Can Mold Under Carpet Make You Sick? Yes, carpet molds can make you sick! Carpets can boost the functionality and appearance of any home interior. However, carpets will require cleaning and maintenance. You will have to ensure that your carpets are dry and clean always. Otherwise, they can cause a lot of issues.
They will absorb moisture from spills, rainwater, or humid air. The challenge is that trapped moisture can cause mold under the carpet.
Also, it will not take more than twenty-four to forty-eight hours for the moisture to cause mold under carpets. Molds can cause many visible and invisible damages. They will influence your indoor air quality. On top of that, they will impact your health. People with respiratory issues will suffer the most. Also, molds can grow fast and can be dangerous if you do not address the condition.
As stated above, your damp carpet can have molds with trapped moisture within 24 to 48 hours. Molds mostly thrive on poorly ventilated and moist areas. Hence, it might be challenging to remove mold from a porous material. Also, your carpets have porous material and are susceptible to mold and mildew growth. As mold is a living organism, it can spread rapidly in your Singapore home.
In addition to mold, dirty carpets can make you sick. The toxic spores and musty smell will mix with the air. You will inhale that air in your home. That polluted air can cause allergies and asthma in children and the elderly.
There might be more than thousands of mold under your carpet. Some of them can be severely dangerous. They can cause respiratory issues, cancer, and allergies. In rare conditions, they can lead to death. If you notice that your family members have started experiencing allergy issues, you can check your carpets.
Also, carpet mold can cause sudden illness. If you are prone to airborne allergies, you can experience the following symptoms with mold contacts.
Kids and the elderly can experience severe symptoms. The same is about immune-compromised people. If you have weak immunity, you will be susceptible to infections. You will be at a higher risk of developing respiratory illness and lung infection from mold.
Children will suffer more since their lungs are still in the developing phase. They can develop asthma with mold exposure. Also, too much exposure can lead to memory loss, depression, and anxiety in healthy people. Hence, you will have to create a mold-free home.
In some cases, you might not be able to identify mold in your Singapore home. However, you can be aware of their presence from the smell. Molds cause a different odor in their growing phase. If you can detect them at that stage, you can prevent reproduction and more damage. Yes, the indoor air quality can help you to know you have mold under the carpet.
The airborne mold will enter your body through your nose and mouth. If you smell it, you will have to check all the possible areas to find out the source. Early detection will prevent further damage.
Also, you can see molds on your carpet. However, this is possible in the advanced growth stage. You can see them on the surface and under your carpet. They appear visibly white, green, or black. The area under your rug will look discolored with molds’ presence. If you have this issue at your home, it is an indication that molds are there for a while.
When the mold is visible, it is better to remove that carpet from your home. You can replace the old carpet with a new one. You can avoid cleaning and using the same rug. However, if you detect molds in the initial stage, you can consider cleaning your carpet.
You can prevent carpet mold in most conditions. Here are a few things you can consider to protect your carpet and home from a mold infestation.
You can avoid installing carpets in the areas that get moisture. We can take the example of bathrooms. Bathroom carpets can cause mold growth since they will have constant water exposure. Also, you should not install carpets in your kitchen, crawlspaces, and basements. All these areas will have humid air and moisture exposure. Both these can cause mold growth.
It is worth mentioning that mold will not grow on synthetic fibers. You can install this material. However, you can still experience mold growth if you avoid cleaning. If dirt gets trapped in synthetic carpeting, you can have the same problem. Dirt can cause mold growth.
Molds can damage the baseboard and floor of your home. Hence, you will have to install quality padding between the carpet and your flooring. You can go with rubber padding. It features anti-microbial properties and can prevent the growth of mold. However, it is a bit expensive compared to other padding options. But if you consider the benefits, you might find rubber padding worth your money.
In addition to all these, you will have to maintain the cleanliness of your carpet. Like moisture, dirt can cause mold and the same health issues and damages. The dust is hygroscopic and contains mold spores. Yes, it will absorb all the possible moisture and create mold growth. If you clean your carpets regularly, you might create a mold-free indoor environment.
You can vacuum your carpets once a week. Also, you can consider professional cleaning every alternative year. If you do so, your carpets will look new and refreshed, and they will not cause mold growth as well. However, if your carpet has a mold infestation, you will have to throw it.
Molds can make you sick and cause damages to your flooring. Hence, you will have to prevent moisture exposure to protect your carpets. Additionally, consider regular cleaning and use rubber padding. You can also avoid carpeting in your kitchen and bathrooms. Both these areas are prone to mold infestations due to moisture exposure.