They say there’s no reason to cry over spilt milk but anyone who’s done just that on their carpet knows that the smell is enough to bring tears to the eyes. The stench can permeate the entire house and it can become a real challenge to eliminate.
It occurs when you don’t clean up the spill entirely and even a minute amount left to rot in the fibers can stink up the place something fierce. Think about it, when milk goes bad or is allowed to spoil, it gives off a distinct odor. Ever sniff an old carton of the stuff to see if it’s still good to drink? If so, then you know it’s not an aroma you want wafting through the home unabated.
We all know it’s absolutely vital to get to a spill on the carpet immediately so as to keep it from setting in and leaving behind an unsightly stain. But when it comes to milk, it’s even more important that you clean it all up completely, otherwise the liquid will begin to rot in no time. That’s when you’ll notice the strong odor emanating in and around that room.
The trick is to clean it all up before it dries in the pile. Miss a spot and you’ll have a stain and a stench. Now if you’ve missed some and you detect an odor building near where the original spill occurred, then you need to take some steps to eradicate the part you left behind.
Here are some helpful tips to remove a milk smell from the carpet and you have a couple options from which to choose:
Get To It Quick
The best way to avoid this altogether is by absorbing the spill while it’s still wet. If you are lucky enough to intervene at this stage, grab a towel and blot the stain so you can soak as much of it up as possible.
Never wipe or scrub as this will only force the milk deeper into the pile and that will undoubtedly result in you leaving some of it to fester and rot later on. Blot and soak and continuing doing so until you feel as if you have picked up most of the liquid.
Water And Soap
Combine about two cups of warm water with roughly a teaspoon of dish soap and mix the two together. Dip a sponge into the soapy water and blot the stain gingerly, this will clean the surface of the pile to wash any residual milk from the top of the fibers.
Be careful not to make the stain too wet or you could end up with moisture developing underneath the carpet and padding. This could lead to bigger problems like the development of mold.
Baking Soda
This is one of a few options that can deodorize carpet with complete efficacy. Simply sprinkle it on the stain and let it sit there overnight. This will allow the substance to soak up any residual odor.
The longer you let it sit, the better it can work but you don’t ever need to let it remain on the carpet for more than one night. Coffee grounds are another great option for soaking up the smell of spilled milk as is vinegar.
Some homeowners will draw out the foul odor by placing a dish of the liquid next to the stain or spraying it directly onto the carpet. If you’re concerned about a heavy vinegar smell getting trapped in the carpet, you can turn to peroxide instead.
Clean It Up
But whatever you decide to ultimately use, be sure to clean it up the next morning. This will usually require brushing away the baking soda or coffee grounds or blotting the vinegar you sprayed on the surface.
Depending on how much you used, you might need to crack away at it with a dull knife and keep chipping it from the carpet surface. Add a little cold water and laundry soap once again and remove the rest of it with your brush once more.
Be sure not to use hot or even warm water, either one can help set the stain and make it that much harder to get out. Blot to dry.
Vacuum The Area
Once you’ve picked up your preferred substance, be sure to vacuum the stain completely so as to eliminate all remnants of the stain itself and the items you used to eradicate the smell.
This last part is really important because you don’t want any of the substance you used to absorb the odor to be left on the carpet. That will just result in the carpet still smelling like spoiled milk.