How to Clean Sour Milk Out of Carpet

If you've ever experienced the smell of soured milk that has set in a carpet for a few days, you know where the saying, "Don't cry over spilled milk," may have come from. Not only does milk leave behind a nasty odor, but it also can be difficult to remove. Unless you've spilled gallons of milk on the carpet, most stains and odors can be eliminated with a little elbow grease and common household products. Here's how to do it.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda Distilled white vinegar Coffee grounds (unused) Pet stain/odor remover Paper towels or cloth

Instructions

1. Clean the spill as soon as it is noticed. Blot up excess milk with paper towel or cloth. For dried milk spills, clean with plain water and blot repeatedly. Once the milk spot has been cleaned up, try one of the following solutions.

2. Sprinkle baking soda over the area and allow to dry for 24 hours. Vacuum the area. Baking soda absorbs odors and restores freshness to carpeting.

3. Another option is to sprinkle distilled white vinegar on the spill. Allow to set for several hours. Blot to remove the vinegar and rinse with cold water. Place a fan on the area to dry the carpet. The smell of vinegar will subside once it is dry and the smell of sour milk will be gone.

4. If the carpeting is dark, sprinkle unused coffee grounds over the area and allow to set for a day or more. Vacuum to remove the coffee grounds.

5. Visit the pet store and purchase pet odor remover to remove sour milk odor that lingers or does not respond to home remedies. Follow the directions on the bottle. These solutions are designed to break down organic matter and eliminate odor-causing bacteria.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish