Carpet Cleaning Tips
What’s That Funky New Carpet Smell and How to Get Rid of It?
Carpet Cleaning Tips
Why Does My Carpet Smell Worse After Cleaning It?
- Fantastic Team
- Published: May 25, 2018
- 10min read
- Views: 108,917
You noticed or smelled (which is probably worse) that it’s time to free your carpet from the trapped dirt. As any diligent homeowner or renter would do, you decided to give that shaggy piece of fabric a good bath.
You probably rented a cleaning machine or called a professional, moved your pet into another room, and prayed to all the gods you knew that those carpet stains come off with ease.
So far, so good.
A couple of hours later, you got your lovely carpet cleaned, yet your nose receptors were still telling you that something’s not right. You sniffed around, only to find out that the rug itself is to blame.
But why does your carpet smell worse after cleaning it?
Let’s see what the causes of that musty carpet smell are and what can you do to fight it.
This post is for you if:
The leading cause of a carpet that smells bad after cleaning is that the backing has absorbed moisture in the process and is still wet.
If not dried properly, the material becomes susceptible to water damage and mildew problems, which can cause the musty smell to appear. So, make sure you dry the carpet well and the bad odour should disappear.
If the carpet is relatively new, the so-called “wet dog” smell should disappear after the item fully dries. For brand new rugs, check our post on how to reduce the smell of a new carpet.
For older carpeting, this unpleasant smell might be a sign of their underlays breaking down. If so, it might be time to retire your carpet or rug and replace it with a freshly bought one.
However, before doing anything at all, ask yourself the following questions:
Let’s start with the first one.
The main reason for a carpet to smell bad after professional cleaning is overwetting. The most common causes for overwetting are:
In some cases, removing dried-on stains will require overwetting certain areas of the carpet. A professional cleaner will do a couple of dry passes afterwards to suck up as much moisture as possible and prevent water damage and a smelly carpet. Read our dedicated urine stain removal guide If your cat misbehaved on your carpet.
When warm water comes in contact with dirt and heavy spillages deeply set into the carpet fibres, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria growth. And while the bacteria are multiplying thanks to the heat and moisture, the odour quickly intensifies. That’s why drying it properly is important to prevent a smelly carpet after cleaning.
We suggest you read our post on the most effective and popular carpet cleaning methods to learn which technique is suitable for your textile floor covering. And if you’re interested in how often you need to clean a carpet, check out our dedicated article.
If the carpet smelled like mildew even before the cleaning procedure, here are the possible reasons:
These three factors are extremely interconnected and can affect your carpet in a truly disastrous way. When in doubt, if possible, lift up a section of the carpet and look underneath. If you notice grey, green, white, or black spots, it’s probably moulded.
Mould or mildew puts your respiratory health at risk. If you think that’s the case, find the moisture source, have it fixed, and consult with a mould removal specialist right away!
Before learning what to and what not to do, let’s start with what you should know:
Any reputable carpet cleaning technician should provide you with instructions on how to take care of your carpet right after a deep clean.
If a rental carpet cleaning machine was used, the shop should give you information about how much time it will take for the carpet to dry out completely.
Here are a few things that can help you get that musty smell out of your freshly cleaned carpet while it’s drying:
As mentioned above, you should receive instructions on what not to do with your carpet from the cleaning company or shop. If you didn’t get any directions for whatever reason, here are the things you should avoid doing while your carpet is still wet:
If you want to learn more about how to maintain your rug properly, check out our detailed post on the topic. It’ll walk you through the different ways to clean your carpet and keep it smelling fresh.
That’s it – you tried everything you could, but the unpleasant damp carpet smell refuses to go away. Well, unfortunately, odds are that the underlying surface of your carpet is damaged.
If that’s the case, it might be too late for you to save it and you should consider replacing the carpeting (here, you can find the nearest carpet recycler).
Sadly, even professional carpet cleaners can’t help you with this one. This is simply something beyond their expertise and capabilities. However, take note of the following:
If you don’t want to spend so much time and effort on cleaning carpets, give us a call! Why, you ask? Because all carpet cleaning technicians working with Fantastic Services are diligent and experienced in their field. Each job starts with a preparation and a quick viewing of the carpet to prevent any damages, such as overwetting and discolouration during the service.
Let the experts handle it for you today!
Having a smelly carpet after cleaning is not a pleasant experience, and if the cause is mould or mildew, it can turn into a health hazard, too. Take a look at our helpful blog post to learn how to remove mould from a carpet; your lungs and nose will thank you for it!
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Now that you know why your carpet smells bad after cleaning it, it’s time to resolve this issue! If you have any questions, please do let us know using our comment section.
Image source: depositphotos / Kobyakov, StudioLightAndShade, Patryk_Kosmider
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