How to Remove Mildew from Carpets and Rugs

Many things can cause mildew to appear on your carpet. From flooding to wet basements, living with a rug or carpet that has mildew is unattractive and unhealthy. It is important to try to catch the mildew when it first forms as it will be easier to remove. If your carpet is showing some signs of mold here are some steps you can take in order to get rid of it.

1. Try to remove all the mildew you can by vacuuming the carpet or beating the area. If it is a throw rug you can go outside and beat the area of the mildew with a broom. If you vacuum over the area of the mildew, after completion, make sure to throw away the vacuum cleaner bag.

2. Mix a solution. Put 1/2 of a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and 1cup of water that is lukewarm. Mix it thoroughly to make the water as sudsy as possible.

3. Take a sponge and wet it with the solution. Now sponge the solution over the area of the carpet or rug that has mildew and let it sit for around 10 minutes.

4. Thoroughly rinse the area and remove all the sudsy solution and blot the area dry by using a clean, white towel. NOTE: Make sure you blot the area and do not rub the towel into the rug or carpet. By blotting the area you will pick up loose mildew, but by pressing hard with the towel you will be pressing the mildew more into the rug or carpet.

5. Mix a solution with 2 tablespoons of ammonia and 1 cup of water that is lukewarm. Mix thoroughly.

6. Take another clean white towel and blot the ammonia solution on the mildew area of the carpet or rug.

7. Now much like step 4, dry the ammonia solution with a white towel that is very absorbent. Use a different towel as if you use the same one you used in step 4 it may still have mildew on it and it would defeat the purpose.

8. Now you have to wait until the rugs or carpet dries. If it is a carpet you can use an electric heater or a fan. If it is a rug than you should take it outside and let it dry in the sun.

TIPS

∗ In order to prevent mildew try to make sure that the rug or carpet gets as much sunlight as possible. You can open blinds and windows or keep a fan running in rooms that become damp.

∗ If the area that has a rug or a carpet does become damp do not just let it dry naturally as this is how mildew can form. Try to get as much as the water as possible. The less damp the rug or carpet the less likely you are to have a mildew problem.

Author: Jason Green