[kelly acs]

We cleaned a ladies carpet yesterday and she has called us to complain that it smells of old socks! we've not come accross this problem before and wonder is its the chemicals we used as we ran out of extractas lift off and used a carpet shampoo made by prochem. The carpet waslong pyled and we got as much water out as possible. We are going back to put it right tommorow and were going to try a second clean with the prochem shampoo followed by odor nuetraliser and fabric rinse. If this doesnt work does anyone have any ideas? Kelly

[derek west]

if you get there and its not dry!
dry it first before attempting anything.

can't stop, gotta clean a pub.
derek

[murky]

I believe the best thing to use is Cleansan by Chemspec.

I have had experience of the smelly sock situation years ago, it went after a couple of extractions but as above make sure its dry.

I went to a presentation by Chemspec years later and the rep asked us if any of us had any experience of that smell. I was the only one that had and he said that Cleansan does it.

Cant vouch for it in this particular situation but I have used it for all sorts of odour situations and found it good.

Good luck.

Murky

[clinton]

Prob be a wool carpet and it can smell like wet dog.

Prob was left damp and there was no ventelation in the room so making it worse.

[Karl Wildey]

had similar prob, but smelt like cat pee. Carpet was in a dark room with door shut. Used a damp meter and it was still wet 3 days later, again a long pile carpet.

Flush carpet through with a good de-odouiser and tell client to open windaos and doors to get a good breeze blowing through.

[davep]

Cleansan is good, but its Prochem that make it 

[des]

Ive had this and i have found that the best way is first to get some air in the room and not to reclean as this will only make the carpet wetter .Leave the carpet for two to three days and keep the room well ventalated Des PSslow down on your dry passes

[dave123]

I would tend to agree with Clinton .Some carpets really honk when cleaned.Go there the next day and it's ok smell gone carpet dry .

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Kelly

A very light misting of Prochem Cleansan should do the trick but as the boys say ventillation is key. Do not reclean st this stage as it will take ages to dry.

Cheers

Douig

[Jim_77]

Might be an idea NOT to use the same cleaning product you used when the problem occurred

Sounds like it may have been an old bottle that you had in the back of the shed, so it could be past its best.  You've already had some pretty good advice above.

What I'd do is bang some air movers in there ASAP to dry it off, then re-clean with M-Power (other colloids are available ) with an odour neutraliser in the pre-spray too.  Give it a generous application and a long dwell, 30 minutes or more.  Then thoroughly extract with hot plain water and stay on site with air movers until it's touch dry.

It's pretty likely this is caused by excess moisture, but the actual symptoms could be bacterial or the smell from the materials in the carpet's backing.  Either way around (and I'm not wagging my finger here) to be honest you shouldn't encounter these problems because you should get carpets back to touch-dry or thereabouts before you leave the job.

Definitely one to learn a lesson from.  Hopefully it hasn't delaminated whilst it was wet

[Ken Wainwright]

Jim

As far as I'm aware, if you add an odour neutraliser to a colloid, the odour neutraliser will be treated as a soil and will be broken down, making it useless.

The mal-odour described here is typical in houses where people do not wear slippers. Their bare feet or socks will transfer natural oils, soil and bacteria and even fungi to the carpet which will be reactivated when wet during the cleaning.  The advice already given about Clensan would be my first line of attack after drying and airing is complete, or perhaps the colloid if there are any sensitivity issues with people or pets.

I have also experienced this problem on some carpets where products like Shake and Vac have been excessively used.

Safe and happy cleaning
The Ken

[richie]

Good advice already been given to you.  As for which chemical to use to counteract the smell,  try using Hydramasters Multiphase.  Its a fantastic chemical that works wonders.

Richie.

[Jim_77]

Ken,

Solution's natural odour neutraliser is compatible with M-Power, confirmed by the man himself and I've witnessed no loss of performance of either product when combined.  I use the combination a lot, in nursing homes and on jobs with dog and tobacco odours

Funnily enough I have an appointment with some wee-wee soaked carpets in the morning 

[John Kelly]

Ken, Nemesis odour neutraliser has a colloidal base. Can't see why they would break down deodourisers as they don't react with other chemicals usually.