How Long Does Mould Take to Grow in Carpets?

The question of how long it takes mould to grow in carpets is highly subjective. Consider this: how much sand does one need to have before it can be called a beach? Similarly, how many mould spores can accumulate in wet carpets until carpet remediation specialists can identify a mould growth with certainty?

The most commonly cited amount of time it takes for mould to grow in carpets is around 48 hours. Some claim that it only takes a day. Some claim that for mould to truly accumulate in a wet carpet, two to three weeks are required. That’s a lot of variance for a substance that’s harmful and dangerous when inhaled.

Mould is sensitive to climate and grows quickly in damp, humid environments. For example, Adelaide tends to be drier and can delay the growth of mould for days whereas Melbourne can have all four seasons in a day.

Melbourne’s climate may be temperate, but there are plenty of occasions when damp can set in after a thunderstorm, for instance, thus accelerating the growth of mould. If your carpet has suffered water damage in such an environment, it’s best to react quickly and contact a reputable remediation expert such as Floodcare to deal with the damaged carpet without delay.

Quite often, mould can be found on walls and ceilings in damp homes where ventilation traps in moisture and promotes its growth quickly. Carpets are denser than walls and can absorb a lot of water, but that doesn’t mean they are resistant to mould. Quite the opposite.

Wet carpets absorb water and promote a slow growth of mould bacteria which may not be immediately noticeable, at least visibly. Early signs of mould can be felt after as little as a day or two in the form of a musky odour coming from the carpet.

Carpet comes in many shapes and varieties, with densities and materials that frequently differ significantly from one another. This further adds to the uncertainty of when exactly mould will begin to set into a water-damaged carpet.

In order to avoid the negative health effects of mould in your home, it’s recommended to act sooner rather than later. Mould spreads and can affect large sections of carpet if neglected, so have the damaged area replaced as soon as possible.

At first, mould is detectable in wet carpets by smell. If allowed to fester and grow, mould spores will multiply and create visible stains that may be difficult or impossible to remove without tearing up most (or all) of your carpet.

The best way to avoid unsightly stains and to mitigate the amount of carpet replacement needed, contact a remediation expert immediately after sustaining water damage.

It doesn’t matter whether mould sets in after a few days or a few weeks. Mould is dangerous and can quickly spread if given the right environment. Whether your pipe burst or your bathtub overflowed, water damage will inevitably lead to the growth of mould and bacteria. Contact Floodcare today if your carpets have sustained water damage and we’ll address the problem at its source.