As important as water is, it is something that can also be a huge source of problems in a house. If you recently had a water leak that caused your carpets to get wet, you may be struggling with trying to eliminate the musty smell this can cause. Getting the musty smell out of carpet is not impossible, but it can be hard to do and can take time and effort. Here are three things to know about musty smells from carpet.
Make Sure There Is No Standing Water Present
Musty odors do not usually begin until after a wet floor has dried out, but they can begin if water remains on a carpeted floor for too long. If you smell a musty odor, the first thing to do is check to see if there is any water remaining on the carpet. You can usually tell by simply walking across the floor in socks. If the carpet still has water in it, your socks will get wet.
If you find that there is still water present, you will need to take the right steps to get rid of it. You will never be able to eliminate musty odors if the carpet is still wet. To get rid of the water, you could use a shop vac. You could also place fans in the room to help dry the carpet, or you could run a dehumidifier. All these steps can help you eliminate water from your carpet, but they may take time.
Use Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda are two of the most commonly used ingredients for getting rid of musty smells, and you probably already have these on hand, which will make this solution even more convenient. Before you use these ingredients on your carpet, you should thoroughly vacuum it. This will help remove some of the dirt and pollutants in the carpet.
After you do this, take a spray bottle and mix a cup of vinegar with two cups warm water. Spray this solution over your carpet and leave it there for around five minutes. If your carpet has mildew in it, the vinegar may be able to eliminate it. Vinegar also has the ability to remove tough odors caused by mold or mildew.
After five minutes, take a sponge or rag and scrub the floor. Finally, sprinkle baking soda over the entire area. Baking soda is great for extracting odors from carpet, especially if you leave it on your carpet for a few hours. You can vacuum it up when the carpet is completely dry, and you might find that the musty smell is gone or is not as bad as it was. You can repeat these steps daily if necessary.
Call In the Professionals
If you follow these suggestions and are still experiencing musty odors, you may need to call in professional carpet cleaners for help. The problem is that when carpet gets wet, it is not only the carpet that is wet. The padding can also get wet, as well as the wood underneath it. When this happens, there can be mildew growing in places you cannot reach. In fact, this is why experts recommend throwing carpet away if it has been wet for 24 hours or longer.
The best thing you can do if you experience water damage in your home is to call a company that specializes in water damage restoration, like Magic Wand Cleaning and Restoration Services. They will be able to promptly attend to the damage, which is the best resolution for carpet that has experienced water damage in a home.
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