Michigan State University Extension
Home Maintenance And Repair - 01500334
06/24/03
Removing Mildew From Carpets
If the musty mildew odor is detected, stop its growth.
Use a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air
and, in turn, from the carpet. As long as the moisture is
low the mildew will not grow. Open up the windows and use
fans to circulate air over the carpet. If the mildew
growth is on the surface, open draperies to allow the sun
to shine on the carpet. Even artificial light will help.
If flooding occurs and the back of the carpet is not
made from all man-made fibers, dry the back of the carpet
as quickly as possible. This may require the services of
a professional carpet cleaner to take the carpet up and
dry it at their plant. On smaller carpet or if only a
portion of a large one is wet, one corner of the carpet
may be lifted so fans can circulate air underneath. By
attaching the hose to the exhaust of a vacuum cleaner, it
can be inserted under the carpet and used to blow air.
Caution: Care should be taken when using electrical
appliances around a wet carpet to prevent electrical
shocks. If the carpet is dried quickly, this should
prevent mildew growth.
If mildew growth has started, it will be mainly in the
back. If the back can be examined, a discolored area may
indicate the growth location. The musty odor will be
evident if some moisture is still present. If no odor can
be detected, a little hot moisture from a steam iron on
the back of the carpet will quickly bring out the musty
smell.
To kill the mildew once the area is determined, a rug
or smaller wall-to-wall carpet can be taken outside so
the back can be exposed to the direct rays of the sun,
which will usually kill the mildew in a day or so. Giving
the affected back area a light painting of a 1/2%
solution of hydrogen peroxide (one part of fresh 3%
hydrogen peroxide to 5 parts of water) and then letting
the sun shine on it, will make the action take place at a
faster rate. Cleaning with a diluted carpet cleaning
solution will wash the mildew from the surface but this
action alone will not kill the mildew.
These procedures usually will not remove the
discoloration from inside the fibers. To do this may
require very destructive bleaching which can destroy the
fibers.
If the carpet is returned and used under the same
conditions in which the mildew originally grew, it can
grow again. Not that the mildew wasn't killed but,
rather, new mildews spores can get on the fibers.
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension
Specialist, Emeritus, with reference from the Georgia
Extension bulletin, How to Care for Carpets and Rugs, the
Hoover Company, Nebraska Extension bulletin Carpet Care -
Cleaning and Stain Removal, the Carpet and Rug Institute,
Allied Fibers and Plastics Inc. and DuPont Clean Up
Carpeting bulletin.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
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Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director,
MSU Extension, East Lansing,MI 48824. This information is for educational
purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
This file was generated from data base 02 on 02/04/08.
Data base 02 was last revised on 06/24/03.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
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