I spilled half a galon of water on my carpet two nights ago, and now my room STINKS!?

Question

I've used a towel on the carpet, but the spot is still a little damp. I tried lighting a few candles and opening the window, but the smell won't go away. Should I be worried? How can I get rid of the stench?

Answer 1

Was it Bong water?

Answer 2

You neglected to get the carpet thoroughly dried out and now you have mold and mildew in the carpet, the padding, and possibly even the flooring beneath.  You can try steam cleaning the carpet and make sure it is thoroughly dried.

More likely you have to rip out the carpet and padding, treat (possibly refinish) the flooring beneath, then install new padding and carpeting.

Mold and mildew can trigger allergies and respiratory problems, so you have to deal with this properly, regardless of the cost of refinishing/treating the flooring & replacing the carpet.

Answer 3

If you live in a warm area or your room hasn't had any circulation, you've probably got mold growing - so, yes, you should be worried.  If you are a child, tell your parents.  If you are an adult, you should have sopped all the water out of the carpet immediately and put a fan on the spot to dry it out.

Answer 4

The smell could be a fungus that is growing.   The backing may have delaminated and become moldy.  If you can, pull the carpet up from the nearest edge and dry and/or replace the spot of wet padding underneath.  Run a fan at it for several hours too.  Get it thoroughly dry.  If that does not do it, and you own it, check you home owner's policy.  You may be covered to have it taken care of, even if you were at fault.

If its an apartment or place you rent, tell the landlord what happened and ask what they want you to do.

Answer 5

use resolve and febreeze

Answer 6

Use paper towels to get every bit of moisture out of the carpet you can. put them down and walk on them till the towels come back dry. Get as much fan air blowing directly on the damp spot as you can. Open the windows. If its been more than 48 hours, all may be lost and you may just have to replace the carpet. Mold is very dangerous in your carpet both to you and your pets. Even if you kill it with different products, the dead mold becomes air-borne and is more dangerous than the live mold! It can even grow in your lungs if you breath it in. Scarry Enough! Call a local carpet cleaning shop for more information. Keep trying till you get results.

Answer 7

easy/expensive new carpet.

Answer 8

mold is brewing

Answer 9

First make sure the area is now dry.  Mold can only grow in direct contact with water or during times of elevated relative humidity, 65% or greater.

Second you may need to clean the carpet with a 'steam' cleaning machine (you can rent one from Lowes, Ace, etc...)

Third treating the affected room with high levels of ozone will likely eliminate any remaining odor (warning-ozone is an irritant and you should not be in a home while ozone is being produced).  You can rent a commercial ozone machine at Sunbelt Rentals, usually located at a Lowes or stand alone stores.

Answer 10

The water has now seeped into the underpadding. You could try steam cleaning it but I am afraid the rank smell  will haunt you until you replace the carpet and pad.

This is one of those instances you mother warned you about...should have drank it in the kitchen.