Expert: Jahann and Sons Persian Rugs - 2/9/2009

Question
I have wall to wall carpeting but the carpet has a mouldy smell.  I had the carpet shampooed and vacumed but there is still a mouldy scent.  Do you have any suggestions in the manner in which you can remove this mouldy smell?

Answer
Hi Eloise,

I'm sorry about your carpet.  Unfortunately, I don't have very good news.  If in fact the moldy smell is a result of mold growing on the underside of the carpet, then the best thing to do would be to remove and replace the carpet.  If you do not do this, you run the risk of mold spreading and perhaps even getting inside the walls.  This would be a big problem to fix.  If the moldy smell is just a smell and not from mold, it is most likely being caused by the breaking down of the latex glue on the back of the wall-to-wall carpet.  This occurs when the carpet ages.  In these cases, usually cleaning the rug only intensifies the smell.  

In your shoes, I would probably rip up a part of the carpet and see what it looks like under there.  If it is a mess, I'd rip it up immediately.  If it looks okay, I'd buy myself a lot of air freshners.

Best of luck!
-Katie (ruglady@jahannandsons.com)