Anyone have any good ideas to kill the mildew odor in my daughter's closet rug? I put a gallon of water in her closet to keep for changing her fish tank water - the next day the gallon was almost empty, and the carpet was soaked! There was a leak in the jug! I sponged as much water as I could out with a clean towel, and then I put a fan on the rug, but the closet is starting to smell musty. Anyone have any ideas of what I can put down on the rug (from the top - pulling it up is out of the question, we live in a rental!)? I don't know what to do, but I am looking for suggestions! TIA!

Try baking soda. Use one whole box. Let the baking soda dry and then vacuum it up. This works for vomit after the carpet has been scrubbed as clean as possible, but still wet. Put in on the wet carpet, rubbing it in as much as possible, let dry, then vacuum up.

Baking soda won't bleach the carpet or stain the carpet. I can't say for sure that it will work with mildew, but it works with vomit. It is affordable and worth a shot.

Oh gosh...

Well, I would try to pull up the carpet in order to tent it over something to fully dry it, can you pull up a corner of it?

I would set up a dehumidifier in the closet if you have one - if not, maybe a fan? Do you have a shop vac that you could use to extract any remaining water in the carpet? The problem is, that water seeped down probably into the pad...

I agree with spreading some Arm & Hammer on the area or some Borax...you might even try diatomaceous earth. I would think though, if the pad is saturated, those methods aren't going to help much.

If you can't dry it and the smell continues, I'd consider ripping it out and replacing it.

Definately try the baking soda. I read some where that you can put a layer of baking soda on a wet spot on your carpet and it will soak up all the water. It said to let it sit there until the baking soda dried and then vaccum it up.

You might also try renting a steam cleaner or borrow one from a friend, and just shampoo the carpet.

Good luck....let us know how it goes.

I would try Damp Rid after the baking soda...it has helped down here in post katrina life to get the moisture out. I think its D A M P R I D - The Original Non-Electric Moisture Absorber

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Dottie

Mom to Michael 6, Matthew 4, Katherine 2, Ellen 1, and new baby EDD 10/29/08