The Moldy Carpeting Dilemma: Replace or Restore?

With water losses accounting for nearly 50% of insurance claims filed in the United States, it is no surprise that mold growth on carpets is a common challenge faced by restoration companies. However, there is very little definitive information available on the proper procedures for dealing with mold growth on carpet. The default approach involves replacing carpet with visible mold, based on the fact that carpet is a porous material and holds water, but some experts say this approach leads to the replacement of materials that could otherwise be remediated. When considering the more restrictive approach of the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, it is important to note that very few carpeting materials today contain organic constituents such as wool, cotton, or silk, and as such, there is no industry document that prevents the cleaning of most commercial grade carpet with visible mold contamination as long as the fungal growth is actually removed. Thus, it is important to focus on proper evaluation and proper implementation when cleaning is appropriate. If the evaluation indicates the carpet is an acceptable candidate for cleaning, then it is important to choose a cleaning process that will remove the mold and restore the carpet to a pre-loss condition without damage, such as shrinking, fading, or bleaching.

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