If you recently experienced water damage to your home, whether from burst pipes in December or another cause, be careful – a remaining odor could do more than simply stink. Lingering water damage smells could be a sign that you still have mold growing in your home. Mold thrives in damp conditions. Protect your home and your health by learning how to safely eliminate odors after water damage in your home, using these tips from ServiceMaster Restore®.
Getting rid of a musty smell in your carpet may seem like a challenge, but it's actually pretty simple to do. The first step is to make sure that the source of the water damage has been repaired, or at the very least cut off, so you are not still affecting the area with more water. If water is continuing to leak, it will allow any mold to continue to spread. If you are noticing a persistent smell or seeing signs of mold growth, call a mold remediation expert to inspect and address any lingering leaks or mold issues for you, since handling it on your own can be dangerous. Once the original water source has been fixed and mold issues have been addressed, follow these steps to get rid of or prevent a musty smell in your carpet:
· Completely dry the affected area. If the room has windows, keep them open for several hours (on a dry day) to distribute fresh air and speed drying. Dehumidifiers help remove moisture from both the air and your carpet fibers. Floor fans also increase air circulation and pointing the airflow directly on your carpet will accelerate drying time.
· Treat the carpet with a cleaning solution. Mix one cup of vinegar and 2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle. Gently spray the solution onto areas of the carpet that smell. Be sure not to oversaturate the area since too much moisture can trigger more mold to grow.
· Pour baking soda over the treated areas. Baking soda quickly absorbs odors and is safe to use around children and pets. Allow ample time for the baking soda to absorb any leftover moisture or odors, preferably overnight undisturbed, and then in the morning vacuum it, and the smell, right up. Be sure to empty the vacuum and clean the filter promptly. Baking soda is very fine and can be blown back out into the home the next time you vacuum if you don’t clean it out after you remove it from the carpet.
If you still smell a musty odor after cleaning the carpets in your home, try freshening the air as well. All three of these common household items help absorb bad smells in the home:
· Vinegar: place bowls of white vinegar around the room to quickly lift the odor out of the area. In a couple of days your home will smell as good as new.
· Cat litter: place small, open containers of clean cat litter throughout the room. Change the litter regularly, and it should absorb most of the odor over time. Tip: don't try this method at home if you already live with cats; they'll think they have extra places to go!
· Baking soda: like cat litter, baking soda can quickly and easily absorb foul water damage odors when placed in open containers around the room and changed regularly. This process works similarly to putting baking soda in the refrigerator to help control odors in there.
Once you've taken care of the source of your water damage, prevented the spread of mold, and thoroughly cleaned your carpets, your home should smell fresh and free of foul odors. If the smell returns or you think you need professional help to deal with the damage, contact the experts at ServiceMaster of Gwinnett and ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens. Our water damage mitigation technicians are experts at finding and drying trapped moisture, which is a common source of mold growth after a
water loss in the home. We have advanced odor elimination tools and techniques to remove odors from your home so you can breathe easy again.
Important Facts About Mold
Do you know your mold facts? The mold remediation professionals at ServiceMaster Restore have compiled several facts about mold everyone should know:
Mold needs moisture to grow. Outdoors, mold grows in the soil, on vegetation and on decaying materials. Indoors, mold thrives in damp, moist conditions like bathrooms, basements or even behind the drywall when there's been water damage.
Air movement blowing directly on mold growth or physical contact with objects can cause the spores to drift into the air and start the reproductive cycle again. This means that it is vital to not disturb any mold found in a home until it can be treated and safely removed.
Some mold spores do contain toxins that can cause health issues when inhaled. People with mold allergies, pregnant women, anyone suffering from asthma, has a compromised immune system or respiratory conditions shouldn't be exposed to mold. This is why mold remediation by professionals is essential.
The terms "toxic mold” or “black mold" refer to Stachybotrys chartarum. Typically, this type of mold is greenish black in color and develops after a space has suffered heavy water damage. It, and all other kinds of mold, need to be removed safely by professionals trained in mold removal.
Mold on a shower curtain or in the grout around a tub can be removed by a homeowner. Bleach diluted with water removes mold, but remember to use it only in a room that's well-ventilated. Also, some types of tiles will etch with bleach contact, so make sure to spot check the bleach before using around the entire tub.
Running a bathroom exhaust fan to increase ventilation in high humidity areas can help reduce the development of mold in the room. Open glass shower doors to allow ventilation and never bunch a shower curtain;instead, keep it open so it can dry thoroughly. Remember, mold needs moisture for growth.
A musty smell in the basement is not natural. It's likely mold due to excess humidity from water damage, a cracked foundation, or leaking pipes.
Condensation on windows, walls and other hard surfaces is a sign of high humidity in the home, which increases the risk for mold development.
After a water damage event (flood, burst pipe, firefighting efforts), mold can begin to grow as soon as 24 to 48 hours without proper water damage mitigation to dry out the affected areas.
After a home flood, mold can grow in many unseen places including behind drywall, within insulation, in carpet padding, or under flooring and even throughout the HVAC system.
The best protection against mold after water damage occurs in your home is to eliminate the excess moisture quickly to prevent mold from growing. This is done through a water damage mitigation, which
is a process of exposing trapped moisture and thoroughly drying all areas affected by the water. Call ServiceMaster of Gwinnett or ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens if you need a water damage mitigation.
