How to Fix a Smelly Carpet Using Baking Soda
There’s nothing quite as annoying as a smelly carpet. It can not only interfere with your daily activities but it can also make visitors question your cleanliness. What’s more? It can be a sign that your carpet has dirt, moisture, or even mold. Whatever the case, a smelly carpet is something you should fix immediately.
Fortunately, doing this isn’t that complicated, you can simply use chemicals you already have in your house.
Some people have even started using for this. But does this work?
That’s what we’re going to talk about today.
Does baking soda neutralize smelly carpet odor?
Yes, baking soda can neutralize smelly carpet odors. When it is used on a smelly carpet, it pulls out the smell, absorbs it, and then neutralizes it.
How do you clean and deodorize the carpet with baking soda?
To thoroughly clean and deodorize your smelly carpet, follow the steps below:
1. Move your furniture out of the way
The first thing you need to do is move all the furniture off of the smelly carpet and place it aside. This will allow you to concentrate on the carpet without bumping into anything or getting baking soda all over your furniture.
2. Vacuum your carpet
If your smelly carpet has some particles or dust on it, you’ll need to vacuum it before using baking soda on it. Don’t spot-clean the carpet though; it needs to remain dry for the next steps to be effective.
3. Sprinkle the baking soda
At this point, you need to generously sprinkle your baking soda on the part of the carpet that you want to treat. If your smelly carpet is deep-pile, you’ll have to sprinkle the baking soda on one small section at a time and then use your fingers to get it into the carpet. You will have to do this for each small section.
Keep in mind that you can sprinkle the baking soda directly from its box or use a fine-mesh sieve to make things easier. Alternatively, you can transfer the baking soda into a shaker before sprinkling it.
You can even use a dry sponge scrub to get it deeper into your carpet. Whatever the case, ensure you use fresh baking soda; it absorbs more odor than anything that has been sitting in your home for a while.
4. Let the baking soda sit
Once you’re done applying the baking soda on your smelly carpet, let everything sit for up to 24 hours. Generally, the longer the baking soda sits on the carpet, the more odor it absorbs.
5. Vacuum the carpet and return the furniture
Vacuum up all the baking soda from the smelly carpet and then return your furniture the way it was before.
How much baking soda should you put on the carpet to absorb odors?
While there isn’t a guideline on how much baking soda you need to get rid of carpet odors, just ensure that you use a good amount. Ensure that you see white patterns on your carpet.
If you’re cleaning your whole smelly carpet, prepare to use one to two boxes of baking soda.
Should you put baking soda on a wet carpet or a dry carpet?
If you want to remove an odor from your carpet, ensure your carpet is dry before sprinkling baking soda on it. Doing this on a wet carpet can make it hard for you to remove the baking soda later on.
Even when people use baking soda to dry their carpets, they are usually damp, not soaking wet.
Can I sprinkle baking soda on the carpet before shampooing it?
Yes, you can do this for a deep clean.
What to mix with baking soda to make the carpet smell good?
You can mix baking soda with some vinegar to give your carpet a good smell. Using baking soda alone leaves your carpet smelling like nothing.
Will baking soda ruin my carpet?
While baking soda won’t ruin your carpet, it can get into the floor beneath it and damage it. However, it’s safe for dogs and other pets.
Mix things up
When it comes down to it, baking soda is a great natural deodorizer. But if you don’t like it, there are other natural ways to get odors out of your carpet. For one, you can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Just mix ½ to one cup of vinegar with a gallon of water to make a solution then add some of it into a spray bottle.
A few sprays and a little bit of drying time are enough to get rid of odors.