keciaarm
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posted on August 15, 2001 12:31:12 PM new
A couple of weeks ago we got a ton of rain here. Water seeped up through the concrete slab of my basement and got the carpet wet. I've lived here over 25 years and this has never happened! Anyway, I used fans and towels to dry the carpet. I know that the carpet pad and maybe even the carpet should be replaced, but I can't do that right now. I got the carpet cleaned by a local company. There is a still an odor when you get down on the floor and smell the carpet. Is there anything else I can do? I know, don't get down on the floor and smell the carpet! Any other ideas!? Thanks!
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hepburn
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posted on August 15, 2001 01:08:37 PM new
Pull the carpet back up in places and sprinkle baking soda. Lay it back down and squirt it with a mixture of vinegar and water. If that doesnt work, spray the heck out of it with Febreeze. If after all these things dont work, then pull it all up and use bare floor?
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zilvy
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posted on August 15, 2001 01:28:23 PM new
Yes, Febreeze is great...and the baking soda idea is a good one too. You are so clever Mizz Hep...
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gravid
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posted on August 15, 2001 01:44:28 PM new
I had that happen in a rental house and we had to tear up the carpet. Some one else that had been through it warned me to clean the bare floor with bleach and rinse and dry it before putting new carpet down. The mold is so persistant it can start again from the spores left on the bare floor. You have to KILL it.
Get it done before it spreads inside the walls - etc. If it is the wrong kind of mold it can render the whole house uninhabitable.
[ edited by gravid on Aug 15, 2001 01:45 PM ]
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jt-2007
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posted on August 15, 2001 01:59:43 PM new
Fans and a very bright light and lysol might help a little. Keep the air moving and well airconditioned if you can.
I am experiencing similar problems because of humidity, 95% some days. Yesterday, I went into a closed room that I seldom frequent only to find my grandmother's antique dining table covered with green fuzzy stuff. YIKES! I spent hours in there last night with disinfectant and furniture polish.
My damp laundry mildews in 12 hours and ruins our clothes. I just keep washing, and washing all day.
I get a METAL non-stick pan out of the closed cabinet to cook and it has to be washed because it has a faint film of mold after one day.
My child's pillow was mildewed from the moisture brought in the window by the attic fan. Bleach cured that but she struggles with allergies.
I have even put BUCKETS of SALT in some closets to try to draw the humidity out of the air. It works in a small closed space.
It is HORRIBLE. My sympathies are with you.
You are not alone.
T
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Hjw
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posted on August 15, 2001 02:33:19 PM new
Mildew in a basement carpet is a really tough problem and ordinary sprays or baking soda will probably only render a temporary solution.
I would recommend removing the carpet and cleaning the floor with a clorox solution. Generally a carpet in a basement is a bad idea. The fact that the carpet was 25 years old may have contributed to the problem.
Good Luck!
Helen
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jt-2007
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posted on August 15, 2001 02:49:57 PM new
I don't see that the age of the carpet was given but only that water had never seeped in the basement in 25 years.
T
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rosiebud
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posted on August 15, 2001 07:43:35 PM new
Hate to state the obvious but wouldn't your homeowners insurance cover this as water damage? I guess it would depend on your deductable vs how much it would cost for you to do it yourself (re: you have a $1000 deductable whereas the actual cost is $450).. and I guess it would also depend if your insurance company looks at it as flood damage rather than water damage ~ and if you have flood insurance. *sorry, just rambling there*
Otherwise, once mold/mildew is in the pad and the carpeting, it's not going to come out easily. Like someone said previously, this stuff has to be killed (ie: bleached). It can't just be dried away. With that said, if you're not in a position to replace the carpeting now.. rip it out and sanitize the cement flooring. That's a better alternative than having mold spores growing and multiplying in your house. You can always put new pad and carpeting down later.
[ edited by rosiebud on Aug 15, 2001 07:45 PM ]
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Hjw
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posted on August 15, 2001 07:50:21 PM new
And if you have books in the basement, until you get rid of the carpet, it would be a good idea to move the books upstairs.
Helen
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keciaarm
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posted on August 15, 2001 08:40:48 PM new
Thanks for all the ideas. I didn't even think about the potential damage to my books. My insurance deductable is too high to fool with filing. I am going to call a carpet store tomorrow and see if they might have any special cleaners. If not, I'll try the Febreeze and/or vinegar idea. Thanks again!
