Mold,Carpet and Indoor Air Quaility

To clean or not to clean... Carpeting is a major investment in any home, and regular cleanings are necessary to keep it looking new. Just as the clothing we wear need regular washing to keep them fresh and hygienic, carpets require periodic cleaning as well. Accumulated soil and grit are major causes of reduced carpet life, and enable destructive and health harmful mites, bacteria and even have VOC issues. Cleaning costs are minimal when compared to the cost of replacing carpets and furnishing, so regular cleaning makes economic sense too. Some newer carpets create high VOC levels and can last for months causing poor indoor air quality issues. If your home has proper ventilation these usually do not cause as many health issues as poorly cleaned older carpets. What the issue is with carpets that are not cleaned properly is poor water extraction. Carpets become filled with organic materials and mold spores deep within the fibers. Add water and boom, a mold issue is created. Usually detected by the odor, which only takes 48 hrs to start the mold growth.
Having your carpets cleaned with the cheap guy may cost you big time. Carpets should be deep steam cleaned only. This process gets deeply embedded soils out of your carpet and removes most of the water during extraction. All carpets should have a high CFM fan place per room until carpeting ad substrate is below 9% moisture. Carpet should feel dry to the touch and you should be able to walk around wearing socks that absorb no moisture. A dry carpet is a mold free carpet.
Always use a good HEPA filter vacuum prior to any cleaning. Also regular dusting and vacuuming should become part of a daily routine!

Scuba Gear Needed

Mold spores, the seeds of mold, are in the air everywhere. All they need to grow is organic material such as wood, the right temperature range, and moisture. Of these, the only one that can be controlled is moisture. Dirt crawl spaces have the high humidity levels necessary for mold growth. Humidity levels from 50% to 90% are easily found in dirt crawl spaces that have never flooded.
Mold can grow on dirt, insulation, framing and even under your carpet on the first floor. Mold destroys organic materials as it feeds on them. Mold reproduces by producing millions of floating airborne spores, which some people are very sensitive to. Spores can be dormant for many years, waiting for the right conditions to grow. Some molds produce mycotoxins such as the black mold Stachybotrys. Visit our site for articles on the effects of mold, and toxic mold. Are the conditions right in this crawlspace for mold growth? This one is for fishing. Order your ispection today before your crawlspace is added to as a Washington Lake! call Pacific Northwest Inspections Group,LLC for a certified inspection in the Seattle,WA area.