Foul odors have a terrible habit of becoming stuck on the carpet. Smells can penetrate your carpets much more profoundly than they can tiles or flooring. Therefore, getting rid of such offensive odors might be difficult, to say the least.
Deodorizers only temporarily restore the freshness and cleanliness of carpets after removing odors. Baking soda, vinegar, and essential oils are among the treatments that are accessible in your home. The most popular choice is baking soda because it absorbs moisture and retains bad odors. Some folks like to sprinkle aromatic oils on their carpet afterwards.
Why a Strong Odor After Water Damage Is Not Safe
You could think your cleanup effort is complete after the initial phase of removing the water, discarding items that can’t be preserved, and drying what is left. You shouldn’t, though, be that certain. Long after the worst water damage has subsided, there is still a considerable threat to your property as long as a scent lingers.
Your carpet likely has mold or mildew growing inside of it if it has a musty odor. Mold and mildew spread like wildfire and prefer moist environments, which can seriously harm your house. Even worse, mold development puts your and your family’s health at risk, putting your carpet and flooring at risk of early degradation.
As well as causing respiratory issues in young children, mold and mildew can worsen those already existing. Each person in the house is at risk of becoming infected with a virus because of their fungal spore deposits, which can erode the immune system. Your home, possessions, and your family’s health are all at risk if a terrible smell emanates from your carpet.
How To Get Wet Carpet Cleaned Up
When you look over the offenders’ list, you’ll see that practically all of them include moist carpeting. Wet carpet odors require significantly more effort than a dry mess like dirt. It can’t just be vacuumed over, and you’re done. Interested in learning how to dry a wet carpet on your own? To get started, try the following advice.
Take Them Out
Carpets and rugs that have been wet can smell. Since you can transfer them outside to dry, you should do that first (if you can).
This is due to the following two factors:
- UV rays prevent the formation of mold. They’ll dry out quicker if the sun is out. Any ensuing odors are kept outside of your home.
- Move the damaged carpet outside, if possible, to allow most of it to air dry. If not, utilize fans for drying your damp carpet while opening the windows.
Utilize Baking Soda
After drying, you might want to use baking soda to clean and freshen the area. We frequently suggest baking soda as a cleaning option for the home. However, there’s a justification for that: it’s remarkably efficient. Baking soda is an efficient deodorizer that removes odor and moisture in addition to cleansing.
Apply the appropriate quantity of baking soda to the damaged carpet or rug and let it sit there for at least 48 hours. Consequently, your damp carpet has more time to be cleaned with baking soda. Try to combine vinegar and baking soda if the former alone isn’t doing the trick. A chemical reaction results from this, producing powerful powdered detergent.
Vinegar
Vinegar is another fantastic all-natural cleanser that can be used on almost every surface in the house, including carpet. Mold, mildew, and stains can be eliminated, and damp carpet odors can be eliminated thanks to the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of the solution.
- One ounce of white vinegar should be added for every two cups of water or more that are combined.
- Combine the components thoroughly as you pour the mixture into the spray bottle.
- In areas with the scent of wet carpet, evenly spray the solution.
- Take your time and use the mixture to gently scrub any spots with the bristles brush. Be careful not to clean too hard.
By positioning fans near the wet areas, you may speed up the drying process and eliminate odors in the house. Vacuum the area when the carpet has had time to completely dry.
Pick A Cleaning Agent
Therefore, you aren’t getting the desired results from the mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and water. When this occurs, it’s time to switch to specialty cleaning supplies. To get a carpet cleaning solution that will work, visit your neighborhood grocery.
Do your study before buying a product; some carpets need mild cleaners, while others can be disinfected and deodorized without harm. Try a brief test on a tiny area of your carpet, if you can, to see how it responds.
Vacuum It
The remaining baking soda from your carpet needs to be removed next. To remove any leftover baking soda residue, we advise using a vacuum. Run the necessary number of passes. The 48-hour timeframe should guarantee safety for any regular household vacuum, so don’t worry about accidentally sucking water into your vacuum.
Soap With Hydrogen Peroxide
For removing odors from carpeting, use this simple and affordable combo. After combining the components, pour the mixture into a carpet cleaner you buy or rent for a few days. Test this combination on a tiny carpet area first to see if it causes discoloration before using it all at once.
- Prepare your carpet cleaning equipment by following the directions and preparing it. It’s crucial to carefully follow all instructions and usage suggestions because they can be tricky for novice users.
- Heat up around 6 cups of water in a big bottle or container.
- Add roughly one spoonful of a gentle soap devoid of colors and harsh chemicals after the water is heated. The best option that is secure for family members and pets is natural Castille soap.
- Add 4 teaspoons of a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution to the soap and water mixture. Never use a mix higher than 3 percent since it can cause darker carpets and rugs to fade.
Use the cleaning machine as indicated after adding the solution. Focus on the spaces with the strongest scents, but clean every carpeted area for a unified appearance and a crisp, clean scent while you’re at it.
How To Extract Deep Odors On Carpet
You can encounter a scent brought on by liquids, which will be more challenging to remove. If you have these smells, you should combine vinegar with a water-based carpet cleaning product, like isopropyl alcohol or carpet shampoo. Use the combination after adding it to the carpet steamer’s liquid chamber. After that, you’ll need to buy or hire a carpet steamer. Find a buddy familiar with steamers if you aren’t confident using one yourself, or hire a professional cleaner who will bring their own steamer.
If you discover that the water damage has caused mold and odor issues. If you even suspect that there might be mold under your carpet, you should conduct some research. Contact a reputable cleaning service if you need assistance determining whether there is mold present. If mold is present, they can assist you in treating the affected area and removing the carpet.
How To Remove Surface Carpet Odors
Two distinct odors might develop on your carpet; it’s crucial to note. First, there is a surface odor, which appears when something has been dumped or spilled on the carpet and caused the spill, such as a pet mishap or food that has been dropped.
Grab some convenient baking soda and start by eliminating surface scents. This all-purpose powder works wonders in removing unpleasant odors from your home. Use a broom to spread baking soda around the smelly spot and push it deep into the carpet’s fibers. Although many people are cautious about using a lot of baking soda, the more you use it, the faster it will remove the odor.
Additionally, a top coating needs to be applied to the region, and you should then leave it in place for at least a day. Use a broom dustpan to remove the baking soda’s top layer before vacuuming the remainder. It’s time to use the heavy equipment if the smell remains. It should work if white vinegar is combined with equal parts of water.
Spray the mixture onto the carpet’s surface after putting it in a spray bottle. After 20 minutes, dab the vinegar with a cloth to remove it. Use a rag to blot the area with water, and then use a different rag to remove any remaining moisture. If, after drying, the scent still lingers, continue the vinegar procedure until the stench is eliminated.
Utilizing kitty litter is a further unconventional remedy. It stands to reason that since cat litter’s primary function is to absorb odors, any unsavory scents would be eliminated by using it. All you need to do is scatter open containers of fresh kitty litter throughout the space and replace the litter frequently. It should essentially eliminate the stink over time.
Final Remarks
The market is overflowing with unnecessary carpet cleaning supplies. Identifying the source of the scent will help you determine if it is coming from the surface or deep within the carpet. Your choice can then be based on which cleaners will get rid of the scent in your carpet after you have reduced the number of cleaners.