mould on carpet

[Marcasite]

So DF and I were all set to leave my friend's walk in closet and get our very own bedroom after her other roomate left. We walked into his room, all excited to move in only to be overwhelmed by an awful smell. Ugh, there is mould on the carpet along one wall. I think this constitues a health hazard and won't sleep there. DF and other roomate insist it is just 'surface mould' and a steam cleaner will fix it. Is this true? Or will it still be growing under the carpet? And is it dangerous?
This place is such a slum, don't even get me started. The bathroom ceiling is so rusted that whenever you take a shower it all runs down the wall in a scene vaguely reminiscent of 'poltergeist'. I can't wait to get our own place. But in the meanwhile, what exactly do we need to do to get rid of the mould? There is also some growing against the wall in the shower, though bleaching it helped a little...

[sari0009]

So DF and I were all set to leave my friend's walk in closet and get our very own bedroom after her other roomate left. We walked into his room, all excited to move in only to be overwhelmed by an awful smell. Ugh, there is mould on the carpet along one wall. I think this constitues a health hazard and won't sleep there. DF and other roomate insist it is just 'surface mould' and a steam cleaner will fix it. Is this true? Or will it still be growing under the carpet? And is it dangerous?
This place is such a slum, don't even get me started. The bathroom ceiling is so rusted that whenever you take a shower it all runs down the wall in a scene vaguely reminiscent of 'poltergeist'. I can't wait to get our own place. But in the meanwhile, what exactly do we need to do to get rid of the mould? There is also some growing against the wall in the shower, though bleaching it helped a little...

Mold can damage health and lives, depending on the type of mold and the individuals. What type of mold? You'd have to get it tested by the appropriate local departments/professionals.

Once present, it's very hard to get rid of and involves clean up protocol, removal of infiltrated items, and inside environment control (must solve it at the causative/root level or the problem will reappear). Depending on the situation, it has the potential to get very involved.

[Marcasite]

The mould is white and green if that helps...
Is this the landlord's responsibility?

[Brónach Druid]

I think the question would be how did the mold come to be on the carpet? If it was caused by the old roommates bad habits, like garbage left in there or something similar then it is probably not dangerous and something you would be responsible for cleaning. If it is from something more substantial such as a leak somewhere or cracks in the foundation causing dampness and mold to grow then it could be dangerous and would be the landlords responsibility.

[Lyrien]

Ugh, there is mould on the carpet along one wall.

Pull the carpet up along the wall (it's easy to put it back) and check to see if there is mold on the pad or sub floor. If it's there, run. If not, check the drywall along that area where the mold is located, you may even need to pull back the base board. (this is not easy to put back) The best place to look is at the very bottom of the drywall and that will most likely be behind the base board, unfortunately. If mold is present on the wall ANYWHERE, run.

The fact that the mold is present along the length of a wall is of major concern. If it was a small patch in the corner, ya you could attribute that to a crappy unclean occupant, but along a wall tells you that something is most likely behind it. What is on the other side of that wall? Bathroom? Exterior?

[Sun Sprite]

I'll probably wax and wane philosophical. Here goes anyway - if mold can't be cleaned by bleach water, then it will likely return and can be deadly. Especailly in inclosed spaces that do not get a good air exchange rate, and rentals, while likely broken down, do not get enough air exchange to keep the mold spore count down.

Our ancestors livedwith mold, and didn't have as many problems, how did they do it? Well, several things, they tried to keep places warm and dry when they could. They had intense cleaning ideas, and times of the year. They also had homes that they could open, and let the fresh air remove the spores mosre so than we do today.

Basically, when the mold spores let loose today, you can have billions of spores in the air. Then you breathe them into your lungs. However, in the past, people had more open homes, and the wind would keep the spores moving, so they might only breathe a few hundred fast moving spores into their lungs, instead of thousnads of floating, growing spores per breath in the average home today.

I recently watched a how about a company that removes toxic mold from homes. Space suits, respirators, and garbage bags are their first line of defense. Also, never sling a garbage bag to open it in the presence of mold, any breeze sends the spores floating, and they later resettle on floors and walls and can re-create the problem.

A little mold can be removed with bleach. Too much mold basically has to be destroyed by heat. It can grow back through paint, and even the sealers that are supposed to protect you. the sealers do wear off, then the mold grows back, with a vengence. The spores can lie dormant for deacdes, and some even believe centuries until conditions are "right" for them to grow again.

Take care of your health, you only have it once!

[Brigid Rowan]

Honestly, youve gotten some wonderful advice...my concern is with you being pregnant, and being exposed to something like a bad mold might really get you ill.

[Lyrien]

Honestly, youve gotten some wonderful advice...my concern is with you being pregnant, and being exposed to something like a bad mold might really get you ill.

I completely forgot that you were pregnant, I wouldn't even chance it. You don't want to bring a baby home to that crap.

[Cindlady2]

Yes, if your pregnant or have breathing issues, have someone else deal with it.

[Marcasite]

well I had DF take a look, he pulled up the carpet along the the wall and there was no mould on the floor or against the wall, so it's probably due to disgusto roomate. We're renting a carpet cleaner soon. The landlord is coming in tomorrow as the roof started leaking. There is also some water damage on the roof of the bedroom, but it's been painted over so it's not new water damage. I am so ready to get a new appartment...

[Lyrien]

We're renting a carpet cleaner soon.

Use vinegar.

[banondraig]

I just found this fact sheet about mold: http://www.cdc.gov/mold/

Hope it helps.

[MoonChild78]

Mold is nasty, I run from it like a plauge. Have had some bad bouts with it as well at an old apartment, once from moisture and once from nasty roommates. With being pregnet, I would open the windows too as often as you can stand it to air out the house and the room. Best of luck, mold is just horrible to get!!