Did your carpet recently got soaked? Whether it’s caused by water damage or spillage, you have to take care of it immediately to eliminate the foul odor and avoid further problems. Here are the steps you need to take:
Remove excess water and dry the carpet
If you are unable to remove the carpet from the floor you will need to rent or buy a commercial size wet dry shop vac. This will allow you to suck up most of the water out of the carpet. It’s a slow process but quite an effective process.
Remember that your carpet most likely has underlay and this is one of the biggest problems for odor. It’s also the cheapest piece to replace so if at all possible remove the old underlay and replace with new pad. If you aren’t able to remove it then use your shop vac to pull out all the water and moisture.
Once you’ve removed all the water from the carpet you’ll need to clean the carpet. You can do this yourself or you can have a professional cleaner do it. You will want to use a good quality cleaning detergent as well as a sanitizer. An industrial strength product is preferred to ensure all mold, mildew, and bacteria is killed. Ammonia works well and is very cheap to buy. Source: SelfGrowth
Use baking soda to neutralize odor
Sprinkle baking soda on dried carpeting. Use a broom to work the baking soda into the carpet. Allow the baking soda to sit on the carpet overnight. Baking soda is an all-natural deodorizer that will remove carpet odors and is safe to use around children and pets. Remove the baking soda by vacuuming it up. Source: Hunker
You can also add vinegar to kill molds
Plain white vinegar is extremely acidic, which gives it antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties. Not only can it kill mold and mildew, it can also help loosen and lift other debris from your carpet. To make a cleaning solution, mix 2 cups (0.47 L) of warm water with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of baking soda in a spray bottle.
- Shake the mixture thoroughly and apply liberally to your carpet. Make more as needed.
- Note that the room will smell strongly of vinegar until the mixture dries.
- Once the mixture has dried, vacuum the room completely. Source: WikiHow
Removing the carpet and padding, then reinstalling it takes so much work. If you don’t do it right, you might even end up having more problems than when you started. Let us help you avoid this daunting task. Call us for an appointment!
