I moved into a place with a finished basement. I've discovered a corner that gets wet during very damp weather, and that the MVP baseboard has dryrot. So, we will be replacing the baseboards and some of the wooden strip with the carpet nails sticking up. The property manager is looking into ways to control the water seepage.

Except at the perimeter in the wet corner, the carpet is in good shape. It's a very low pile shag - I've no idea of the fiber, but surely synthetic. We've lifted half of the carpet and have fans running, which seems to be drying out the pad and carpet. But, it smells musty-like.

1. How can I clean off the discolored edge of the carpet? I was going to scrub it with bleach, but I read in other threads that bleach isn't a good idea.

2. What's a good way to remove any odor from the pad and carpet?

3. After replacing the carpet nail strips, how do you stretch the carpet back into place?

Or, should I call in a professional carpet cleaner? Any tips for picking a good professional? I've not had to care for wall-to-wall carpeting since the days when it was made of wool.

 

Tell the property manager to replace the carpet!!!! Geeeez!!! Some slum lords are really cheapscapes. Your health is worth more then that, I hope.

 

um... health risk? I didn't know dryrot had health implications??? Yikes! I had fans blowing in there for days. If that stuff is bad, it's probably spread to other rooms?

This is my first time living in a house with a basement (they are uncommon in california), so I'm pretty clueless about that kind of environment.

I saved the carpet we removed from the upstairs (where new wooden floors are being installed), so I suppose we could use that instead of cleaning the carpet in that room. I was going to use it to eventually recarpet the stairs, but this sounds like it may be the greater need.