Help! Smashed a bottle of TCP on carpet

[ohgoditsawful]

Oh god, the smell is everywhere

Has anyone else managed to get it out of a carpet before? How?

It smashed into a thousand tiny shards which I had to gingerly pick up by tape before I could scrub it, which probably didn't help.

I've scrubbed it, tried bicarbonate of soda overnight.

Someone, help please!

I am sending you a can of petrol and some matches you are going to have to burn the house to the ground.

How do you get rid of TCP smell?

Probably, if you empty the cupboard and wash it down with dishwashing liquid, in hot water and allow it to air-dry thoroughly, it will solve the odor problem. Try dusting the shelves with sodium bicarbonate powder and closing up for a few days ! Aka bicarb, bicarbonate of soda, baking soda (US).

I think TCP is the kind of thing you need to go industrial to resolve I'm afraid!
Hiring a Rug Doctor might be your best bet.

If you want a DIY method, I always have the most luck with Vanish carpet cleaners.

Good Luck!!

I'd move out ! It's 'one of those smells' that might never go away, have you floorboards under the carpet ?

Just found another site suggesting a vinegar solution.

@FinallyFluid

How do you get rid of TCP smell?

Probably, if you empty the cupboard and wash it down with dishwashing liquid, in hot water and allow it to air-dry thoroughly, it will solve the odor problem. Try dusting the shelves with sodium bicarbonate powder and closing up for a few days ! Aka bicarb, bicarbonate of soda, baking soda (US).

The OP smashed the bottle in a carpet though.

Is it a large area of carpet?
I'd be tempted to try to take it up and give it a good airing if possible.
TCP is one the strongest smells, and won't surrender easily.

Oh god, yes it may well have gone through to the floorboards 😳

I'll try the vanish and then have a look for a rug doctor, thank you!

And then burn the place to the ground and move

I’ll be honest, I worked in a house where this happened and 18m later it still smelt when they moved.

We tried everything the internet suggested and it did go away a bit over time but never actually went because it made it to the floorboards underneath so massively recommend lifting the carpet if possible and scrubbing underneath.

And regarding the rug doctor…we hired one and bosses lost the deposit because they couldn’t get the smell out the machine so I’m not sure I’d recommend that

It will gradually evaporate. You can dilute it with water and blot to remove as much as possible.

Scrubbing and using anything else will do very little.

@IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece

I’ll be honest, I worked in a house where this happened and 18m later it still smelt when they moved.

We tried everything the internet suggested and it did go away a bit over time but never actually went because it made it to the floorboards underneath so massively recommend lifting the carpet if possible and scrubbing underneath.

And regarding the rug doctor…we hired one and bosses lost the deposit because they couldn’t get the smell out the machine so I’m not sure I’d recommend that

I am very grateful for your honesty! Even if it makes me want to cry

I'd scrub it with vinegar and water solution to start off with

I have some first aid supplies from my mum's house that simply lived in a cupboard with some form of TCP. They still smell 6 months later.

Burn the house down.

If it needs to evaporate, can you direct a heater / hairdryer / iron over it with a damp cloth in between?

Actually thinking about this, ring the manufacturers and ask for advice or alternatively if there any science types on here at the moment they might be able to come up with a solution that will neutralise the phenol.

TCP Liquid Antiseptic is an aqueous solution of Phenol 0.175% w/v and halogenated phenols 0.68% w/v. Aqueous liquid antiseptic.

Did you try to blot up as much as possible with an old towel? With any liquid spilt on carpet the key is getting as much out as possible before then trying to clean the area. We have some old towels and standing on them extracts most of whatever it is.

Not sure if this will work but I know cola gets rid of the smell of sick and milk possible give it a go. Good luck

I also suggest ringing the manufacturers. They maybe able to offer a solution. Nothing to lose by trying.

Duh why didn't I think of towels, we use towels in this house for spills, loads of water, loads of towels and we use tins of lentils and beans etc., to weigh them down.

Bicarbonate of soda you can get it on Amazon. Sprinkle over carpet, leave. Then hoover up, repeat, repeat repeat

I have successfully removed the stench of toddler vomit from my car this way.

Your best bet is to lay a towel over it (fold in half if there's a lot of liquid) and do the 'dance of joy' in the towel - in other words, tread on it with your feet close together, shuffling a couple of inches to the side, until you've done a row then move forward a bit and repeat. Repeat with another towel if necessary.

Honestly it will probably never fully go, I would get the professionals in, and if that fails I would admit defeat and get a new carpet if you can afford it.

Thank you all for giving me a painful but good reality check

I've tried sending an enquiry on the laboratory's website but no idea if it submitted.

A new carpet is a possibility I guess. What an unexpected tiny nightmare!

Sorry OP! May have gone a little brutal honesty there! 😬

Baking soda apparently. It's says blot spillage then sprinkle baking powder on top. Leave for several hours or overnight depending on how bad the smell is and then hoover the powder up the following day.