You may joke about all the maxims about spilt milk, but you won’t be laughing much if you found it on your carpet or rug.
Cleaning spilt milk on the floor or otherwise is no big deal, but it is a whole new thing if indeed it is your carpet that has been at the receiving end.
And it would have been okay if it only were the stain, but for the smell.
And god forbid if you have ignored it. The smell of the sour milk (just like vomit, to give you a fair idea) will surely send any visitors packing!
These smells, especially if you had forgotten about it and the milk has turned sour, can be very hard to get rid of.
But there is no reason to worry if you have dropped a bowl of milk on the carpet and are dismayed about the resultant odour and stains because the solutions are so simple they will put a smile on your face.
I will tell you some practical solutions to this seeming catastrophe, using materials that you already have in your kitchen or cupboard.
These solutions work, are tried and tested and are affordable.
Contents
Getting On with It (Method #1)

You Will Need
- Warm water
- Dishwashing liquid
- Clean white clothes
- Lots of paper towels
Method
- First of all, try and soak as much spilt milk using the paper towels as you can. This will ensure that the milk does not settle in and cause the sour smell to last weeks from now. Now, in the cup of warm water, mix two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid and mix it well.
- Dip the clean cloth in this solution and wipe it across the stain smoothly, without rubbing it in. Do this a few times until the stain is completely covered in this solution, and the stain is absorbed in it.
- Keep repeating the first two steps until you are satisfied with the results.
- Voila! You have cleaned the stain effectively and immediately.
This is one of the most common solutions to this problem that is easy, and does not require much research, and is based purely on common sense.
This method can be used when the spilt milk is still fresh and has not set in.
In some instances, even plain water works, because it is neutral and has the tendency to neutralise any other water-based product, such as milk.
But what do you do if the milk that was split has seeped in and dried up because of neglect?
Getting On With It (Method #2)

You Will Need
- Cold water
- A teaspoon of washing powder
- A dull knife
- A used toothbrush
- Vinegar
- Lots of paper towels
Method
- The milk has dried up and is flaky so you can remove as much as you can using the dull knife. Keep blowing away the flakes as you chip them off or they will settle back in the fabric of the carpet. Take your time with this.
- Now put cold water on the stained area and wet it thoroughly. You can either do it using an eyedropper or pour the water on the stain with a steady hand. Please note that using warm water here might increase the milky odour.
- Mix a few drops of water with the washing powder and make a paste. Now apply this paste all over the stain, covering it carefully.
- Now use the toothbrush over the stain and carefully rub the stain off. You may have to do this a few times to get most of the stain off.
- Rinse the area you have just cleaned and let it air dry.
If the stain still persists, you may have to do this a few more times.
There is a slight chance that the odour may have remained after all the washing, and I will tell you about a few easy solutions.
Getting On With It (Removing The Odour)
Milk, after it gets sour has a strong smell, and if it has dried on your carpet, then the odour can be overwhelming.
But there is no need to worry, because getting rid of it is as easy as removing the stains, and can be achieved using common household items.
Using Vinegar
Vinegar is inexpensive, non-toxic and is a godsend when it comes to removing odours.
If that weren’t enough already, it is also environment-friendly and safe if you have any pets. Also, it is commonly found in most households.
To remove the sour milk smell, there are two ways you can go about it. You can either pour some vinegar in a bowl and leave it in a corner if the smell is too overpowering.
If that is not possible and you want an immediate solution, you can spray some directly onto the affected area using a dispenser.
Don’t worry about the strong smell of vinegar, it will evaporate when your carpet dries completely.
You can also blot the area with a clean cloth. The sour smell will be gone completely.
Using Coffee Grounds

If you own a coffee maker, you will know that coffee grounds have other uses apart from using them in your brew (one of which includes being a slug and snail repellent), because they are excellent absorbents and the freshly ground coffee beans give out an invigorating aroma.
All you have to do is sprinkle some of these freshly ground beans onto the affected area of your carpet and leave them for a few hours and take a nap while they work for you. Simply vacuum them away later on.
Do keep in mind that you should do this activity after you have removed the stains because this will have no effect on any stains.
Using Household Peroxide
Household hydrogen peroxide is also an excellent deodoriser too, but make sure that you are not allergic to it before using it on your carpet.
You should also use it on a small portion of the carpet to see if it is not damaging it. Just spray some on the affected area and wipe it off after it stops making the sizzling sound.
Conclusion
So hopefully, you will not panic the next time you spill milk on your carpet because you know how easy it is to get rid of the stains and odours.
Remember, doing it as soon as possible will not only save you a lot of trouble later, it will also prevent any smell from festering.
RELATED: How to get chocolate ice cream out of carpet?
RELATED: How to get wine stains off the carpet?