How to get smell out of carpet?

LydiaJ

Hi All

Just wondering if any of you have any great (cheap) ideas about getting a persistent smell out of a fitted carpet. It's not very obvious, but I can tell it hasn't quite gone completely away.

It's hard to pin down to a specific spot - more like spread around most of the area in front of the sofa where the family spends a lot of time. I guess over the years there have been a few potty-training accidents in that area, and the dog was sick a few times. All such incidents were cleaned up as thoroughly as I could at the time, and I have shampooed the whole carpet several times with an ancient Vax that I got off Freecycle, but there's still something lingering. It makes me wonder if the smell has got into the underlay or something.

The kids are past the potty-training stage, and the dog is no more, so I'd really like to get this totally cleared. All suggestions gratefully received, whether of things to do to the carpet by hand, or things to put into the Vax, since the usual carpet shampoo stuff isn't shifting it.

Thanks,
Lydia

Olliebeak

Have you tried sprinkling some bicarbonate of soda on that area and leaving overnight? Vacuum up the next day.

May have to be Shake 'n' Vac or Febreeze if the bicarb doesn't work.

LydiaJ

Thanks Olliebeak.

I'll give it a try and see what happens.

Lydia

McKneff

try spraying with Oust, failing that try the bicarb route.
Failing that if the carpet has been down as you say quite a few years why
not treat yourself to a new one!!!!

LydiaJ

Thanks anniehanlon. I'll investigate Oust.

It's a rented house, so replacing the carpet isn't really an option, but thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Lydia

Jorgan_2

You probably need to kill the bacteria in the carpet that is causing the smell. In the past when valeting cars I've used an enzyme odour eater, probably the nearest thing to it in the shops is something like Milton strerilising fluid.

LydiaJ

Thanks Jorgan.

That doesn't sound too expensive.

beemuzed

I need to try all these too - our aged border collie is fit as anything - but his bladder control has vanished. Doesn't seem to be a solution, and we couldn't say goodbye to him while he's still enjoying life...but oh dear, it's a real problem!

flojan

you could try this http://www.petsathome.com/find/category-is-2+dog/category-is-2H+Health+and+hygiene/product-is-3379

samh_2

You could try Rug Doctor's Pet Stain Remover & Odour Remover - see http://www.rugdoctor.co.uk/rent/rd_rent_complete_range.htm. We have a young dog who had quite a few accidents as a pup and tried these as a last resort (after bicarb failed to get rid of the smell) - they worked!! We used both so I don't know if 1 alone would work, cost c. £3.50 each from B & Q. We used the sprays with a cloth and didn't hire a rug doctor.

gordonsmalls

The Rug doctor suggestion is worth a try. Used it myself.