It is not exactly uncommon for a carpet to have foul smells right after a several-hour deep clean session, and it is indeed a very frustrating experience for many. And to make it even worse, this can happen anyway
It is not exactly uncommon for a carpet to have foul smells right after a several-hour deep clean session, and it is indeed a very frustrating experience for many. And to make it even worse, this can happen anyway even when you purchase the best cleaning equipment and cleaner there is for the job, or even send for professional carpet cleaning services.
The good news is, though, that the potential causes of this phenomenon have been figured out, and by knowing that, we can work out solutions for the problem. In this article, we will give you some ideas about why your newly-cleaned carpet gives off unpleasant smells, and what may work to solve the problem.
There are a number of potential causes for the foul smell of a newly-cleaned carpet, some of which stem from the cleaning process itself, and some others associated with the usage of the carpet.
The carpet is one thick slab of fabric; once the water penetrates into the deeper layers, it can be very hard to get dry. And these undried layers can become the nests for mold, mildew, and bacteria, causing the nasty moldy smell.
There are a couple of reasons why your carpet may take longer than ideal to dry:
Meaning that more moisture or detergent than necessary is applied to the carpet during the cleaning, causing the moisture/detergent to soak to the deeper layers and thus become harder to clean. Even for the more optimal cleaning methods like dry cleaning and hot water extraction, an inexperienced worker can easily overwet the carpet: They may move the vacuum cleaning too fast, set the water pressure too high, etc. Another reason why this happens to even professional cleaning service is that the flooring is so poorly maintained it needs to be overwetted by the worker in order to clean.
Sometimes it is not necessarily someone’s mistake that the carpet doesn’t dry properly Other non-human problems may also contribute to the overwetting of a carpet during the cleaning, and be a part of the reason why the newly cleaned carpet has bad smells. It might be that the ambient humidity is too high for the carpet to dry up, the carpet is made of heavy water-absorbing materials like wool.
All of these can make the carpet dries slower than ideal. And when the moisture is stuck around in the deeper for too long, it invites mold, mildew, and bacteria growth, causing nasty odors.
If the carpet got in itself old stains, spills, or dirt buildup, these may as well produce nasty odors when they come in contact with the moisture from the deep cleaning. As an example, old milk spills are notoriously known for producing awful foul smells.
So stubborn stains should be cleaned as soon as possible, otherwise, they will ruin your carpet with persistent odors. Also, any spillage must be taken care of immediately.
Pet’s urinating on the carpet would often get by completely unnoticed until its foul smell becomes a problem, and when it does, the urine would have already soaked all the way to the deepest layers. Containing ammonia and urochrome, the urine stain is permanent and can give nasty smells. The stains and the odor would persistently resurface when coming in contact with moisture, while also being uncleanable by conventional cleaners and cleaning procedures.
The carpet might have developed mold and mildew before the deep cleaning even take place, due to the water damage from an existing leakage or a past spillage accident that wasn’t properly handled. In this case, it will have a moldy smell both before and after the deep cleaning and may require mold and drying treatment to get rid of the smell.
Cigarettes are notorious for leaving lingering odor on fabrics of all kinds. The smoke residual can be absorbed into the flooring even when most of the smoke does go out with the air. The heavier smoker the homeowner is, the more likely for the carpet to develop cigarette odor.
Before we discuss what to do and not to do with our smelly carpet, we wish to dedicate this session to discuss how this problem can be largely prevented. With the causes of the odor being figured out, we can devise measures to help take care of your odor problem before it even starts. Here are some suggestions:
So we will start with some precautions you should take to not exacerbate the odor problem or harm yourself without having much of any effect in solving it. So here are some don’ts:
And here are the things that you should do with your already smelly carpet.
The first thing you need to do before any deodorizing attempt is to get the carpet completely dry first, the faster the better. And to do this, you will need to remove the moisture and have better air circulation in the house. Here are some of the ways how this can be done.
The second step would be to deodorize your carpet. So, in order to do this, you will have to get rid of the mold, mildew, bacteria, or stains that are causing your carpet odor problem. Vinegar and baking soda are excellent cleaners for these objectives.
How to get rid of carpet smell with vinegar
To get rid of carpet odor with white vinegar, you can follow this simple guide:
How to remove bad carpet smell with baking soda
Baking soda is present in pretty much every DIY carpet cleaning guide, and also makes up the main component of numerous commercial carpet cleaners. On top of its well-known deodorizing effect, baking soda is also excellent for absorbing moisture, killing mold, and removing stains. To clear your carpet odor with baking soda, you can simply follow these steps:
Besides the most common suggestions like baking soda and vinegar, there are also other solutions to get rid of bad carpet smell:
To remove carpet odor with borax, use it the same way you use baking soda as described above.
Cat litter, especially clay-based types, is exceptionally good at absorbing moisture and deodorize and can be used interchangeably with baking soda and borax. Sprinkle the cat litter on the carpet, and leave it overnight. The cat litter should get rid of the moisture and, along with that, the smell. However, you should think twice about using this method if you keep a cat: The kitty might take it as permission to do business on your carpet.
Love these tips on how to remove bad smell on carpet? Sparkling and Beyond has even more cleaning tips and guides for you to explore in our library. If the DIY methods isn’t enough to solve your problem, you can always contact us for professional help. We provide professional and affordable cleaning services for your kitchen and any other part of the house, for any degree of need. We’ll keep your home sparkling clean and healthy.
As the admin of Sparkling & Beyond, I bring a wealth of knowledge and passion for excellence in the cleaning industry. With years of experience in providing top-notch cleaning solutions, I am dedicated to sharing valuable insights and tips to help maintain pristine and healthy living environments. My mission is to ensure every home and office we service sparkles with cleanliness and comfort.