If carpet padding gets wet from spills, you may be able to dry it before any mold or mildew growth begins. Start by pulling up the carpet with pliers, and fold it away from the wet padding. Position a fan near the carpet pad to dry it out, and sprinkle baking soda over the affected area to help absorb moisture and odor. Once it has time to dry out, vacuum up the baking soda and use a spray disinfectant on the padding and underside of the carpet. This will reduce the chance of mold or mildew. Note: Sometimes, such as in the case of major flooding, the padding may absorb too much moisture and become unsalvageable. In these cases, you need to remove and replace it.