A Guide to Finding and Removing Carpet Mold

Plus, how to prevent mold on carpet from coming back

Co-authored by Susan Stocker and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: July 31, 2024 Fact Checked

Signs of Mold

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Removing Mold

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Preventing Mold

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Is mold dangerous?

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Video

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Tips

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Warnings

A moldy carpet can make your home smell bad and even cause health problems. If you think your carpet might have mold growing in it, you're in the right place. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to detect mold in carpet, remove mold, and prevent mold growth in the future.

What does mold on carpet look like?

Moldy carpet often has discolored or dark spots, as well as visible black, green, or white growth. Sometimes, carpet can have mold without visible signs, as it also grows underneath the carpet. You may need to pull the carpet up to know for sure. Moldy carpet often has a musty or wet odor, as well.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Detect Signs of Mold in Carpet

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Black, green, or white growth If the mold has been growing for a while, it may appear as black, green, or white spots. It’s rare to see visible mold spots, but if you do, it likely means mold has been growing under the carpet for a while. If your carpet has visible mold, it usually can’t be cleaned and must be replaced.^{[1]
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- Mold or mildew may also make your carpet look dusty or fluffy like snow.
- If mold is present on the surface of your carpet, it’s probably growing beneath the carpet and/or the carpet padding, as well. This is why it’s important to replace moldy carpet so you can get to the root of the problem.
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Discoloration Even if your carpet doesn’t have visible patches of mold, dark or discolored sections often indicate mold growth. Discoloration is a result of a chemical reaction to the dampness of the carpet. If there is no other explanation for why the carpet is stained, you may have a mold problem.^{[2]
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- Mold isn’t the only reason a carpet may be stained or discolored, so keep an eye out for other signs before taking action.
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Press on your carpet to see if it folds under the pressure. If it does, mold spores could be present. Similarly, if parts of your carpet look like they’re curling under, moisture could be seeping into it and causing mold.^{[3]
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Musty odor Mold has a distinct, off-putting smell. If your carpet smells bad, it may be a sign that it has mold in it. In addition to the musty odor, a strange or bad odor may indicate that mold spores have traveled through air vents into other rooms in your house.^{[4]
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- Keep in mind there are other reasons your carpet may smell bad. Look for other signs of mold before you take action.
- If your carpet is moldy, it may have an earthy, musty scent or it may smell wet.
Sometimes mold grows underneath a carpet before it starts growing on the top. If you’re inspecting an area rug, turn it over and check the bottom for mold. If you suspect there’s mold growing in your wall-to-wall carpeting, lift and inspect the carpet yourself or hire a professional if you need assistance.^{[5]
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While some people may not have physical reactions to mold, others experience mild to severe symptoms. If you’re allergic to mold, you may experience symptoms like sneezing, coughing, a sore throat, and skin and eye irritation. On a more severe level, you may have trouble breathing. If these symptoms come on suddenly, you may have mold.^{[6]
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If you’ve noticed a burning smell in your home or the edges of your carpet look burnt, this could be a sign of mold. While this is relatively rare, the mold spores may have burned under the light of the sun, leading to the odor.^{[7]
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Professional mold inspection Sometimes mold is buried deep in the fibers of a carpet and you’ll need a professional’s help detecting it. Search online for a local mold inspection company and have them come test your carpet. They may be able to help you get rid of any mold they find.^{[8]
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- Home mold test kits exist, but they’re often unreliable and don’t identify the type of mold. If you want to test for mold, it’s best to hire a professional.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Remove Mold from Carpet

