Carpet is a popular flooring choice for many homes, but it can be challenging to keep clean. Carpets are prone to trapping dirt and odors that are nearly impossible to remove without professional assistance. Fish smells are one of the most stubborn odors that carpets have the displeasure of containing, but there is hope!
There are several things you can try at home before calling in an expert cleaner. One method involves using baking soda as an absorbent material to soak up the fish smell from your carpet fibers. This post is about how to get fish smell out of carpet.
Step to Follow on How to Get Fish Smell Out of Carpet
Step One: Determine the Fish Type
The first step you must take is to determine what fish has been left on your carpet. This will help you find the best course of action for getting rid of the smell. For example, if your fish were salmon, this would likely be a very smelly and difficult job that will require several steps and may even require replacing fabric in your carpet.
However, if you’ve got a relatively mild fish such as tilapia or another whitefish, then this process will be much easier and won’t require replacing parts of your carpet. It will still require some extra steps and products that most people don’t have in their homes, but the smell should be gone within a couple of hours.
Step Two: Clean Your Carpet to Remove the Smell
To remove the smell, first, you will need to vacuum your carpet thoroughly. Make sure you use all attachments, including ones for hardwood floors, so that you can get all of the fish out of your carpet. Next, blot up as much of the water as possible with towels.
Be careful since wet carpets can become moldy and smelly. Use a different towel to mop up any remaining water in the carpet. You must get all of the moisture out of your carpet, or else it will smell like fish. You can leave a fan blowing on your carpet for a few hours if necessary or even use a hairdryer, too; make sure that all water is removed.
Step Three: Remove the Smell from the Carpet Pad
After you’ve got all of the fish out of your carpet, now it’s time to remove the smell. If you have a large home with several carpets, be careful not to miss this step, or else you will still end up smelling fish. The first step is to mix one part water with two parts vinegar or whatever you have handy to remove the smell.
Apply this mixture to your carpet pad with a scrub brush and let it sit for at least fifteen minutes. It may be necessary to repeat this process several times until the smell is gone, then let it dry completely. You can also use baking soda if you want since it will also help to get rid of the fish smell, but vinegar is one of the easiest and cheapest solutions.
Step Four: Clean Your Carpet with Resolve
Next, get your carpet as clean as possible by vacuuming it or even shampooing it if this is something you can do at home. Then, prepare a bucket of hot water with four cups of ammonia and one cup of Resolve Carpet Cleaning Foam in it.
Make sure that there are no children or pets in the area that could cause harm to your carpet while you’re working on getting rid of the fish smell. Next, apply the entire bucket of the mixture to your carpet and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, rub it into the carpet with a scrub brush and go over it again with the vacuum cleaner.
Step Five: Use a Product That Will Neutralize the Smell
If all else fails, you can try using an enzymatic product that will remove the fish smell from your carpet. Be sure not to use too much of it, or else it may eat away at your carpet fabric. You should be able to find one of these products in any pet store and will have to apply it directly to your carpet before vacuuming.
It may take several applications of this product to get the smell out, so be patient. If you have any remaining discoloration on your carpet, clean that with vinegar or another product that will remove stains. Remember to always test these products in an inconspicuous area on your carpet first to make sure they won’t damage the appearance of the fabric.
Step Six: Get Rid of the Smell with Baking Soda
Finally, you can also try using baking powder if all else fails. This method is especially effective if your fish smell is coming from a towel or another article of clothing that has been lying around for a while and needs to be deodorized as well.
Mix one part baking soda and two parts water and soak your towel in it overnight. Then, add two cups of vinegar to the mix and launder the item as usual. This method should get rid of any fishy smell that you were unable to remove earlier on. Also, this will help in how to get fish smell out of carpet.
Step Seven: Maintaining Your Carpet
Once you’ve gotten all of the smell out of your carpet, be sure to take good care of it. Vacuum it regularly and only shampoo it when necessary. If possible, use a hardwood floor attachment on your vacuum cleaner so that you won’t damage your carpets by using one that isn’t suitable for the job.
You Can Check It Out to: Get Kerosene Smell Out of House
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Carpet Take to Off gas?
Carpet off-gassing can take anywhere from a few hours to up to three days. In general, carpets will off-gas faster in warm or humid environments and slower in cold or dry environments.
Carpet Off Gassing :
It is the process of gases released by the new carpet during its first day of use that includes all volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. These VOCs are formed during the manufacturing process as well as any time the carpet is exposed to fire, sunlight, heat, high humidity levels, or other chemical reactions. They are released when oxygen reacts with these chemicals present in the fibers.
Does Steam Cleaning Carpet Remove Vocs?
Yes, Steam Cleaning Carpet removes the vast majority of viruses and bacteria. However, it is not effective in removing certain other types of germs like spores or some types of fungi. Steam cleaning will remove dirt, dust, and grime from your carpet, but it won’t kill all the bugs.
Why Do My New Carpets Smell?
The odor from new carpets is often due to the natural oils that are released as the carpet dries. If you allow your carpets to air out, these oils will evaporate and leave behind a pleasant smell.
If you have a dog or cat in your home, then this could be the cause of some of the smells in your home. Dogs and cats produce urine that contains strong-smelling ammonia, which is one of the most potent odors there is.
Conclusion
When you find yourself in a situation where the smell of fish plagues your carpets, there is no need to worry. Several easy solutions can help get rid of this unpleasant odor for good! The first step would be to use an air purifier or fan while cooking seafood or smoking cigarettes indoors.
If these steps fail, try sprinkling baking soda on top of the carpet and scrubbing it with water, followed by vacuuming up any leftover residue. The conclusion paragraph is informative and provides information on how to get fish smell out of carpet.
Check it out to learn- How to Get Wet Baking Soda Out of Carpet
