The signs a carpet has mould are a persistent musty smell, discolouration in green, black or white patches, a damp feel underfoot, and allergy-type symptoms that ease when you leave the room. Mould needs moisture, so it follows a leak, flooding, a spill that was not dried, high humidity, or over-wetting in a previous clean. If you suspect it, act fast: find and stop the moisture, dry everything thoroughly, and get it assessed, because mould that has reached the backing and underlay sometimes means the affected area has to be replaced.
The signs to look for
- A persistent musty or earthy smell, strongest near the floor and worse in damp weather.
- Discolouration, green, black, white or grey patches on the carpet surface or, tellingly, on the back of the carpet and the underlay.
- A damp or cool feel underfoot, or carpet that never seems to dry out.
- Allergy-type symptoms, sneezing, congestion, irritated eyes or worsened asthma, that ease when you leave the room.
The clearest evidence is often underneath: lifting a corner to find discolouration or a musty smell on the backing and underlay confirms it.
What causes carpet mould
Mould is always a moisture problem first. The usual causes are a plumbing or roof leak, flooding, a large spill that soaked in and was not dried, persistent high humidity, or a carpet that was over-wetted during cleaning and left damp, see why carpets smell musty after cleaning. Where water has been sitting for more than a day or two, the risk rises sharply, see what to do with a flooded carpet in the first 48 hours.
What to do about it
- Find and stop the moisture source first, a leak will simply re-grow the mould otherwise.
- Dry everything thoroughly and quickly, with airflow and dehumidification. Drying is the priority.
- Get it assessed. Surface mould on a carpet caught early can often be treated; mould that has established in the backing and underlay is harder, and that material may need removing.
- Be realistic about replacement. Where contaminated water or long-standing damp has saturated the underlay, the honest answer is sometimes to replace the affected section rather than clean it.
An honest note
Not every musty smell is established mould, and a lot of damp-carpet problems are fixable if caught early and dried fast. But we will not tell you a heavily mould-affected, saturated carpet can be cleaned good as new when the honest answer is that the underlay needs replacing, that is a health issue, not just a cleaning one. An assessment tells you which situation you are in.
Common questions
How do I know if my carpet has mould?
Look for a persistent musty smell, green, black or white discolouration (often clearest on the back of the carpet and underlay), a damp feel underfoot, and allergy-type symptoms that ease when you leave the room. Lifting a corner to check the backing and underlay is the most reliable way to confirm it.
What causes mould in carpet?
Moisture: a leak, flooding, a spill that was not dried, persistent high humidity, or a carpet over-wetted in cleaning and left damp. Mould cannot grow without moisture, so finding and stopping the water source is always the first step in dealing with it.
Can mouldy carpet be saved or does it need replacing?
Surface mould caught early can often be treated once the carpet is dried and the moisture source fixed. But mould that has established in the backing and underlay, or come from contaminated water, often means the affected area must be replaced. An honest assessment will tell you which applies.
If you suspect mould in your carpet, contact us for an honest assessment, or call us on 062 791 5531 if there is water on the floor now. See our carpet cleaning page.