Ask any carpet owner and they’ll tell you how comfortable and cosy carpet makes their home. However, we all know that carpet can also fall victim to stubborn stains. With the constant hustle and bustle of everyday life, it doesn’t matter how careful you are, you’re bound to encounter a few spots and spills along the way. When it comes to carpet cleaning, most people think about removing stubborn stains, but what about unpleasant carpet smells and carpet odour that can linger, especially when pets are involved?

Anyone entering a home first judges cleanliness by odour, and unfortunately for people with smelly carpets, first-impressions are far from welcoming. If you think your carpet is the reason why your guests are turning their heads and pinching their noses, consider the following reasons why your carpet might be smelling bad.

1) Pet odours and lingering smells

When it comes to smelly carpet, chances are there’s something lingering in the carpet itself, and this is especially true with organic stains such as stains from pet accidents. While most standard carpet cleaning methods do a good job through physical agitation and cleaning on the surface of the carpet, pet odours and pet stains generally require a little extra to fully eradicate the smells. The lingering residue of pet stains can attract bacteria and germs, which then become the primary cause for smelly carpet. The best way around this? Use an enzymatic cleaner to break down the cause of the stain – such as urine or faeces. Removing the stain source removes the bad smells that come with it.

Britex tip: When it comes to dealing with pet accidents, use an enzymatic cleaner like the Britex Urine Remover. The Britex Urine Remover uses an advanced enzyme formula that specifically targets and destroys pet urine stains and any underlying odour associated with it.

2) Food and drink spills

When it comes to your carpet smelling bad, your pets may not be the only ones to blame. Our clumsiness and accidental food and drink spills are also a big factor contributing to smelly carpets in the household. Just like pet stains, food and drink stains are prime culprits for smelly carpets, and they often work the same way as pet stains in that they attract and host bacteria, which in turn can cause your carpets to smell bad.

Britex tip: A quick and easy way to remove everyday household stains is with the Britex Spot n’ Stain spray cleaner. Britex Spot n’ Stain is specially formulated with active enzymes to effectively remove stains and odours at the source and can be used on a wide range of surfaces including carpet, upholstery and hard surfaces.

3) Environmental issues – smoke

Environmental issues can also play a big part in creating smelly carpets. Prime culprits include smoke from cigarettes and cooking fumes. Unlike liquid stains, smoke will pervade every nook and cranny of both the carpet and the carpet underlay, and once smoke odours get trapped extracting the stench can be a challenging,

Britex tip: When it comes to removing odours from carpet, furniture and even drapes, try the spray on Britex Odour Blaster. The enzymes in Odour Blaster neutralise and destroy the bacteria that cause offensive odours.

4) Moisture and dampness

Due to a variety of factors, moisture can sometimes find its way underneath carpet and underlay, and when the underlay is continually wet and doesn’t dry thoroughly, that can cause a foul odour. Moisture can be the result of many environmental factors including humidity, floods or even food and drink spills. Once this happens, mould and mildew can begin growing underneath the carpet, which results in a damp and musty smell.

How do I combat smelly carpets?

To help clean your carpets free from odours we suggest these tips;

1.  Clean up spills and messes quickly. Have spot cleaners like Britex Spot n Stain and Britex Urine remover on hand to tackle stains as they occur, so they don’t turn into odours.

2. Deep clean your carpets regularly to remove built up bacteria, allergens, stains and dirt.

Britex tip: While hiring professional carpet cleaning services can be an effective way to remove carpet stains and odours, their services can be costly. Britex Carpet Care offers an alternative to professionally cleaned carpets, at an affordable price.  The Britex deep cleaning machine has been voted Australia’s #1 Carpet Shampooer and is Australian’s preferred choice for DIY carpet cleaning. Not only will you save time and money by going the DIY route, hiring a Britex machine ensures your home will be cleaned to your high standards, while also offering cleaning results that rival many professional cleaning services on the market.

3. Still have problem areas? Spray effected areas of your carpet with Odour blaster regularly to neutralise and destroy the bacteria that cause offensive odours

Britex tip: Did you know using a Britex Carpet Cleaner with Britex Cleaning Solutions in a high-traffic area, reduced the bacterial load by up to 99.95%?

The Britex deep cleaner features a hot-water extraction system, a system heavily favoured by many cleaning professionals in the industry for its’ ability to remove smells, foul odour and stains. The Britex deep cleaner channels hot water and cleaning solution deep within carpet fibres, thoroughly cleaning and removing dirt, dust, soil, pet hair or anything that could potentially be a source for carpet odours It also simultaneously deodorises your carpet, extracting foul smells and odours. The machine’s powerful motor then suctions water and nasties right up, leaving your carpets fresh and clean with a lavender-scented finish.

Recommended by The National Asthma Council of Australia as their Sensitive Choice partner for carpet cleaner hires, Britex deep cleaners effectively remove dust mites, pet fur, mould, and other known allergens, leaving your household free of germs, dirt and foul smells and odours.

The Britex deep cleaner is available to hire from Bunnings Warehouse, selected Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Mitre 10 and Home Hardware Stores.

Find your closest hire store and get started on banishing foul smells from the household today!

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