Carpet Smells After Cleaning – Causes and Solutions

Sometimes your carpet looks and feels clean after cleaning it, but doesn’t smell good.

Here we’ll discuss the most common causes why your carpet might smell after cleaning, as well as some solutions to help you get rid of that musty smell. Let’s get started!

 

Causes of a Carpet Smelling Even After Cleaning

We’ve listed the common causes of smelly carpets even after cleaning them. Here are the culprits.

1. Not cleaning the carpet properly

If you have used a cheap carpet cleaning service, the chances of getting stinky carpets are higher.

The most common issue with cheaper cleaning services is that tools/gear used for performing the job aren’t strong enough. They lack the power to fully-extract leftover water, leaving the carpet soaking wet. This is why some cleaning services use a fan to boost the drying process.

Another reason for the carpet smelling after cleaning could be that the person doing the cleaning is inexperienced. They might have used too much detergent and not rinsed the carpet thoroughly.

2. Drying issues

One of the primary reasons why carpets smell after cleaning is the underlay. This portion of the carpet padding isn’t exposed to direct sunlight/air, so it takes more time to dry adequately.

This leads to excess moisture, and yes, we all know where this leads to. It all ends up with a mouldy smell, which is common after carpet cleaning. 

Simply put, the longer your carpet stays wet, the greater its chances of developing mould, which will create an unpleasant smell.

3. Persistent stains

Another reason why you have a funky-smelling carpet is because of old stains. Often, people choose to clean these stains on their own, but it’s usually better to have the carpet cleaned by professionals.

In these cases, we consider the padding at fault. If the stain on your carpet was soaked up by its underlay, even after deep cleaning, it’ll stay. Unfortunately, so will the smell. This is the reason why high-end treatments can help remove these kinds of smells after carpet cleaning.

 

Solutions to Remove and Prevent the Smell

This time, let’s find the solutions to the smell. So, continue reading to learn the deep cleaning and deodorising tips to keep your carpet fresh and clean. 

1. Regularly vacuum your carpet

Keep crumbs, dirt, and debris from accumulating between the fibres where these can cause odour problems. 

Make sure to vacuum all the carpets you have at least twice a week. If you have pets/many people in your home, you might need to vacuum more often. Doing so will keep up with the debris.

2. Deep clean occasionally

Deep cleaning your carpet at least twice a year can help remove grime, dirt, and odour that makes the fibre smell.

You can choose to hire a professional to handle deep cleaning, or you can do it yourself using commercial-grade shampoo. 

Steam cleaning is a smart and effective way to deep clean your carpet. The steam it produces helps loosen the dirt deep within the carpet’s fibre. 

Doing this makes it more convenient to remove the contaminants, leaving the carpet fresh and clean-smelling.

3. Better ventilation

Your carpet’s fibre can easily absorb odours from your home. That’s why improving ventilation inside your house can dissipate the smell before your carpet absorbs them. 

Opening your windows is one great and simple way to bring in fresh air while letting out the odour.

Another way to increase ventilation is by using floor or ceiling fans. Use these fans while keeping your windows open for increased and better odour dissipation.

4. Use a dehumidifier

If you’re living in a place with high humidity levels, it can increase the chances of mould growth. As we mentioned earlier, this can produce a musty smell. Plus, it can cause health problems. 

Using a dehumidifier when moisture is high helps cut down the humidity. That means you’ll have lesser chances of growing mould.

5. Deal with spills

Spills on the carpet can bring about odour, especially when these are food spills. Drinks like milk can also cause a funky smell since they rot.  

Remember, drinks and food soak into the padding of your carpet. Also, it can reach the subfloor below if you don’t clean it immediately. 

Use a clean cloth and dab on the area to soak up the spills. You can use water and a bit of dishwashing detergent for additional cleaning power. 

6. Deodorise with bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

You can either use a commercial carpet deodoriser powder or make one with bicarbonate of soda (baking soda). This household item does a lot of great things around the home, and one of its uses is to neutralise odour.

You can use plain baking soda or mix it with essential oil to add fragrance. If you have pets, it’s better to avoid the latter since some are toxic to them.

Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over the carpet, and keep your pets away from these areas. Leave it on the carpet for a few hours or overnight, then vacuum it after.

 

Best Cleaning Methods for Carpets

Let’s look at the best cleaning methods for carpets so you can decide which is best for your needs.

1. Hot water extraction

Hot water extraction is an excellent way to clean carpets. This is especially true if you have allergies or are sensitive to shampoo and detergent.

Steam eliminates germs, bacteria, mould, mildew, and other irritants. The only disadvantage of this cleaning method is removing all traces of water.

2. Shampooing

Shampooing carpets is an effective solution for stubborn stains. However, this requires thorough extraction since sticky detergent residues left behind lock more dirt and dust. Because of that, home rugs tend to look dirty soon after shampooing.

3. Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning is a way to clean carpets in offices and homes with people who can’t wait for carpets to dry. However, chemicals and detergents used to dry clean carpets can get pungent. So, you’ll need proper ventilation.

Remember that this cleaning method can be a terrible choice for those with breathing difficulties and allergies.

4. Bonnet cleaning

This cleaning method only removes surface dirt from your carpet, so it’s not ideal if your floor needs deeper cleaning. However, the advantage of bonnet cleaning is that it’s fast and cheaper. That means it’s best to consider this method if your carpets aren’t too matted or filthy.

You can also opt for this method if you require light carpet cleaning regularly while keeping the budget. The process will help guarantee that your home’s carpets are always at their best.