K.
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bunnicula
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posted on August 15, 2001 08:47:56 PM new
Febreeze & vinegar just aren't going to do it. They will not kill the mold spores. Gravid is correct in saying that if you can't do that, then getting rid of the carpeting is the best thing to do. The mold can not only infect your books and the walls of your house--it can also become a major health hazard if unchecked...you do *not* want to breathe it in!
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keciaarm
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posted on August 15, 2001 08:53:30 PM new
I have a couple of dumb questions about all this. When something smells "musty" is the smell actually caused by mold growth or something else? Also, when you mention health problems, what kinds of problems can this cause. Are you talking about allergies or something else? Thanks!
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bunnicula
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posted on August 15, 2001 09:03:38 PM new
keciaarm: Allergies, yes, but also much, much more!
http://www.injuryboard.com/toxicmold.html
"Typical physical symptoms associated with exposure to toxic mold include memory loss, allergies, and breathing difficulties. Some people are particularly susceptible to illness from toxic mold, especially those with asthma and other existing respiratory problems and infants. These people may suffer fever and mold infections within their lungs. Many doctors fail to properly diagnose the cause of such symptoms as exposure to toxic mold."
http://www.jsonline.com/homes/build/sep99/home-improvement-nyt092399.asp
"When the mold digests the organic nutrients, it grows and releases volatile organic substances like aldehydes, alcohols and ketones. As these compounds evaporate, they give off the musty odor that is characteristic of mold and mildew....Left to multiply, these infestations may produce enough organic compounds to cause allergic reactions, sickness and, in extreme cases, death (a possibility with infants)."
http://asthma.about.com/library/weekly/aa100799.htm?iam=dpile&terms=%2Bmold+%2Billnesses
http://www.bgitool.com/mold-bacteria.html
"Allergic reactions such as asthma attacks, chronic sinusitis and other respiratory problems, are much more common especially among people with a family history of allergies. Recent studies have also suggested that certain mycotoxin-producing molds may cause pulmonary hemorrhaging in infants and memory impairment in older children and adults. The mycotoxins appear to have toxic effects on the lungs and nervous system"
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keciaarm
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posted on August 22, 2001 01:41:15 PM new
We broke down and replaced the carpet due to the odor and possible health issues. Now my question is about how you keep a basement from being damp and musty. Are there dehumidifiers that work? Or any other tips and tricks? I know light and moving air are helpful. Any other possible products, etc.
Thanks for all the previous help!
K.
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saabsister
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posted on August 22, 2001 01:46:32 PM new
We use a dehumidifier in our basement in the summer and that works well for us. In the winter, there's enough heat from the duct work to keep things dry. We also leave a couple lights on down there.
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keciaarm
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posted on August 22, 2001 01:51:39 PM new
Thanks. So the dehumidifier actually works? Any advise about brands or anything else about purchasing one? I've never even seen one before so I have no idea how to go about purchasing one.
K.
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gravid
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posted on August 22, 2001 02:41:18 PM new
Here is how big a problem it can be-
http://freep.com/news/locoak/zromeo22_20010822.htm
- in a local school.
EPA guidlines on removing mold - for commercial buildings but still good.
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/
For a copy of the California Research Bureau's new report, "Molds, Toxic Molds, and
Indoor Air Quality:" http://www.library.ca.gov/html/statseg2a.cfm.
You can find more by searching on google or a similar search engine.
[ edited by gravid on Aug 22, 2001 02:51 PM ]
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saabsister
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posted on August 22, 2001 05:37:06 PM new
keciaarm, we bought our dehumidifier at Home Depot. I think they had several models to choose from but only one brand. Maybe Sears or a hardware store would have them. They're a summer item here so you might be able to get one on sale now if they have stock left.
[ edited by saabsister on Aug 22, 2001 05:37 PM ]
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DrTrooth
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posted on August 22, 2001 06:23:25 PM new
Though it will be a tough job, you may want to consider getting a product called "Drylock"......a paint-like substance that is applied just like paint....and 2 coats would be best. It really stops water and moisture from coming thru the walls and floor. BUT.....to do properly is a great deal of work.....and there is some odor on the beginning.
Good luck.
Dr. Trooth
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