How to Remove Mold on Floors Under Carpet

When flood waters make it into your home, saturating the flooring, it might be possible to salvage your carpet, yet you will still need to clean and dry the carpet within a couple of days. If carpet fails to dry completely after exposure to a flood, plumbing leak or other water source, mold can develop on the flooring, typically under the carpet pad. When removing the mold, protect yourself by wearing rubber gloves, protective eye goggles and outer clothing that can easily be removed and laundered. You will also need to wear an N-95 respirator, available at some hardware stores.

Rubber gloves
Protective eye goggles
Outer clothing
N-95 respirator
Plastic bags
Bucket
Detergent
Scrub brush
Mop
Wet-dry vac (optional)
Bleach

Instructions

- 1
  Put on your protective gear.
- 2
  Remove and discard the carpet and carpet pad, as you cannot remove mold from porous surfaces. Bag any discarded material and seal it before carrying out of the house, to avoid spreading mold spores.
- 3
  Fill a bucket with hot water and add several squirts of liquid detergent. Use a nonammonia soap, as combining bleach and ammonia creates a toxic gas, and you will use bleach during the cleaning process.
- 4
  Scrub the floor, using a stiff brush and the soapy solution. Thoroughly rinse the area with hot water to remove all soap residues. If necessary, use a wet-dry vacuum to remove any excess water.
- 5
  Fill a clean bucket with hot water and add bleach, with one part bleach to nine parts water.
- 6
  Mop the floor with the bleach solution, using a clean mop. Do not rinse. Allow the floor to thoroughly dry. This might take about three days.

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