How To Get Mildew Smell Out Of Carpet Padding: 3 Easy Steps

You’ll find out how to get mildew smell out of carpet padding in this article. We also talk about the mildew development and mildew removal process, so read until the end!

 

how to get mildew smell out of carpet padding

What Is Carpet Padding?

The padding is an essential part of your carpet as it gives your flooring extra protection. Because of the security it provides, it lengthens the carpet’s lifespan as well. 

There are different kinds of carpet padding, and we’ll go through them below:

 

1. Foam padding

This is an inexpensive kind of carpet foam padding. It is lightweight, so it is not that resistant to wear and tear. 

It also means that it may flatten after a long period. 

 

2. Rebond pad

The rebond pad is the most well-known type of carpet padding. It is made out of recycled urethane foam, which means it’s accessible. 

However, the downside of having a rebond pad as carpet padding is that not all of it is a high-grade material. 

 

3. Synthetic fiber padding

This type of padding has mildew-resistant characteristics, making them perfect for basements. The material is breathable, which lessens the possibility of accumulating mold and mildew growth. 

 

What Causes Mildew Smell On The Carpet Padding?

Naturally, the cause of mildew smell on the carpet padding is mildew growth; but, how did mildew end up growing there in the first place? Let’s find that out in this section of the article. 

Firstly, carpets are highly porous, which means they can absorb several amounts of moisture and water. Due to this characteristic, they have an increased risk of housing mold and mildew. 

Carpets are vulnerable to water damage. Whether the water damage is due to leaks, accidental spills, or floods, the material would absorb the moisture and invite mildew spores. 

Another cause of mildew growth is leftover food particles. If you do not maintain your carpet and carpet padding well, then mildew can freely sustain itself from the organic debris you left on your carpet. 

To know more about mildew smell, here’s an article on how to get mildew smell out of laundry and how to get mildew smell out of basement. These articles will help you familiarize the mildew smell removal process. 

 

Steps In Getting Mildew Smell Out Of Carpet Padding

Unfortunately, the foam part of the padding takes the most damage to water damage or mildew growth. Removing it is challenging, and it may even lead to mildew development on the flooring. 

Step #1. Before attending to the mildew smell, you have to fix the water damage issue first. Ridding the carpet of the organic debris would also help lessen the chances of the fungi growing and rapidly spreading to other parts of the house. 

Step #2. After attending to the water damage or organic debris issue, you can now proceed with removing the mildew growth. This is an essential step in removing the mildew smell. 

Even if you put a deodorizer on a mildew-contaminated carpet, the smell would never disappear unless you remove the fungi. 

Remove the carpet from the room and move it outside. Ensure you’re working on concrete flooring outside and with enough sunlight to help in the drying process. 

If you can’t do it outside, isolate the carpet in a room instead of taking the other furniture pieces to another room. 

To remove the fungi, you can use home products. For example, you can use white vinegar and baking soda.

Pour undistilled white vinegar into a clean spray bottle and spritz the liquid on the affected area. Leave the vinegar on the carpet for five minutes. 

A tip for the wise, you can mask the smell of vinegar by adding a few drops of essential oils to the mixture. 

After that, sprinkle baking soda on the vinegar-sprayed part of the carpet until it completely covers the area. Leave the baking soda there overnight, then vacuum it the next day. 

You can also use hydrogen peroxide if you think the vinegar smell is too harsh for you. Use a 1:2 ratio to mix hydrogen peroxide and water, and pour it into a spray bottle. 

Do a spot test first before spraying the mixture on the carpet as it may stain. You wouldn’t want to deal with discoloration on top of the mildew problem. 

If it does not stain, continue spraying the mildew-contaminated area with the mixture and let it sit there for five minutes. Ensure that the carpet is dry; you can use a fan to help with drying. 

Step #3. Leave the carpet overnight and see if the mildew returns the next day. If the rug is clear of fungi, proceed with the mildew smell removal process. 

Use deodorization solutions instead of replacing the carpet padding. The baking soda-vinegar mixture already has deodorizing capabilities. 

However, if they do not help with the mildew smell that’s stuck deep on the carpet, you can use OdorKlenz Subfloor Treatment Kit.  

 

Conclusion

The mildew smell removal process is always done in conjunction with fixing the cause of mildew development and getting rid of the growth. It is never just about the “how to get mildew smell out of carpet padding.”

Moreover, you have to take preventative measures to ensure you do not have to deal with these issues in the future.