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Steam clean small areas with water and detergent. In most cases, it won’t be possible to clean a carpet if there is a large area of mold growth, but it is sometimes possible to clean small areas. Use a detergent or rug cleaner to steam clean the carpet, making sure that it dries completely to prevent regrowth. Cleaning expert Susan Stocker says, after steam cleaning, “Be sure to spray baking soda to make sure all moisture stays gone!”
- If the detergent does not work, substitute it with a stronger cleaning agent, like an acidic mold remover. Test the cleaner on an inconspicuous area first. Wait 24 hours to make sure it doesn’t discolor or damage your carpet before cleaning the rest of it.^{[9]
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- Do not use bleach while using these cleaning agents, as the combination could be harmful.
- Stocker says to get rid of mold, “Spray baking soda liberally over the affected areas in the evening and let it sit overnight (at least 8 hours). Vacuum it up in the morning, then spray the area generously with white vinegar and scrub it well with a tile brush or similar brush. Dry with a fan or hair dryer. Then, when it is dry, vacuum it up again.”
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Dispose of moldy items and clean the surrounding area. If the mold has spread beyond the carpet, toss any moldy items that can’t be saved. Clean surrounding furniture, wall trim, and floorboards by scrubbing them with dish soap and water or spraying them with white vinegar. If using vinegar, test an inconspicuous area first to make sure it won’t damage the surface further. Alternatively, hire a professional to remove the mold from your home.^{[10]
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- Wear a mask or ventilator, gloves, and goggles when cleaning mold.
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Clean up any mold on the floorboards or walls with bleach. Open all the windows and doors in the room so there's air circulation. Wear goggles, an N-95 mask, and non-porous gloves while you work.^{[11]
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Go to source} Refer to the instructions on your bleach container and scrub away any remaining mold.
- Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners or you could create dangerous fumes.
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Remove small ruined patches of carpet. If the mold isn’t widespread and cleaning doesn’t work, consider cutting out the affected area with a carpet cutter and throwing it away. Then, replace it with a patch of the same or similar carpet. It may be difficult to find a new patch of the original carpet, so this might not be the ideal method if you care how your carpet looks.^{[12]
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- If the mold growth is larger than a couple feet, this likely won’t be an effective method of removal.
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Fully replace carpets with visible mold or water damage. If mold is visible on your carpet, it’s likely growing underneath the carpet, too. Even if it isn’t yet visible, mold spores grow within 24 to 48 hours after a carpet has been water-damaged. If you haven’t thoroughly cleaned your carpet 24 hours after it was water damaged, there's a high probability that mold is already growing and it needs to be replaced entirely. If it's an area rug, roll it up and dispose of it. If it's wall-to-wall carpeting, consider hiring professionals to remove the carpet for you.^{[13]
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- On average, mold remediation costs about $3500 (though it often ranges between $1000 and $9000), and carpet installation costs between $3-$11 per square foot.^{[14]
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Prevent Carpet Mold

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Avoid carpeting moist, humid areas. Carpets that are located in humid climates, below ground level, or in areas where there’s lots of water—like in a bathroom or basement—are more susceptible to growing mold. The best way to prevent mold from growing is to avoid carpeting these rooms. If you do have a carpet in one of these areas, try to keep it as dry as possible and frequently check it for signs of mold.^{[15]
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- Older carpet is also more prone to developing mold than newer carpet.
Mold grows quickly on wet carpet, usually within 24 to 48 hours, so it’s important that you take care of leaks and spills quickly. Remove the standing water from your carpet and steam clean your carpet with a carpet cleaner. Then, use fans to dry out the carpet.^{[16]
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Use a dehumidifier if you live in a humid climate. Molds, like most fungi, require water to start growing. Reducing humidity levels around your carpet will help prevent it from growing. Use the dehumidifier to keep humidity levels between 30-60 percent in any rooms you have carpet in.^{[17]
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- Open your windows on warm, sunny days and replace the AC filters in your home every few months to help decrease humidity.
Dirt often contains mold spores and it soaks up moisture, so having a dirty carpet could lead to mold growth. To prevent this, clean your carpet regularly by vacuuming a couple times a week. Additionally, have your carpets professionally cleaned once every 12-18 months.^{[18]
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When mold grows on carpet, it can also damage your floor and baseboards. To prevent this, install rubber carpet padding under your carpets. The padding is resistant to mold growth, and it will help keep your carpets dry.^{[19]
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Section 4 of 4:

Is mold dangerous?

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Mold is known to cause health problems. While mold isn’t always dangerous, prolonged exposure can lead to allergies or breathing issues, like asthma or bronchitis. It may cause severe symptoms in those who are immunocompromised. If you or your family are allergic to mold, check for it regularly and remove any problem areas as soon as possible.^{[20]
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- If you’re worried you’ve been exposed to mold, get tested for mold exposure by visiting your doctor.

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Tips

If you notice your food has been spoiling more quickly than usual, this could be an indication you have mold, as damp environments cause food to spoil. Oranges, in particular, tend to grow mold in these conditions.^{[21]
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Warnings

Mold can be toxic, so wear goggles, a mask, and gloves before attempting to clean it.

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Basement carpeting is especially at risk for mold. If you have carpet in your basement, keep the temperature and the humidity relatively low. If it’s too humid or the temperature changes too much, it can produce condensation, which sometimes leads to mold.^{[22]
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If your carpet is wet or has been damaged from flooding or standing water, it will likely grow mold. Because mold spores can grow on damp carpet within 24-48 hours, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to successfully clean the carpet. It will probably need to be replaced to prevent mold.^{[23]
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