Vent: my mini fridge leaked for 5 days and I only noticed because of the cat

Viola Lopez · 2026-10-12T16:30:04.114197+00:00

So my mini fridge in the corner of my studio started leaking last Tuesday and I didn't catch it for 5 days because the water ran right under my bookshelf where I never look. The carpet in that corner is now squishy and smells like pennies, which is apparently what wet carpet pad smells like after it sits. My cat Biggie was the one who gave it away, he kept sniffing the baseboard and pawing at the wall so I finally moved the shelf and there it was, a whole dark patch about the size of a pizza box. I pulled the fridge out and found out the drain hole in the back was clogged with what I can only describe as gray slime, so I ran hot water through it and it emptied fine. I told my landlord and he said to just put a towel down and run a fan, so that is what I did for 3 days. The smell is mostly gone but the carpet is still crunchy in one spot and I am worried it will mold under there where I can't see it. Has anyone dealt with a slow leak like this, and did you end up replacing the carpet or just let it dry out?

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Vent: my mini fridge leaked for 5 days and I only noticed because of the cat | Apartment Living Hacks - Free To Speak