Carpet stains can dramatically impact the appearance and perceived cleanliness of your business. And if your carpet has stains, it most likely has an odor as well.
Carpet odors can prove to be a persistent problem, affecting not only the aesthetics of a space but also the comfort and well-being of the people in your building.
Understanding how to effectively remove these odors and stains is essential for maintaining a clean and welcoming environment.
How to Remove Carpet Odors
In this comprehensive article, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of efficiently removing carpet odors, ensuring your facility’s carpets remain odorless and clean.
Understanding Carpet Odors
Carpet odors can arise from various sources, including spills, organic matter (like vomit or urine), mold, and general wear and tear. Each origin calls for a different removal protocol, so learning about how to properly remove carpet odors is incredibly important.
How to Remove Carpet Stains: Step by Step Guide
- Identify the Source of the Odor
- Select the Appropriate Carpet Spotter
- Apply the Carpet Spotter
- Utilize Deodorizing Treatments
1. Identify the Source of the Odor
Identifying the source of the spoil is the first step in effectively addressing the issue. Before any cleaning begins, it’s important to identify the type of soil that caused the odor.
If the incorrect cleaning agent or removal process is used, the odor can linger and remain a problem.
Knowing the origin of the odor will also help you determine the pH of the soil, which is necessary to select the appropriate carpet spotter.
The best way to determine what type of stain you are dealing with is to analyze the:
- Odor
- Location
- Color
- Thickness
- Texture
Odor:
The odor of a stain can be the easiest way to identify the source. Usually, fresh spills will still produce an odor.
If your stain is older, try spraying a small amount of water on the stain to draw out the scent. Be careful not to over soak the stain to avoid further damage to your carpet.
Location:
The area where the odor is located can often narrow down the possibilities. The type of room and the traffic patterns within the room are helpful indicators for identifying the source of an odor.
- Room Type
- Traffic Pattern
Room Type:
What daily activities the room is used for can narrow down the origin of an odor.
Areas such as cafeterias and dining halls will most likely experience odors from food or soda. Break rooms with dark stains around the coffee machine likely suffer from coffee or tea odors.
Traffic Pattern:
Traffic patterns assist in understanding which areas are soiled due to heavy foot traffic, and therefore the odor and stain come from soil tracked inside.
Color:
The color of a stain can sometimes indicate its source.
A “shiny” appearance usually means the spot or stain is synthetic or manmade.
A “dull” appearance usually means it’s organic.
Thickness or Depth:
The thickness or depth of a stain is important to determine how long a stain has been on the carpet, and how long it may take to remove it. Discoloration that is only appearing at the top of the fibers may be from a previous stain that was improperly cleaned. Soils that were not completely removed from the carpet backing can experience a wicking action.
PRO TIP: What is wicking?
Carpet wicking is the result of an improperly cleaned stain. As carpet begins to dry, wetted soil that was not fully removed from the carpet backing is drawn up to the top of the carpet fibers. This “wicking” action causes recurring or reappearing stains. The best way to prevent wicking is to ensure that the stain is fully removed from the carpet fibers and carpet backing.
The deeper the carpet stain, the more likely you are going to have to use restorative carpet care procedures to remove the soil.
Texture:
The texture of an odorous stain can help you identify the type of soil. Common textures are hard, soft, oily, or waxy. Oil-based stains will usually appear shiny and smooth while waxy stains will be more dull and hard.
2. Select the Appropriate Carpet Spotter
The second and most important step of removing soil and its odor from a carpet is choosing the correct carpet spotter.
After identifying the source of the odor, you will likely know if you are dealing with an acidic soil such as soda or alkaline soil such as rust.
Pro Tip: The rule of thumb is that acidic soils require alkaline carpet spotters and alkaline soils require acidic carpet spotters.
Once the pH of your soil is identified, that will determine the type of spotter to use.
Types of Carpet Spotters:
- Bio-Enzymatic/Protein Spotter: For odorous organic matter such as urine, feces, or vomit, remove with a Bio-Enzymatic spotter.
- Reducing Agent: For synthetic, man-made stains such as red dyes, remove with a reducing agent.
- Solvent Spotter: For petroleum-based or solvent-soluble odors such as ink, adhesives, or paint, remove with a solvent spotter.
- All-Purpose Spotter: If you were unable to determine the type of soil, use an all-purpose spotter.
When selecting the appropriate carpet spotter, make sure you know what type of carpet fiber you are dealing with. Depending on the material of the carpet, some cleaning agents may damage or even deteriorate the carpet.
The most common carpet fibers are nylon, olefin, polyester, or wool. In commercial facilities, there is a 90% chance that you will be dealing with a synthetic carpet. Synthetic carpets are usually tolerant of most commercial cleaning chemicals but check with your carpet manufacturer’s guidelines to make sure.
3. Apply the Carpet Spotter
Pour the appropriate spotter onto the stain and let it sit for a moment. We don’t want to overwet the stain, so put as little product as possible.
Remember to always agitate the stain from the outside in. Usually, this can just be done with a light colored microfiber cloth. To prevent spreading the soil, never rub the stain. Instead, blot the stain to soak up the soil.
In some tougher cases, you may need to reapply and repeat the process.
4. Utilize Deodorizing Treatments
After cleaning, use deodorizing treatments to eliminate lingering odors:
- Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the carpet and let it sit for at least 15 minutes (or overnight for tougher odors) before vacuuming.
- Commercial Deodorizers: Consider using commercial-grade deodorizers designed specifically for carpets, ensuring they are safe for the carpet material.
Final Thoughts
Removing carpet odors is a crucial aspect of maintaining a clean and professional environment. By following these steps and employing effective cleaning techniques, you can enhance client satisfaction and ensure a fresh atmosphere in any facility.
Imperial Dade locations have a wide range of products to help you maintain the cleanliness and appearance of your facility. From carpet spotters to microfiber cloths, Imperial Dade is here to help you tackle daily cleaning tasks like this. Reach out to an Imperial Dade expert today for help!