Carpets are one of the most delicate and expensive home furnishings that need proper care and maintenance. Regular vacuuming, proactively addressing spills, and occasional steam cleaning can keep your floor coverings durable for years. Unfortunately, homeowners in Melbourne forget to keep carpets clean due to tight work schedules and other housekeeping responsibilities.
Overlooking carpet cleaning for a long time may leave a damp smell deep inside the fibres. It could also be due to prolonged water damage in extreme weather conditions or a home accident. Therefore, it is imperative to address the unpleasant wet carpet smell immediately to prevent further damage. Here is a complete guide to help you refresh your delicate floor coverings without using harsh chemicals or expensive tools. You can also prefer hiring experts for a quality end of lease cleaning Melbourne to secure your hard earned bond money. If doing it yourself, keep this guide in mind and achieve spotless and refreshing results.
Let’s Get Started!
1. Why Do Soft Floor Coverings Smell Wet?
Understanding the reason for unpleasant wet odours is crucial before getting into the cleaning process. Of course, rugs and carpets tend to trap smells inside their fibres when they are wet. However, the most common causes are:
- Old, Overlooked Stains: Accidental beverage spills, such as wine, coffee, or tea, can leave stains behind. What's worse? Overlooking it for a long time can linger unpleasant wet like smell.
- Pet Stains: Pet urine, vomit, saliva and fur lurk bacteria, which can lead to a nasty smell. Therefore, landlords negotiate conditions for keeping a pet in a rental property.
- Mould and Mildew: Excess moisture buildup, humidity and leaks can weaken the fibres, leading to a musty, wet smell.
Once you’ve identified the main causes, use the following natural methods to banish lingering smell.
2. Let the Carpet Dry Completely
There is no denying that moisture is the main culprit of musty odours. Excess moisture or humidity can leave your carpets wet. So, the first thing is to air dry your floor coverings completely. Open windows and doors to boost air circulation. Using fans can accelerate the process. You can also use a dehumidifier to control the humidity levels.
Tip: Professionals recommend dry vacuuming to extract excess moisture buildup inside the fibres of your carpet.
3. Sprinkle Baking Soda to Neutralise Bad Smell
Baking soda is the best natural cleaning products that come with effective deodorising properties. Easily found in the kitchen pantry, this white textured powder can help remove wet smell from carpets in no time. First things first! Soak up the excess moisture using a dry cloth or paper towel.
Next, blot the affected area with a mixture of white vinegar and warm water. Air drying your floor covering is crucial. After that, pour a cup of baking soda into the carpet. Leave it for at least 2 hours. This will banish the wet smell easily. Lastly, vacuum the carpet properly to remove white residue.
4. Carpet Shampooing: A Deep Cleaning Method
Baking soda might not be an ideal treatment in some scenarios. In such a case, hire professionals for a deep carpet shampooing services. They can help remove grease stains, mould and mildew, pet messes, and other gunk without giving you a hint of stress. Some methods use an industry grad e carpet cleaning machine, while others can be applied using a sponge. So, it is good to check the manufacturer’s instructions on your carpet before outsourcing carpet shampooing methods.
Ensure you pretreat your stains using dish soap and a vinegar solution to break down stubborn stains and grime. This can elevate the final results of shampoo cleaning. You can also hire experts for a meticulous end of lease cleaning Melbourne to pass your rental inspection without any dispute.
5. Try Essential Oils to Banish Smell
You can easily tackle wet carpet smell using natural essential oils. Use tea tree oil, as it has antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it ideal for killing mould and mildew. You can also use eucalyptus oil, lavender oil and lemon oil to get rid of unpleasant odours naturally.
Tip: Remove spills and dry the surface before spraying essential oils.
6. Steam Cleaning Can Do Wonders
Steam cleaning is a green cleaning method that requires no strong chemicals to remove bad odours.
The hot steam can lift dirt, grime and bacteria from the carpets without causing any damage to the fibres. It can also resolve the wet carpet smell in no time. Ensure you dry the carpet completely to prevent musty odours.
Tip: Invest in a high quality steam cleaning machine that can effectively banish all types of stubborn stains and grease with ease.
7. Change the Carpet Padding (if required)
If the padding underneath your carpet is drenched, the smell may linger even after cleaning. So, it is good to check a small section and inspect for dampness or moisture damage. Replace it immediately if it's wet, smells musty or has nasty black mould spores.
However, if you are at the end of your tenancy, book experts for a quality end of lease cleaning Melbourne to help you secure your full bond while avoiding rental disputes. They clean every nook and cranny according to the pre approved checklist for spotless outcomes.
Tips To Get Rid of Wet Carpet Smell
Wrapping Up
These are some of the most effective methods to help tackle unpleasant wet smell from your carpets. Ensure you avoid using too much water when cleaning your carpets and always dry them to avoid water damage or a lingering smell. This will keep your carpets fresh, shining and immaculate all year round.