Why Does My Freshly Cleaned Carpet Still Smell Like Mildew?

In the house, mildew odors might be among the trickiest to control and eliminate. When mildew smell is only in one room, like carpets or rugs, it’s best to clean it ASAP! Or else it may spread and even cause health problems for those with sensitive respiratory systems or allergies. In that case, carpet cleaning might be the only solution to eliminate the smell.

The mildew smell can come from your carpet for numerous reasons. Insufficient air circulation leading to condensation, pipe or wall leaks, high humidity, storm or flood damage, and abandoned wet belongings you forgot to dry are some of the reasons! Whenever you smell mildew, you need to find out where it’s coming from right away to take action to fix it.

But cleaning the mildew smell from your carpet is not something you should take lightly. You can follow our helpful guidelines to clean your carpets as carefully as possible to eliminate the persistent smell before it escalates into something worse! In the rest of the article, we explain why your carpet may have a mildew smell and a thorough guide to clean it!

Why Does My Freshly Cleaned Carpet Still Smell Like Mildew?

It’s frustrating to put in the time, energy, and resources to clean your carpet thoroughly, only for it to return to its musty, mildewy state. It may even seem pointless to spend money on cleaning equipment and materials. And if you’ve paid for expert carpet cleaning, you’re probably much more dissatisfied.

However, don’t freak out! Let’s investigate the possible reasons why your freshly cleaned carpet still smells like mildew:

Drying Issues

One of the main reasons why carpets still smell even after you clean them is the underlay. Drying will be much slower in this carpet section since you probably don’t expose it to enough air or sunlight. Mold and mildew can flourish in such damp conditions. Usually, two types of fungi thrive in such situations and cause the musty smell on your carpet.

In the worst cases, the issue isn’t even the underlay. A carpet will take significantly longer to dry if you hang it in an area with limited exposure to air and sunlight. Simply put, the longer a rug is damp, the more likely mold will grow in it! If your carpet still has a musty odor after cleaning, take action immediately!

Horrible Water Damage

When carpets have been severely damaged, such as by water, and then cleaned, a musty stench may remain because mold and mildew are still beneath it. If so, the problem is more severe than merely an unpleasant odor. If mold is present in your home, it might cause health problems for everyone there.

When you clean your carpet, but the musty smell is still persistently holding on, the problem could be unresolved water damage. If so, your carpets may be beyond repair, needing removal and replacement. This is the best and only method to ensure the security of your home and loved ones.

Soaking Your Carpet in Too Much Water!

Deep cleaning carpets might potentially wet the backing and padding as well. Professional carpet cleaners typically use dry cleaning or warm water extraction, which is less intrusive to the carpet’s fibers. The cleaner may waste more water and cleaning supplies than is necessary if they don’t have enough experience.

When the padding underneath the carpet absorbs too much moisture, that’s when problems arise. Since this layer is not exposed to air or sunlight, it is vulnerable to the growth of mold and mildew.

7 Best Ways to Clean Your Carpet and Get Rid of the Mildew Smell

If you have a carpet that smells musty and is full of mildew, it might be challenging to overlook the problem. Yet, this is not only an annoyance; it also poses a severe health risk to you and anybody else on the premises. If you put off cleaning too long, the carpet’s damage may spread beyond repair.

The good news is that removing a musty odor from a carpet is a simple process. The following is a simple guide to eliminating mold and musty odors from carpeting:

1. Completely Dry Out Your Carpet

Mold and mildew thrive in damp environments. Therefore, it’s no surprise that excess moisture is the primary culprit if your carpet smells musty! You should dry your carpets immediately if there is any remaining water damage in the fibers.

If there has been a flood, you should use fans and dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture from the air. It’s best to open your windows to let in the fresh air and hire a professional to help with mold removal.

2. Sweep or Vacuum Any Debris

Once your carpet is completely dry, it’s time to start the cleaning process! You can use a sweep or vacuum to clean any debris on there.

However, a vacuum should save more time and energy! So go over the affected area with a vacuum and remove all the debris and dirt! Repeat passes over harder-to-clean areas. A larger vacuum is best for this job.

3. Vinegar and Water Solution

Did you know vinegar is one of the best home remedies for removing stubborn odors? Make a cleaning solution with white vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:2. How much vinegar and water you put should depend on how much mildew is on your carpet.

Fill a spray bottle with the solution and lightly wet the carpet. To avoid encouraging mold growth, avoid using too much mixture.

4. Baking Soda

Baking soda is excellent against all sorts of smells. It is an excellent home remedy to remove the terrible odor of mildewed carpets. It is harmless to carpets, people, and animals alike.

After applying the vinegar and water cleaning solution, take some baking soda and sprinkle it over the area generously. Wait for some time, as the vinegar and baking soda needs some time to work. It’s best to leave it alone for two hours or overnight.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

Some mold can be removed with vinegar and baking soda, but you need something more substantial at other times. With a spray bottle, combine water with hydrogen peroxide in a ratio of 5:1, and lightly sprinkle the area again.

Remember to use the spray under the carpet if it is not nailed down. Leave it alone for a while longer to absorb the moldy odor.

6. Carpet Shampoos

If you don’t believe in home remedies, carpet shampoos might be your best friend. You can quickly eliminate any persistent mildew smell by washing your carpet with carpet shampoos!

If the stench persists after vacuuming, you can try cleaning the carpet with a sponge; just be careful not to use too much water. Blot the area with some carpet shampoo and leave it to dry. Perform a second round of vacuuming to remove any remaining dust and dirt.

7. Hire Experts to Eliminate the Odor Once and For All!

Mildew smells on your carpet can be a frustrating and persistent problem in your household. If it just won’t go away or keeps returning, it’s time to call experts like M&R Premium Carpet Care. Our professionals have all the tools and supplies necessary to remove all the water damage and moldings from your carpet.

Not only is this option the most convenient, but it also offers the most effective solution right at your doorstep. If you live in Fremont, CA, and are facing any issues with cleaning your carpet, contact M&R Premium Carpet Care to restore your home’s freshness and cleanliness ASAP!

It’s frustrating to put in the time, energy, and resources to clean your carpet thoroughly, only for it to return to its musty, mildewy state! If you are facing such issues, you are in the right place!

Here, we explain the reasons behind the mildew smell and all the best ways to eliminate them. We hope the article helped return your home to smelling clean and fresh. Thanks for reading!