How do I get rid of the smell of mildew?! Could it be growing on carpets?

[Mildewstink8]

Moved into a new rental flat and have spent the day crying because it STINKS of mildew! The carpets are worn and old and stained. The kitchen is also old (which I knew), but at least it has been cleaned - but it reeks of mildew.

As do all the carpeted rooms (stairs and bedrooms).

I requested that the carpets would be cleaned before we moved in, but they obviously haven’t been. I have emailed the estate agent already.

How do I get rid of the smell of mildew? I am very triggered by smell.

I couldn’t smell it when we spent all of 10 mins looking around it with other people six weeks ago. But the rental market is pretty awful, so we took it faster than we would have liked as we were scared we wouldn’t find another. DP has remembered that all the doors and windows were open even though it was a cold day, which might be why.

Please help me get rid of the stink!! I want to turn around and move right back out, but I can’t, I’ve signed a contract.

Oh sounds horrible OP. You could try a dehumidifier maybe? We got one for a very musty smelling room and the smell all but went apart from the off whiff on a bad day?

That’s a great idea - I will get one and try it!

Maybe they cleaned the carpets but they didn’t dry out properly? That can be a bit stinky!
I think a dehumidifier is a good shout, does dry out rooms really well. Absolutely hate that smell though, I feel for you!
I would also raise the issue with your landlord and watch out for damp.

Doesn't a solution of white vinegar and warm water get rid of musty carpet smells? 2 parts water to 1, spray it on.

I'm sure we did this when we moved about 20 years ago, though it did smell like a chippy for a few days!

Are you using the fitted wardrobe? I bought this bungalow and didn't know all the floors were rotten with mould, I lost a lot of clothes that were stacked on the bottom of the wardrobe. My elderly dog died last October, the vet said it was his kidneys but I'm sure he was affected by the mould.

Perhaps the previous tenant dried her washing indoors. Any black mould on the window sills? I'd open the windows twice a day, use the kitchen/bathroom extractor, and run the dehumidifer for at least a week.