What Cleaning Contractors Need to Know About Mold in Carpet

One area of growing concern to building owners ispipes or a leaking roof, is fixed. Then make sure the
indoor air quality. Feeding poor indoor air quality can beproblem has not escalated to a point where the carpet
one of over 1,000 types of mold found in the Unitedshould just be replaced.If you decide you can handle
States and over 100,000 types found worldwide. Moldthe job, clean the carpet with a product such as a
and mildew can grow rampant indoors and lead tobiocide that is designed to stop microbial growth.
various health problems such as allergic reactions,Following are some steps to follow when removing
asthma, sneezing, eye and skin irritation, and othermold and mildew from carpet:1. Apply a low alkaline
respiratory complaints. Carpets that are not cleanedall-purpose spotter and wipe it off.2. Rinse with a mild
and dried properly can be a haven for mold spores,acidic carpet rinse and neutralizer.3. Thoroughly dry the
which thrive on excessive moisture.There is nocarpet.4. Apply a mildew stat carpet sanitizer. Make
practical way to keep mold spores from entering yoursure you follow all label directions and
buildings. Spores enter through open doorways,recommendations. Let the solution air-dry.Although the
windows, and ventilation systems. People also trackEPA recommends a bleach solution to kill mold in
mold spores through buildings, as they can attachsome situations, many of the mold and mildew
themselves to clothing and shoes.Molds need threeremovers that contain bleach will harm carpet fibers,
things to grow: moisture, nutrients and a suitableso you should not use it. While cleaning, employees
material such as carpet, paper, ceiling tiles, drywall or ashould wear gloves and respirators to avoid breathing
host of other materials. When molds are disturbedin the mold spores.After cleaning, use fans to dry the
they are released into the air and inhaled by the peoplecarpet. Once you handle the mold problem and the
in the room. Some individuals are not affected by mold,carpet is dry, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to
but others can be highly sensitive.If asked to clean aremove any remaining mold spores. Vacuums with
carpet that has mold problems you need to firstHEPA filers won't stir up the remaining mold spores
assess the situation. Are there underlying factors thatinto the air. If the area is one that will continue to have
are causing excessive moisture? Water problems,excessive water, you can recommend the building
such as broken pipes, leaking roofs, over-wateredowner replace the carpet with tile or laminate flooring
plants or flooding, and improper carpet cleaning canso you can easily mop up the water as
lead to mold in carpets.Assess the situation to makeneeded.Copyright 2006 The Janitorial StoreSteve
sure that it is something your company can handleHanson is co-founder of TheJanitorialStore.com, an
before agreeing to rid the carpet of mold. First makeonline community for owners of cleaning companies.
sure the source of the water problem, such as broken