Mold is dangerous to health. It produces allergens and irritants and depending on the type of mold you have, you could end up being exposed to an extremely harmful substance known as mycotoxin. Simply put, mold is nasty stuff, and as a responsible business owner, you need to get rid of it once you notice it in and around your property.

Your carpet is at risk

Carpeting is one office feature that can be prone to mold growth because it can easily contain the four things that mold needs to grow: moisture, oxygen, darkness, and organic food sources. Carpets attract dust, dirt, and microorganisms, and these are generally what mold feeds on. Add water and the shade that carpet pads provide to the equation, and you have the perfect condition for mold growth.

Carpet mold can be invisible

Mold could already be festering under your carpeting without your knowledge. This is especially true if your carpet experienced flooding in the past. Cleaning and drying the carpet in place is not enough. You’ll need to have the carpeting removed to really get to the bottom of the problem. The makers of Bissell Carpet Cleaner, one of the best carpet cleaning products in the business, reveal the signs of carpet mold that you need to look out for to ensure the safety of your employees and clients:

Odor and stains

If you notice a musty odor around your carpet that smells like dirty socks, that’s a sign that you have mold growing in your carpet, perhaps right underneath your carpet pad. Likewise, unexplained discoloration is another sign of carpet mildew or mold.

Wet carpet padding

Even minimal moisture is enough to make a carpet a conducive place for mold to grow. High humidity and condensation can introduce moisture to the carpet, so be sure to check your carpeting regularly if wet weather conditions are prominent.

Wet carpet

Flooding or a plumbing leak can leave your carpet soaked in water. Unless you remove, clean, and dry the carpet immediately, mold will likely grow.

Visible mold growth

If you already see mold growing on the surface of your carpet, that usually means you already have a severe mold problem in your hands, because mold won’t rise to the surface unless they’ve already occupied every inch of space underneath.

Mold can be tough to get rid of, not to mention the stains and odors it causes. To ensure your carpet looks, smells and feels like new when you clean it, it pays to use the Bissell Carpet Cleaner, one of the best carpet cleaners in the business.