One of the worst dilemmas in our living rooms is that strong musty smell in our carpets that won’t come off no matter how you wash it, like the annoying cigarette smell. In this article you will learn how to get rid of the musty smell in the carpet. That strong musty odor is usually caused by mold and mildew that grow in it. This happens during floods or accidents that involve our carpets getting wet.
Carpets that get soaked up in water develop that strong musty odor because the strands in it absorb in water. When this happens, through time and a certain temperature mold and mildew start to develop. And because of its thick fabric, our carpets become suitable habitats for them, allowing them to multiply. The odor molds cause is a certain gas they give off. While most of these gases are harmless, some of these may be toxic for humans. These are hard to clean, even when you have eliminated all the molds and mildew in the carpet the odor still remains.
The most basic step would be learning if the mold and mildew are still growing in the carpet. If this is the case, the smell and the mold will never go away no matter how many times you wash your carpet. But be careful when searching for the mold, some molds are known to be hazardous. Seek professional help when you suspect that you have this kind of mold.
Here are some tips on how to get rid of the musty smell in the carpet:
Create a homemade anti-mold solution. There are a lot of commercial anti mold and mildew cleaners that can be bought from your local grocery stores, but why bother buying when you can make your own. Not only is it cheap, it will also save you the time because everything you will need is in your house!
In a bowl, mix in half a cup of baking soda, one cup vinegar, two teaspoons of natural vanilla and 1 cup water. Mix until the baking soda is dissolved. This solution is guaranteed to neutralize the musty smell and kill all the mold and mildew that exist in your carpet. Pour into a sprayer for easy application.
Dry the Carpet If your carpet is wet, squeeze off all the water and let it dry. This will allow you to determine the areas that need anti-mold treatment. In addition to this, excess water may prevent the fabric from absorbing the solution.
Apply the solution Spray on the infected areas. Don’t soak the carpet, just keep it slightly damp. Use a sponge or a rag and vigorously rub on the area. Rinse with water and repeat until the mold comes off.
Apply baking soda on the area. When it dries, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust particles and debris.
I used this mixture and the baking soda and vinegar reacted with a forceful eruption of foam shooting out the top of my bottle.