Yes, it’s that time of year again!

After what feels like months of constant rain, it finally looks as though summer has arrived. But with summer comes warmth and higher humidity, which can present challenges for carpet cleaning professionals.

Every year, as the humidity rises, we start receiving numerous calls from customers reporting that carpets they have cleaned are now emitting a musty odour days later.

What Causes the Smell?

The high humidity in the air slows down carpet drying because humid air cannot absorb more moisture. After just a few hours, tiny mould and mildew spores—already present deep within the carpet pile—begin to germinate and grow. As they do, they release a musty odour.

A common mistake some cleaners make is going back to re-clean the carpet. This is the worst thing you can do because you’re simply adding more moisture, which will worsen the problem.

Mould and mildew thrive on moisture and will continue producing odours until the carpet is fully dry. During the humid months of June to September, drying can take up to a week, sometimes even longer.

Berber and Saxony (long pile) carpets are particularly prone to this issue.

How Can You Avoid It?

• Use Dri Pods or Air Movers to dry the carpet before leaving the property. Alternatively, leave a Dri Pod in situ and pick it up later.
• Rinse the carpet with a product that has anti-fungal properties, such as:
  • Envirosafe
  • Craftex Micro Kill

Standard deodorisers, masking agents, and antibacterial deodorisers will NOT work.

If you prefer to use deodorisers during the cleaning process, we recommend:

• Alltec’s Odour Clear range (e.g. Odour Clear Fresh Linen)
• Restore Odour Neutraliser
• Restore Ocean Fresh Odour Eliminator

These products are anti-fungal and help to prevent odour-causing mould growth.

How to Remedy an Existing Problem

1. Install dryers to speed up drying.
2. Spray the carpet with Envirosafe or Micro Kill and brush it in well.
3. Leave it to dry naturally—do not re-clean.

What If the Carpet Has Been Over-Wetted?

This situation is different from high humidity issues. Over-wetting can cause the backing, underlay, and subfloor to become saturated, leading to serious problems.

In these cases:

• All layers (carpet, underlay, and subfloor) need to be treated and dried properly.
• If the underlay is severely wet, replacement may be necessary.

By taking proactive steps and using the right products, you can prevent musty-smelling carpets, avoid unnecessary re-cleans, and maintain customer satisfaction throughout the summer months.