Mushroom Growing in Carpet

By • • Water Damage

Mushrooms that grow in the carpet are not edible. It’s a sign of poor ventilation and high humidity in the house. As funny as it sounds, mushrooms growing in the carpet are a nuisance. If you simply pluck them out, they will grow back again. To get rid of this problem, you need to identify and eradicate the causes.

Although it’s an uncommon issue, it’s very difficult to deal with. It also indicates that there’s a fungus in your house as well. Once you provide enough humidity, warmth, and darkness, the mushrooms and fungus will grow and spread rapidly in your house. There are a few steps to take when killing mushrooms in the carpet. However, it’s best to call 24/7 Service Pros for a thorough cleaning and disinfection of your carpet.

Mushroom Growing in Carpet

How do Mushrooms Grow in Carpets?

How do Mushrooms Grow in Carpets

Mushrooms in carpets are different from mold. They don’t grow out of dampness. It’s always a stray spore that gives way to the growth of mushrooms in the carpet. It might be carried indoors through air coming from the windows. When this stray spore finds a high humidity and high temperature, it grows.

Carpets are highly absorbent and retain moisture for a long time. If a spore lands on your wet carpet, it will not need much else to grow. If there’s a water leak under the floor or behind the walls, it’s the main cause of dampness in your carpet. Moreover, a lack of light will speed up the growing process.

Causes of Mushroom Growing in Carpet

After a mushroom spore lands on the carpet, it cannot grow if it doesn’t have an ideal environment. Additionally, if your carpet is not cleaned and vacuumed regularly, all sorts of mold and fungus will start growing. Apart from that, there are several factors that cause the growth of mushrooms in the carpet:

Excess Moisture


Moisture is necessary for the growth of mushrooms in the carpet just like mold. Moisture is present in the air all the time. If there’s a water leak anywhere in the house, that will add to the moisture causing an excess. This excess moisture will start depositing in your carpet and become a cause of mushroom growth in the carpet.

Lack of Sunlight


Sunlight has UV rays that kill mushroom and mold spores. If your room does not allow sunlight in, the chances of mushroom growth will increase. Added to that, if the fresh air cannot circulate in the room, it will not allow trapped spores to escape. Open windows and draw curtains to let in fresh air and some sunlight.

Poor ventilation


Without proper ventilation, the moist and humid air will remain trapped in the house. There will be no way for moisture to evaporate and it will end up in the carpet. This will allow mushroom spores to grow in your carpet.

Is Mushroom Growing in the Carpet Dangerous for Health?

Not all mushrooms are edible and many of them are toxic. They release spores into the air that can cause serious damage to health. Call Home Restoration Services to identify the type of mushroom growing in your carpet. If there’s a poisonous mushroom in your house, it will cause respiratory issues and damage your lungs. Dealing with poisonous mushrooms is not safe and should not be done at home, without an expert’s guidance.

How to Get Rid of Mushroom Growing in Carpet?

Identify the type of mushroom that’s growing in your carpet. If it’s poisonous, call the experts and leave the job to them. If it’s non-poisonous and non-toxic, there are a few steps that you can take to eradicate it.

  • Take Safety Measures

Even if the mushroom in your carpet is non-toxic, you still need to be careful. The spores can irritate your respiratory system. There’s a high chance that mold is also present in the vicinity of the mushroom. Wear gloves, mask, and goggles to protect yourself.

  • Cut off the Mushroom

The first step is to cut the mushroom from the carpet. Use a knife or a blade to cut it as close to the surface as possible. Once the mushroom is removed, use a brush with hard bristles to clean and scrape off any remains of the mushroom.

  • Use a Vacuum Cleaner

Once the mushroom is removed, you need to clean out the carpet. Just like mold, Mushroom spores and everywhere. A vacuum cleaner will draw out the trapped mushroom spores and prevent further growth.

  • Use a Disinfectant

If the mushroom was there, rest assured that there’s other types of fungus as well. Using a disinfectant will kill the mushroom spores as well as other fungi. You can use bleach, borax, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide. They all contain antifungal properties and are easily available.

  • Use a Dehumidifier

Once you’ve removed the mushroom, killed the spores, and cleaned your carpet with a vacuum cleaner, you need to run a dehumidifier. This will remove excess moisture from the air and the carpet, preventing fungus in the carpet.

Preventing Mushroom Growing in Carpet

Cleaning Regularly


Fungus need some time to grow. If you don’t clean your carpet regularly, the chance of its growth will increase. Use a good vacuum cleaner for your carpets because the brush will not draw out all the dirt and spores trapped inside.

Reducing Humidity


High humidity levels allow spores to grow and multiply. If you live in high humidity areas, you need a good dehumidifier to bring down the moisture levels. If the humidity is normal, the moisture buildup due to a water leak will cause mushroom growth. Fix the source and then dehumidify the carpeted area.

Improving Ventilation


Proper ventilation will improve air circulation in the room. It will have several benefits. The clean air will draw out stagnant air. Trapped moisture will get an outlet. Dry air will circulate. Moisture trapped in the carpet will evaporate. All of these factors will prevent mushroom growth in the carpet.

Call 24/7 Service Pros to Avoid Mushroom Poisoning

When dealing with unidentified mushrooms, you put yourself at a high risk of poisoning and toxicity. If the mushroom spores are not killed, they will grow again. Invisible spores are almost impossible to see and catch. You might be able to kill the mushroom, but the spores might remain trapped in the house. At 24/7 Service Pros, the experts will use the right equipment and procedures to kill mushroom growing in the carpets, and prevent its spread.

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