists in the structure. If the ductwork is contaminated, it will need to be treated by a professional duct cleaning company, a mold remediation company, or replaced entirely if contamination is severe enough.

Once the application of the MX-501 is complete and the area is dry again, you’ll need to do clearance testing. This will aid you in making sure there’s no chance mold will begin to grow again. At this point you want to make sure the moisture problem which caused the mold in the first place is fixed. Un-rectified moisture problems can lead to new mold growth in less than 48 hours.