At some point in your life, you’ll deal with water damage. It’s nearly inevitable.

Water could get into your home because of flooding outside or a pipe that has burst. Whatever the source, water damage could do have extensive negative impacts on your house.

You can leave most of the damage caused by water to professionals and your insurer. However, there’s one problem left that you need to deal with: your smelly carpets.

The reason carpets smell bad quickly when they get wet is mold. Wet, damp, or moist pieces of fabric are excellent breeding grounds for mold.

Aside from the unpleasant smell, the particles these molds release in the air are harmful and can trigger allergic reactions. Staying in an area filled with them is inadvisable for anyone, but particularly for people with respiratory issues.

If you want to get rid of the smell and mold growth fast, you should call a water and mold damage restoration expert. But if you have time and patience, you can do it yourself. Below are the steps you need to take to accomplish that.

Fix The Cause Of The Water Damage

Your first step will be to ensure that the entire area is dry. Check for the source of water damage and have it fixed. 

You should also let some fresh air into your home. Open your windows to let the foul air out and fresh air in. The fresh air will also help to dry your room and the carpets. 

Turning on your fans will also help air circulate and assist in drying your house. If you have a dehumidifier, turn it on at night when you need to close your doors and windows.

Dry The Carpet

Make sure to dry the carpet immediately once the water damage has been fixed or once the water inside your house has subsided. 

If your carpets are already dry, run a vacuum cleaner over them extensively. The vacuum cleaner will remove any dust particles and mold spores from the carpets and reduce their stinky smell. It would be best to get a powerful vacuum cleaner to get the job done fast and effectively. Be sure to change the vacuum bag immediately after finishing this as well.

Use Vinegar

The next step will be to treat your carpet. Get a bowl and mix one part white vinegar (just one cup will do) and two parts warm water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spritz it over the carpet. Make sure not to oversaturate the carpet. If you can smell the vinegar around the room, you’re already spraying too much. Remember that making the carpet too moist may encourage mold growth again. 

If you don’t have vinegar, you can use a hydrogen peroxide solution instead. Get one part hydrogen peroxide and mix it with five parts water. Put the solution in a bottle and apply it to the bottom side of the carpets. You should get some impressive results from this as well.

Use Baking Soda

The next step on top of using vinegar is to get some baking soda. Sprinkle a teaspoon of it on the carpets. Baking soda is famous for neutralizing odor. It won’t damage your carpet, and it’s also safe for humans and pets. 

Let The Baking Soda Absorb The Odor

Leave the baking soda dusted on top of your carpets overnight for the best results. The longer you let it sit on the carpet, the more bad odor it can neutralize.

Those are the five steps to remove carpet odor caused by water damage. Of course, there are other methods as well, like using carpet shampoo. Nonetheless, it’s best that you do this as soon as possible. Leaving the carpet stinking will only make it degrade or cause rot because of mold.

Do You Have Water or Mold Damage?

Americon Restoration is here for you! We are Cleveland’s mold removal experts. With years of experience removing mold damage, we can help you restore the safety and comfort of your home! We know you may have concerns about COVID-19 and we want to assure you that we are doing everything in our power to keep our employees and our customers healthy and safe. Americon Restoration is taking all necessary precautions before entering our customers’ homes and closely following CDC guidelines. We want you and your family to feel safe and stay healthy! Please contact us through our website or by phone at (216) 221-5200.