Molds, Mildew and Stain On Your Carpet a Health Hazard
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They are often whitish to bluish-green in appearance, and breed in damp, warm, poorly lighted places. They are characterized and distinguished by their unpleasant, musty odor, and blamed for our damaged, discolored fabrics. You're right… these culprits are called molds and mildew.
Molds and mildew crawl and eat on our draperies, rugs, shower curtains, and most anything they can get enough food from, such as cotton, linen, wood, paper, silk, leather and wool. This is why it is very important to keep closets, dresser drawers, basements - any place where mildew is likely to grow - as clean as possible.
Molds and Mildew on Carpets
But one of the most common breeding grounds of molds and mildew is our carpet, its cotton and wool fabric, and sometimes damp condition serves as food that helps these pests multiply.
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The unsightly combination of molds and mildew on your home carpet can develop into a major problem if not addressed immediately and properly. Soil and dirt left untreated can supply enough food for mildew to start growing when moisture and temperature are right. So it is very important to make carpet cleaning a habit.
At the onset of what seems to be mildew stains on your rug, immediate action is imperative to keep them from multiplying. To remove these stains, make use of a good sponge, dipped in a thick dry soap or detergent solution. Apply the sponge onto the area, then, clean with a damp cloth until dry, or if possible, hang under the sun, or use a fan. Take note that while cleaning your carpet, you must make use of as little water as possible, avoiding to wet other areas of the rug, because the presence of too much moist can begin to breed unwanted molds and mildew again.
Once cleaned, make sure to practice daily carpet maintenance cleaning tips to keep your rug in their best condition.
In some cases wherein excessive water has gotten into the carpet, such as during floods, and will soon most probably breed molds and mildew, it is best to have a professional clean, deodorize and disinfect your carpet appropriately.
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Molds and Mildew a Health Hazard
Certain weather conditions provide fertile breeding ground for molds and mildew. Aside from its damaging effect on your carpet and other household items, it is also important to be aware of its harmful effects on your health.
Molds are generally airborne and can easily spread to other areas of the house by traveling through the air; these may also be inhaled into our lungs and cause health problems. Generally, exposure to any mold may cause allergic symptoms such as watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, itching, wheezing, headache, fatigue, and asthma break out.
Other family members in the house may also be more susceptible to molds, such as infants and children, the elderly, people with low immune system, and those with existing respiratory conditions.
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And while our carpets sometimes serve as crawling mats for our baby, and sleep and play areas for our kids, it is very important to make sure they are kept clean and free from molds and mildew that may cause serious harm to our family's health. These microscopic fungi may sometimes go unnoticed to the naked eye, making us think our carpets are clean and fit for the family. But prolonged use and exposure to unseen molds and mildew will be hazardous to ones health.
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