How to Remove Carpet Mildew Smell

If any area of your home is currently being affected by an unyielding carpet mildew smell, you're no doubt looking for an effective way to permanently remedy the problem. Fortunately, this pungent odor can be removed with the aid of a simple homemade mildew remover and a few basic cleaning tools. Below are the necessary steps for restoring your carpet to its original odor-free state.

Step 1 - Vacuum the Carpeted Area

The first step in purging the carpet mildew smell from your home is to thoroughly vacuum the carpeted area that's been affected by the smell. Vigorously run your vacuum cleaner across the carpeted area, taking care to pay special attention to the parts of the room where the smell is most prominent. A mini vac or even a broom and dustpan can also be used to carry out this step, although they may not be quite as effective. Once the affected area is completely dust-free, you'll be ready for the next step of eliminating the carpet mildew smell.

Step 2 - Apply Your Homemade Mildew Remover

Having vacuumed the area being affected by the carpet mildew smell, it's time to produce and apply a highly effective, easy-to-make mildew remover. Within a clean, empty spray bottle, combine a single cup of vinegar with 2 cups of warm water. Once your ingredients have been added, seal the bottle and proceed to spray the newly formed solution onto the areas of carpeting that carry the carpet mildew smell. As an added bonus, if these areas still feature actual mildew, this cleaning solution should be able to promptly get rid of it. After your solution has been applied, allow it to sit for 3 to 5 minutes in order to give it ample time to set in and penetrate the unpleasant odor. Follow up by using a sponge or washcloth to vigorously scrub your mildew remover into the smell-carrying areas of your carpet.

When carrying out this step, there are 2 things to keep in mind. First off, abstain from adding more than the recommended amount of vinegar to your cleaning solution, as large amounts of vinegar tend to carry a carpet mildew smell. Once you've formed your solution, take care not to apply too much of it to the carpet. In addition to the aforementioned vinegar smell, applying excessive amounts of moisture to carpeting is liable to give way to the formation of new mildew deposits.

Step 3 - Apply Your Baking Soda

Now that you've given your carpet a good scrubbing, you're nearly finished removing the carpet mildew smell. To purge any remaining traces of odor, you'll now need to pour a little bit of baking soda over the freshly cleaned areas. Next, after giving the carpeted area time to air dry, use your vacuum cleaner to suck up the baking soda.

If you heed these 3 easy-to-follow steps, your home's carpeted areas will never be troubled by the carpet mildew smell again.