Cleaner tipped dirty mop water all over living room carpet - can't get rid of the stink - help!

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For the second time, our cleaner has lost her footing walking through the living room with the mop bucket (there is a step down). This time, it has made the whole room whiff, and I can't get rid of the smell. Like old socks.

I've tried carpet shampoo and Febreze, but nothing has worked.

Any ideas??

You will probably have to get professional carpet cleaners in.

Does she absolutely have to walk through the living room with buckets of dirty water? It sounds as if you have an unusual layout to your house.

Yes, we do have an unusual layout, very open-plan. To get from utility to bathrooms you have to cross the living room.

Window-opening is tricky as we are out during the day. I might put the dehumidifier in the room (although, as it's open plan it's less effective).

I tried 1001 Spray, but a different brand may be worth a try.

Try a bread soda and water solution. Someone recommended this to me when DS vomited on the carpet on my car once. It was the only thing that got rid of the smell! Maybe Google it first to get an idea of ratio of bread soda to water....

Marie - that gets good reviews!

The carpet IN my car!

Get a dehumidifier to dry it out and then shampoo the carpet

I second carpet shampooer (I bought one, and with light coloured carpets, a dog and a small boy, it has paid off many times).

I once spilt a huge bucket of fish tank water (really smelly!) and once the whole carpet had been shampooed and had then dried, you couldn't tell.

What did you buy, Orlando?

DD puked on our stairs carpet a couple of months ago and no amount of baking soda or shampoo made any difference. My mother lent me a bottle of Febreeze which I really didn't expect to work, but it actually did - the next morning there was no smell at all, of Febreeze or puke. It was like magic.

Tried Febreze. Twice.

One will need to go, the stink or the cleaner.
Is she insured?

I would use the carpet cleaner. Ours is a Vax and while its great for going over the whole carpet for a refresh getting up spills or when the dog has an accident its useless - so I find getting down on my hands and knees with the mini hose attachment and making sure that every suction (don't know what you'd call it) comes up clear. We don't bother getting the expensive shampoo either. We use the Carpet 1001 Shampoo and probably use more than is recommended also.

Also why doesn't your cleaner just empty the bucket of water before going through the living room. If your living room separates the utility room and bathrooms then surely that means you have a sink on either side of the living room, there for defeating the purpose of travelling through your living room with a bucket of dirty water.

Author - I've no idea why she doesn't empty the bucket first! Into the bath/loo, for example. I'm definitely going to suggest it (I haven't spoken to her since this latest spillage as I was at work when it happened). She is a little advanced in years, but she is utterly reliable and does a good job (apart from this).

Insurance?? I doubt it!

So you are all suggesting I buy some sort of machine to tackle this??

I would buy a machine. Then if it happens again (touch wood) she can get the machine on it before it soaks into your carpet and you probably wouldn't even know.

Have you tried Zoflora? It's disinfectant and the smell of it is amazing.

Ooh yes, I do have some Zoflora, and I agree the smell is amazing. I hadn't thought of that. As long as it doesn't bleach....

There's no mark anymore, just the smell.

Will have a go and report back.

Have scrubbed with lavish amounts of Zoflora; the room smells like a lavender meadow right now! Will see how it dries off.

Ahh I feel amazing that I have actually helped someone. I'm sad aren't I?

House contents insurance for carpet?

I would pull it up so the under lay gets dry too.

I wouldn't buy a machine,I might hire a professional though- recently paid £100 for a 2 bed flat.

Jeez Dame, £100 for one hire. That's awfully expensive.
The machine I bought was only £90 and I get to use it as much as I want. Plus after seeing how much it gets up the first time I wouldn't want someone else to see that. I'd be way too embarrassed.

I didn't think it was bad for someone to come and clean a 2 bed flat. It was a big industrial machine connected to a van outside. Smelled lemony fresh afterwards

I can't really pull the carpet up - it's right in the middle of a very big room.

The Zoflora seems to have got rid of a lot of the smell, but it will need a couple of days to dry out before I will know for sure. The whole thing could probably do with a good clean, to be honest.

The cleaner is here again tomorrow, and I shall write her a little note suggesting new strategies for bucket-emptying i.e. not all over my living room carpet!

I would use a Vax. It will suck up wet now and then use the shampoo. I think you can hire them.
Just check an area first and check if it is pure wool as it might shrink. Don't use hot water if it is wool as it will felt and shrink it.