Whenever you have a plumbing accident in your home, it might leave your carpet smelly and damaged. When this happens, most people contemplate disposing of the carpet, especially because of the smell. This, however, does not have to be the only option open to you. Here are some things that you can do to fix the smell from a water-damaged carpet.

Stop Further Leakage

This is the first step in solving the problem. Ensure that whatever had caused the leak is fixed so that there is no chance that your carpet will get soaked again. If the flooding had happened due to a natural phenomenon, it might help to wait until the flood recedes and the area is dry again.

Dry the Carpet Completely

Carefully remove the carpet from the floor and move it outside. If it is a wall to wall carpet, ensure that you remove the baseboards from the walls. Make sure that you have taken the under padding as well. Put the carpet and the under padding in the sun to dry. If sunshine is not an option (for example it could be winter), you might want to look at other options for drying your carpet. These include using dehumidifiers, and fans to constantly blow air across the carpeted area and eventually dry the carpet.

Remove the Smell

When your carpet and room are completely dry, you move on to the next step which is to remove the smell. Carefully apply baking soda on the areas that had moisture and leave the baking soda to sit for not less than 24 hours. It is critical for the carpet to be completely dry because if it is not, the baking soda sticks on the carpet. Once the 24 hours are done, carefully vacuum the baking soda off the carpet. If you don’t have access to baking soda, white vinegar works just as well. Mix with water in a 50:50 ratio and then allow it to dry. Apply it to the carpet when it dries.

Get Professional Help

Sometimes the water seeps so deep into the fibers of the carpet that it is impossible to remove the odor without professional help. In such cases, it becomes necessary to use a professional carpet cleaner. When you take your carpet to a professional cleaner, they use commercial steam cleaners to deep clean it.

At Reilly’s Oriental Rug Cleaning, we specialize in solving all your carpet-cleaning problems. Whether you need your water damaged carpet cleaned or restored, we have the right tools and experience for the job. As there is no substitute for the right equipment, we employ the latest technology to get your carpets and rugs sparkling. We have a state-of-the-art rug cleaning plant and a climate-controlled drying room. This way, you can expect only the best services from us. For more information about our services contact us at 201-445-0800 or email us on Info@RugClean.net today!