Musty Smell on Carpet – Why? We all love the smell of the clean carpet, but sometimes there is a musty smell that may develop from the carpets after they have been cleaned. The smell can be caused by an accumulation of bacteria and water in the carpet fibers. In other cases, the musty smell may be coming from a nearby leak or simply an odor left behind from an animal that has died nearby.

Possible Causes of Musty Smell on Carpet

There are many causes of a musty smell on carpet. Here are some of the most common causes:

Odors from pet urine

If you have pets or have ever had animals living in your home, the odor can linger in the carpet. Even if your pet has been house trained and has only urinated outside, the odor can still stay with the carpet. The animal also may have accidentally urinated on the carpet during a play session.

Possible Spill

Sometimes, the smell may be coming from a spill in your home, particularly if it got chunky or dirty. For example, if you spilled shampoo on your carpet and left it there for several hours, it would leave a musty odor. Spots on a carpet where the carpet has been cleaned can get trapped under the carpets and cause the smell.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes may be bringing in the musty smell in your home by leaving behind carcasses that then rot into odors. This smell should go away after a few weeks, but if it does not, contact pest control services for help to solve the problem.

Water Leak

If there is a leak in your home, the smell may be present because there is water on the carpet.

Dead Insects

Even if the smell is not coming from your pets, there may be a dead animal nearby that has been decaying for a few days. Insects can carry the smell to other locations.

Bacteria

If your carpet was recently cleaned, there may still be a few bacteria left behind and they may also contribute to the musty odor on carpets. Some of these bacteria are resistant to cleaning or disinfection procedures and they may cause odor as they multiply in the carpet fibers.

If your carpet has been cleaned with a strong detergent, there may still be a smell from the detergent used. In this case, try to wash the carpet again with a mild detergent and see if the smell is gone.

Carpet Mold

12. Some types of mold can grow on carpets and give off an odor that permeates the air in your home. This can be the case if your carpet gets wet for a very long time, especially if there is standing water on the carpet.

What to Do If You Have Musty Smell on Carpets?

Once you know the causes of a musty smell on the carpet and know how to remove them, you can solve the problem easily. Here are some ways to solve this issue:

• Wash the carpet with a mild detergent and remove the musty smell.

• If the musty odor is coming from a spill, you can take steps to make sure that it does not happen again or prevent any new stinky areas from forming.

• If you notice any mold on your rug, try to get rid of it and keep your home free of mold-causing materials. You can have your carpet professionally cleaned or you may be able to use an air cleaner spray to remove odors from your carpet.

• If you have pets, try to install more airflow by installing an air conditioner or an air purifier in your home to lessen the amount of moisture in the air.

• A fan can remove the musty smell from carpets that are made of large fibers. You can put this fan near your carpet and add a fan on the ceiling next to it. Make sure you get some damp towels to use as exhaust fans.

• Try to use a carpet cleaner that is made for pet stains and pet odor removal. If you have pets, the odor from animal droppings may be present in the carpet fibers. You can clean the carpets using addition to any household cleaning routine, or you can simply hire a professional for proper cleaning at your home.

• Take a few absorbers of baking soda and place them near your carpet. If you have a carpet that has been cleaned, place dryer sheets in it. These will get rid of any foul odors from the carpet.

• If the carpet has been cleaned recently, you may notice a musty smell because the carpet was washed with a strong cleaner. In this case, wash the carpet again using a mild detergent and do not let it dry too quickly.

• If you have pets or children, try to keep the carpet away from their activities. When they are playing and there is an accident, make sure to clean it up right away.

• Controlling humidity in your home can also help solve the problem. Do not use any dehumidifiers in your home because they can dry out the carpet and this may make the smell worse. Make sure that you open your windows whenever possible to allow natural airflow into your home. If a musty smell is present, it should go away once the moisture has been removed.

• Use professional services to clean your carpet if the musty odor is severe and if the odors do not go away even after you have tried a few of the above remedies.

Musty Smell on Carpet – Why? – Conclusion

Musty smells in carpets may be caused by several factors and can be an unsightly problem for a homeowner to deal with. Fortunately, there are some easy steps that you can take to solve the problem, and you may have to repeat these steps many times before the smell is completely gone.

You can choose from several solutions depending on the type of carpeting and other factors in your home that contributes to musty smells on carpets.