How do i get mildew stain and smell out of carpet?

Question

My drain hose recently came lose from my washing machine, and now my whole hall carpet has been flooded with TONS of water!! I got a lot of the water out by using my carpet shampooer, but it is STILL not completely dry (even with huge fan blowing for 2 days straight now) and my carpet is now begining to smell funky and where the washer was sitting, there is black mold/mildew stain!! I can't afford a professional service right now......any suggestions??? thanks

Answer 1

Get a box of borax (in the laundry aisle) and sprinkle it on the carpet, working it into the fibers.  When the carpet is finally dry, vacuum it up and hopefully the smell will be gone.

Answer 2

You need to pull the carpet back and dry the pad. It's the padding that is still wet.  That is why your carpets are not drying because the moisture is wicking up from the padding. Replace the padding it is cheap.  Do you have wood sub floors?  That has to be dried. Are the walls wet?  Did it get wet behind the walls into another area or below you?  

To answer your question for just your hallway.

Place the Air Movers on the hallway sub-floor blowing toward the pulled back carpet and the carpet will dry quickly.  It is best if you rent an Air Mover and A dehumidifier from a rental company. House fans do not have enought power to move air volume needed to dry carpet.  In California it costs about 50 for a dehumidifier and 30 for an air mover. Set up the dehumidifier at the far end of the hall and make sure to run the plastic drain line into a sink or you will get more water onto your floors.  Set up the air mover on the opposite side of the hall blowing towards the pulled back carpet and dehumidifier.   If you can get a air mover the has a clamp clamp the carpet to the air mover and you can float the carpet.  This will make it dry really fast.  

Once the carpet is dry and you replace the padding. You can clean the stain with Stain Extinguisher (Home Depot)    The Smell should go away once the carpet is complete dry. We spray an anti microbial on all carpets we dry.

NOTE if your sub floor is wood and is not completely dry. You still have a problem.

If your walls are still wet. You still have a problem.

You can have a professional come out and test your walls and sub floor.  Try Craigslist and do trade if you can afford it.

Robert Lucas

Answer 3

The smell should go when it totally dries out - then the mildew should clean off with your shampooer.  I do domestic work and this happened at the lady I work fors house, the carpet now smells fine.