How To Get Rid of Wet Carpet Smell After Water Damage
Water damage is the second most popular claim that homeowners in America make on their home insurance. There are many types of water damage. Water damage can be the consequence of extreme weather events that are out of your control, like flooding, heavy rainfall, a snow storm, or pipes that burst in the cold of winter. Sometimes a homeowner is to blame for water damage, as it is frequently caused by accidentally leaving the water on in the bathroom, kitchen, or shower.
Whatever the cause of water damage, anyone who has experienced it knows that it leaves a serious clean-up operation in its wake. Not only is the furniture frequently ruined, and delicate domestic keepsakes destroyed, but often, even after the initial damage control, a bad smell is left behind. A mildew smell on carpet or worse, mold growing on your floors, are just a few things that need immediate attention.
Read more: How to use vinegar to remove mold from carpet
Why a Lingering Smell After Water Damage Just Isn’t Safe
Perhaps after the initial process of mopping up the water, throwing things away that can’t be saved, and drying what remains, you may believe your clean-up operation is finished. However, you shouldn’t be so sure. As long as a scent remains, a significant threat to your home is still there, long after the most intense of the water damage is gone.
A bad smell emanating from your carpet signifies a strong risk that mold or mildew is growing within it. Mold and mildew thrive in damp conditions and can spread like wildfire, causing significant damage to your home.
Both your carpet and flooring can be at the risk of premature decay as a result of mold growth, but even worse than that – it poses a risk to the health of you and your family.
Mold and mildew can exacerbate existing respiratory problems and can even create them in young children. Their deposits of fungal spores can weaken the immune system and put everyone in the home at greater risk of infection or virus.
A bad smell coming from your carpet isn’t just a bad smell – it’s a threat to your home, your property, and the health of your family.
Read more: How to dry a wet carpet?
Types of Carpets that Hold Odor More Easily
There are 4 basic types of carpet fibers – nylon, polyester, olefin, and wool.
- Nylon is the most durable and resistant to wear out of the four. It’s also the most stain resistant fiber available when treated with some stain protector.
- Polyester is best known for its luxurious look and feel. This type of carpet can be found in a wide range of colors and styles.
- Olefin is water resistant and great options for areas that are exposed to sunlight. It’s commonly used as an outdoor carpet or damp basements because of its moisture and mold resistance qualities.
- Wool is known for its natural beauty and Eco-friendly qualities. It’s well constructed and looks great for a long time, however, it is not naturally resistant to stains like others are.
Nylon carpet is a great option for a home with small kids and pets and homeowners have found that it does not hold odors in as much as other options. Whichever type of carpet you choose to go with, there are ways to reduce strange smells which we’ll get to a little bit later.
Type of Odors Carpets Could Have
Identifying where these weird smells are coming from can be difficult. Here are the two most common types of smells you’ll come across:
1. Pet Smells
These are the most common if you have furry animals running around your home. Urine is the number one contributor to strange odors in carpets. If you have a pet, chances are they had an accident inside your home.
Unfortunately, the smell of urine or vomit can linger for some time even after using deodorizers. In many cases, a professional cleaning is necessary.
2. Dampness or Moisture
When moisture gets underneath the carpet, a musty odor will form. When a carpet smells musty, or smells like mildew, it can be a result of humidity or spills that fell onto the carpet. Even if it’s only water, a funny odor can accumulate over time. If your home has recently flooded, this is most likely the reason for the unpleasant odor.
When not addressed properly, this can lead to bigger problems like mold or mildew. This will make the smell worse and can potentially lead to a health risk for everyone living in the household.
Want to know how to get rid of carpet odor from water damage? Keep reading.
What Can I Do to Treat Water Damage?
Luckily, the bad smell that lurks in your upholstery after an instance of water damage is treatable. There are many small, practical steps you yourself can take to minimize the scent and improve the overall atmosphere of your home.
These include:
- Leaving all the doors and windows open after an instance of water damage – unless it’s raining! Airflow running through your home will help alleviate the scent and speed the drying process.
- Use a dehumidifier. These can stop the spread of mold and mildew by removing excess moisture from the air.
- Spritz the area with a mixture of water and vinegar to remove bacteria.
- These will somewhat help alleviate the problems caused by water damage, but alone they’re not enough.
Deodorizing Musty Smells in Your Carpet – Does it Work?
Here’s the thing about deodorizing your carpet: it is a great short-term solution to wet carpet smells, however, it’s not ideal if you’re looking for a long-term remedy.
Deodorizers remove smells leaving carpets fresh and clean for only a period of time. Treatments can be found in your household including baking soda, vinegar, or essential oils. Baking soda is the most popular option since it absorbs moisture and traps unpleasant smells. Some people like to sprinkle their carpet with essential oils afterward.
These remedies are great for spot cleaning and to hide the smell temporarily. For long term solutions, you’ll have to hire a carpet cleaning expert.
Read more: Should I clean or should I replace my carpet?
Frequently Asked Questions
Will wet carpet smell go away?
Not unless you do something about it! You can temporarily quell the smell with bleach and baking soda, but to cut it at the source, you need professional-grade equipment or full carpet replacement.
Does baking soda get rid of carpet smells?
Yes. Sprinkle the affected areas with baking soda and let sit for 2 hours. The smell may be gone, but the underlying problem remains, and the smell may quickly return.
Can mold grow from wet carpet?
Yes. Mold only needs cellulose, water, and oxygen to grow. A wet carpet is a perfect storm for mold growth. Stop mold at the first signs to prevent a colony from taking root.
Only a Team of Professionals Will Banish the Scent – For Good
If you want to make sure that mold and mildew is banished for good, and that the bad smell is eliminated from your carpet forever – it’s time to call an expert. At All Dry USA, we know our way around a carpet – we’re national leaders in the field, due to our expert, specialized carpet cleaning services.
we can help with expert cleaning of all different types of carpet, including more niche or luxurious models, like Persian rugs. We carefully treat every carpet with the best range of high-quality industrial materials, providing a service that no layman could every recreate at home. After an instance of water damage, we will restore your carpet to its former glory so well – even you will forget the flood!
Only professionals can offer an intensive carpet cleaning service that will guarantee the bad scent, and all its unwanted side-effects, are banished from your home forever.
All Dry USA will make sure:
- All water is extracted, and everything is completely dry. Using state-of-the-art fans and dehumidifiers, we will make sure that any trace of the water is completely gone.
- Even the most stubborn of stains will be eradicated.
- Everything is thoroughly cleaned, and completely disinfected with the best of new carpet cleaning equipment and technology.
- Not a trace of a foul scent remains. Due to the deep disinfection and cleaning process, no trace of a musty scent will remain in your property after this instance of expert carpet cleaning.
This should guarantee that your home and your family are free from the scourge of a bad smell after a serious instance of water damage. Instead, you get a carpet that’s as good as new – at an incredibly affordable price point!
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