Homemade Mildew Cleaner

Recently, we had an water leak issue in our newly finished basement. After the initial repair of the issue, and water removal, we were left with drying out the carpet. As you can imagine, we also were being affected by a carpet mildew smell, and were also looking for an practical way to completely fix the problem. The good news is, this unpleasant smell can be removed with the aid of a simple homemade mildew remover and a few simple cleaning tools.

Step 1 – Vacuum the Carpeted Area

Thoroughly vacuum the carpeted area that’s been affected. Run your vacuum cleaner all-around the carpeted area, taking care to pay special attention to the parts of the room where the smell is more pronounced. Once the affected area is completely dust-free, you’re ready for the next step in getting rid of the mildew smell.

Step 2 – Apply Your Homemade Mildew Remover

Having vacuumed the area affected by the mildew smell, it’s time to create and use a very effective, easy-to-make mildew remover. Inside of a clean, empty spray bottle, mix a single cup of vinegar with 2 cups of warm water. Seal the bottle and spray the solution onto the areas of carpeting that hold the mildew smell. As an extra bonus, if these areas still feature actual mildew, this cleaning solution should get rid of it. After your mixture has been applied, allow it to sit for 3 to 5 minutes in order to give it adequate time to set in and penetrate the odor. Follow up by using a sponge or washcloth to scrub the mildew remover into the smell-carrying areas of your carpet.
While performing this step, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. 1; refrain from adding more than the suggested amount of vinegar to the cleaning solution, large amounts of vinegar typically carry a carpet mildew smell. When mix your remedy, be careful not to apply too much of it to the carpet. In addition to the previously mentioned vinegar smell, applying large amounts of moisture to carpeting is likely to creation of new mildew remains.

Step 3 – Apply Baking Soda

To clean any remaining traces of odor, you’ll now need to pour a little bit of baking soda over the recently cleaned areas. After waiting for the carpeted area time to air dry, use your vacuum cleaner to suck up the baking soda.

If you follow these 3 simple steps, your home’s carpeted areas will never be affected by the mildew smell again.