It doesn't take a whole lot of moisture to cause mildew growth in carpeting. If you have an area of carpeting that has been damaged by mildew, it's time to take action to eliminate it once and for all. Here, you'll learn how to undo the damage that the mildew has done and prevent it from occurring again.

Find and Repair the Moisture Source

The first step is to find out where the moisture came from and make any necessary repairs or changes. Hiring a professional mold and mildew removal specialist may be necessary if you are unsure of how far the damage extends and how it occurred in the first place.

These professionals have the tools needed to track how much moisture is locked inside building materials. This tool does not cause any damage to your walls, floors, or ceilings. The contractor will simply move the device along the area. The tool provides a reading of how much moisture is inside the materials. Then, it can be determined what areas are truly water damaged and what areas are simply surface mildew growth.

Clean the Damaged Carpeting

Begin the clean-up process by vacuuming the area very well. If the carpeting is damp, you will need to use a wet-dry vacuum to avoid damaging the vacuum and putting yourself at risk of electrical shock.

If the carpeting is dry, your household vacuum can be used. Just remember to change the bag or clean out the canister once you've completed the project. Failure to do so will result in mildew growth inside your vacuum. When mildew grows in the vacuum, the tiny pores will be released into the air each time you use the machine.

To scrub the stains out of the carpeting, you'll need a quarter cup of borax powder and a half-gallon of very warm water. Mix the powder with the water very well.

Use a scrub brush to apply the solution to the carpeting and scrub it gently. You want to use enough force to penetrate the carpeting without causing any of the fibers to break loose.

Note: Some mildew may be hiding under the carpeting. It is a good idea to pull back the carpeting and check the padding and sub-flooring for damage. If you clean the carpeting before undoing the underlying damage, the stains will bleed right back through the carpeting and the mildew will continue to grow and spread.

Once you have cleaned the carpeting, use the wet-dry vacuum to suck as much moisture out of the carpet as possible. If you've cleaned the padding and sub-flooring, allow the carpet to remain lifted until it has dried.

The mildew doesn't have to mean a complete carpet replacement. Work with professional home mildew removal contractors to begin undoing the damage the water has left behind.

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