Why Does My Carpet Smell Worse After Cleaning?

You want your carpet to look good and smell good, so you clean it. You are probably looking forward to relaxing in a house that looks and smells great. Afterward, it actually smells worse. What happened?!

After you spend time cleaning your carpet, you discover that your floors now smell musty and sour. It even smells a little like a wet dog. You are no doubt highly disappointed! Don’t worry; you aren’t alone. Carpeting smelling worse after cleaning actually happens frequently to homeowners. There are a few reasons for this, and thankfully there are multiple solutions that can help fix the issue.

Why does my floor smell bad now?

The most common reason for a bad-smelling carpet after a homeowner cleans it is that the underlying backing or padding got wet and wasn’t dried properly. This isn’t something to let go, because it can cause mildew. Due to the fact that most homeowners don’t have any way to dry the underlying padding of a carpet, this happens often when someone who isn’t a professional takes a stab at doing deep cleaning.

What can I do about it?

Thankfully, you can fight this mildew growth by shampooing again with a mixture of white vinegar and water. This will not only help kill any mildew, but also helps to absorb the now-present odor. It is also recommended to help the carpet dry as thoroughly as possible with fans, a space heater, or open windows. The faster the carpet dries, the better.

There are a few other things you can use to help soak up any unwanted odors while you wait for the carpet and the backing underneath to dry. You can place bowls of white vinegar or kitty litter around the room, both of which will absorb odors from the air. You can also sprinkle baking soda or borax on the carpet, allow it to sit while the carpet dries, then vacuum it up. This will remove the smell. If this doesn’t work the first time, do it again and let it sit overnight before you vacuum it up.

Bring in professional help

Don’t attempt your carpet cleaning alone. Those in the Kirkland, WA area can turn to Green Steam Carpet Cleaning. Our team is committed to finding and using cleaning products which are both effective and environmentally friendly. We offer residential carpet cleaning services that will leave your floors looking great and your home selling smelling fresh. After all, isn’t that exactly what you want?

We want you to be able to enjoy your carpets for as long as possible. Spots and spills should be treated immediately by a professional. The longer a spot remains, the more difficult it will be to remove. Even if there aren’t stains, your carpet still needs some TLC from time to time. We recommend maintaining your carpets once every six months to once a year, depending on how many people and pets you have walking on your carpets. Contact us today and we’ll discuss our carpet cleaning packages and provide you with a free quote for Kirkland, WA carpet cleaning. Don’t live in a home with smelly floors any longer!