Why Does My Carpet Smell Worse After Cleaning? 5 Reasons and How to Fix It Fast!

Cleaning your carpet is supposed to leave your home smelling fresh and clean, but what happens when the opposite occurs? Sometimes, a recently cleaned carpet can develop an unpleasant odor, leaving homeowners puzzled and frustrated. 

5 Possible Reasons Why Your Carpet Smells Awful After Cleaning

1. Moisture Trapped in the Carpet

One of the most common reasons for unpleasant odors after cleaning is trapped moisture. Carpets can hold water deep within their fibers, especially if they haven’t been dried thoroughly. This damp environment is perfect for the growth of mold and mildew, which are notorious for causing bad smells.

How to Fix It:

  • Open windows or use fans and dehumidifiers to speed up drying.
  • Vacuum the carpet with a wet/dry vacuum to remove excess moisture.
  • Avoid walking on the carpet until it’s completely dry.

2. Residual Dirt and Stains

Improper cleaning techniques can leave dirt and cleaning agents behind in the carpet fibers. Over time, this residue can start to break down, creating an unpleasant smell.

How to Fix It:

  • Use a high-quality carpet cleaner or hire Cheap Carpet Cleaning Services Perth to ensure thorough cleaning.
  • Rinse the carpet with clean water to remove any leftover detergent.
  • Vacuum the carpet once it’s dry to lift any remaining dirt.

3. Old Pet Stains Activated by Water

If you have pets, accidents may have soaked into the carpet padding or fibers in the past. When water from cleaning comes into contact with these old stains, it can reactivate the bacteria, resulting in foul odors.

How to Fix It:

  • Treat pet stains with an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed to break down pet odors.
  • Consider steam cleaning to sanitize the carpet and eliminate bacteria.
  • Sprinkle baking soda on the affected areas, leave it overnight, and vacuum it up.

4. Poor Quality Cleaning Products

Using low-quality or harsh cleaning products can leave behind a strong chemical smell or interact with the natural fibers of your carpet in an unpleasant way.

How to Fix It:

  • Opt for eco-friendly and non-toxic carpet cleaning products.
  • Rinse the carpet thoroughly to remove any leftover cleaning agents.
  • Freshen up the carpet with a mixture of water and white vinegar. Spray lightly, then allow it to dry.

5. Mold Growth in Carpet Padding

If your carpet has been exposed to excessive moisture in the past or wasn’t dried properly during cleaning, mold may be growing in the padding underneath. Mold releases musty odors and can also pose health risks.

How to Fix It:

  • Inspect the carpet padding for signs of mold. If found, replace the padding.
  • Treat the carpet with an anti-mold spray to kill spores.
  • Ensure proper ventilation to prevent future mold growth.

How to Prevent Bad Smells After Cleaning Your Carpet

  1. Dry Thoroughly:
    • Use fans, open windows, or turn on the air conditioning to ensure quick drying.
    • Avoid over-wetting the carpet during cleaning.
  2. Use Professional Services:
    • Hiring experts for Carpet Cleaning ensures a deep clean without leaving residues or moisture behind.
  3. Deodorize Regularly:
    • Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet before vacuuming to absorb odors.
    • Use carpet-safe essential oils for a fresh scent.
  4. Clean Spills Promptly:
    • Address spills and pet accidents immediately to prevent bacteria and odors from setting in.

Conclusion

A freshly cleaned carpet should smell clean and inviting, not the opposite. By addressing the root causes of lingering odors, such as trapped moisture, old stains, or mold, you can enjoy a fresh-smelling home once again. Remember to dry your carpet thoroughly, use the right cleaning products, and tackle pet stains promptly. For stubborn odors or extensive cleaning needs, consider hiring Carpet Cleaning professionals to get the job done right.

Published on: February 14, 2025

7 Spots To Get Rid Of When It Relates To Carpet Cleaning

We cannot deny the fact that carpets give a very soft and warm feeling of comfort. But, with this comfort, carpets also have a downside that is it gets dirtier very early and get stained occasionally too. And, for extending the life of your carpet you do prepare lots of things.

Well, spots can be prevented easily if you act immediately when they occur. The quicker you will be, the easier it will be for you to remove them or prevent them from permanent stains on your carpets.

Fortunately, there are some Local Carpet Cleaner Near Me by which you can clean the stains permanently. All you need is a best-in-class vacuum cleaner or some cleaning agents, that’s it. With this much equipment, you will easily be able to clean the stains from your carpets.

carpet cleaning
carpet cleaning

In this article, we are going to share some common spots to get rid of your carpets by doing carpet cleaning. Now, let’s see some common stains:

  1. How to remove pet stains from carpet: Even if your pets are well mannered, there is very a chance of accidents happening. And, more often pets love to pee on the softest place in the home which is your carpets. The key to stain removal is immediate action. You need to remove the solid mess first and clean the liquid by blotting it up gently with a clean cloth. Don’t ever think to scrub your carpet, blotting is the only best technique for carpet cleaning.
  2. How to remove coffee stains from carpet: Coffee stains are one of the most common and worse stains as it leaves a yellowish stain on the carpet which makes it look very bad. Don’t panic, carpet cleaning needs to be done calmly or properly. So that you may not miss any spots on your carpet. For carpet cleaning to remove stains you can use a white vinegar solution which works very well in removing the stains.
  3. How to remove blood stains from carpet: Blood stains are very common. It can cause a very nasty permanent brown stain on your carpet, if not removed immediately. For carpet cleaning to remove blood stains from your carpet you need to spray cold water on the spotted area, then use a detergent solution to remove the stain.
  4. How to remove ink stains from carpet: Ink stain is one of the toughest stains to deal with. But, taking action quickly can make it possible. For ink stains, you can use nail polish remover or hairspray which are effective to remove it.
  5. How to remove red wine stains from carpet: If red occurs, then, it can distress you a lot, as it is the toughest stain to remove from a carpet. You need to be quicker. Blot the area using a paper towel immediately to soak up the liquid as much as possible. You can use baking soda to remove it.
  6. How to remove chocolate stains from carpet: Chocolate stains look very bad up on the carpet and it is done by kids especially. For removing it you can use ice cubes to freeze the melted chocolate then, it will be easier to remove.
  7. Chewing gum: Chewing gum doesn’t leave any hard-to-remove stains. But it is hard to remove from the carpet due to its stickiness. For removing it you can freeze it using ice cubes, then it will be easy to remove.

Conclusion

So, these are the 7 spots to get rid of when it relates to carpet cleaning. We have shared some carpet cleaning tips to remove them too, follow the tips and remove the stains easily. Our customer support is ready to solve all of your queries.

Published on: July 15, 2022

Last updated on: October 17, 2022