Is your prized rug starting to emanate odors and you’re looking for some DIY options that are light on the pocket? In this post, I’m going to list out the different ways you can use baking soda to deodorize your carpet for each particular scenario depending on 1. The cause of odor; 2. The extent of damage; 3. Materials available with you.
One foolproof way of removing unpleasant odors from carpets is to sprinkle baking soda on it and let it sit for a while before vacuuming it all out! There are other materials you can use with baking soda for a fresher-smelling, stronger solution that I will talk about in detail in the following paragraphs! Read on to find out more.
PRO TIP
BAKING SODA USAGE
Use a moderate amount of baking soda in one area as that will not increase its effectiveness, only waste more.
WARNING
KEEP YOUR PETS AWAY
Keep your pets away while using baking soda to deodorize your carpets! The ingestion of baking soda can be dangerous to animals.
De-odor-ize
Deodorizing is the process of covering up or eliminating bad odors from furnishings and other surfaces. We offer advice on removing these unpleasant smells and not just concealing them. Deodorizing your carpets, whether by using DIY methods or professional service, is necessary to maintain the freshness of your home.
Want smell-free carpets? Do this
Here are some things you can do to make sure your carpets smell good throughout the year. Following the tips mentioned below will ensure that your carpets look and smell fresh for longer!
1. Get to vacuuming!
The most important way to keep your carpets smelling and looking clean is to regularly vacuum it. For those of you with pets and/or children, the frequency of cleaning your carpets increases. Vacuuming every 3-5 days is advisable for you. With regular vacuuming, carpet-owners must also invest in professional deep-cleaning once a year, twice a year if you have children or pets.
Along with this, you need to make sure you replace your vacuum filters every once in a while as failing to do that is sometimes the main cause of foul-smelling carpets. Doing this will remove dirt particles from the carpet fibres before they circulate in the air and create distasteful odors.
2. Dehumidify
High levels of moisture caused by increased humidity that usually occurs in tropical summers and rainy days is a big reason for smelly carpets. Increase in moisture results in the increase of growth of mold and mildew, especially on or under carpets. Apart from making your carpets smell bad, mold produces allergens that can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Touching or inhaling mold spores can be an irritant for people with asthma and others. This is why it is important to get rid of mold by using dehumidifiers and fans. There are various kinds of dehumidifiers available on the market for different rooms of the house. Use one to prevent mold and mildew from growing on your carpets and keep yourself and your family healthy!
3. Breathe it out
An increase in the circulation of air in your carpeted rooms will automatically reduce the chances of your carpets smelling repulsive. Good home ventilation keeps the inhabitants of the house healthy by maintaining proper air quality. Leave your windows open to maximise ventilation and keep indoor temperature, humidity and air movement in check! This way, mold doesn’t have the humid environment it needs to thrive in, keeping your carpets smelling fresh!
4. Use essential oils for a good fragrance
Who doesn’t like the calming effect that lavender oil has on a stressed mind? The perfect aroma can take your house from being your place of residence to your favourite space to come home to. Use therapeutic and pleasant-smelling essential oils to help keep your carpets and rooms fresh and wonderful smelling!
Some tested and proven pleasing fragrances are a combination of the following essential oils:
1. Chamomile + Rosemary; 2. Orange + Lemon + Lime; and 3. Spearmint + Peppermint.
You can also use calming scents like Lavender and Tea-Tree oil that also have antibacterial properties on their own but keep the below-mentioned warning in mind if you are a pet-owner.
WARNING
DANGER TO PETS
For pet owners, it is recommended to not use tea-tree oil as it may be toxic to your furry friends. Citric scents are poisonous to cats, avoid using those and other strong scents like peppermint and cinnamon that are displeasing to dogs.
5. Do not smoke inside
This goes without saying, smoking in a room with carpeting can really make your carpets smell awful as the smoke particles float around and stick to any surface they find, especially in a closed room. All your furnishings including your carpets will smell like smoke and that odor grows worse with time and when combined with other odors.
6. A shoe-free environment
Leave your outdoor footwear at the door instead of bringing dirt and unknown bacteria from outside into your clean, carpeted living space. Keep your feet clean before walking on your carpets and wear indoor slippers or socks to keep the carpet free from bodily oils and dirt. Make sure you don’t wear anything too heavy or rough to prevent tread tracks on your carpet.
7. Address spills quickly
Always keep an emergency clean-kit. The kit can consist of towels, dishwasher liquid, club soda, spot-cleaning liquid and anything else you find useful for spills. This will reduce the time taken in looking for these things as even a few extra seconds of liquid absorption can multiply the smell and stain on your carpets! The faster you clean, the less odor there is to linger!
Different ways to deodorize a carpet
Now that we have discussed practices to help you maintain your carpets and prevent it from smelling bad, let us go through some ways of deodorizing them with baking soda. Pick the best option depending on your needs!
WARNING
NO ROBOTIC VACUUMS
Using baking soda in excess can corrode the parts of your vacuum cleaner and the fine powder can sometimes get past some filters. This is why you should use baking soda in moderation and use HEPA filters and bags for your vacuum. It is recommended to not use powdered carpet cleaner with a robotic vacuum.
Method 1: Baking soda
Baking soda is a salt that has many uses, especially in cleaning and deodorizing. A lot of people recommend using baking soda to lift unpleasant smells from surfaces. The fine powder is especially good at removing odors from cigarette smoke.
The most commonly used way to deodorize a carpet with baking soda is to sprinkle baking soda on top of the carpet and let it sit for a few minutes, hours or even overnight depending on how bad the smell is. Vacuum over the most-affected area thoroughly to remove any trace of odor. Repeat the process again if necessary and replace your vacuum bag afterwards.
WARNING
FURNITURE
Make sure you move any furniture in the way of your baking soda sprinkling.
PRO TIP
KEEP AWAY FROM CARPET
Leave this project to the end of the day or right before you go out as it is advisable to minimise or completely prevent foot-traffic in the area.
Essential oils
If you tried the baking soda deodorizing technique and are pleased with the results but want to try a variation with the addition of a refreshing scent, mix 15-20 drops of essential oil with the baking soda. Read the above-mentioned paragraph on using essential oils for safety guidelines if you’re a pet owner and good scent combinations for your home!
Borax and natural perfume freshener
An improved version of the baking soda deodorizing method is the addition of other materials like Borax and natural perfumes for increased strength and pleasant smell. Add half a cup of Borax to one cup of baking soda to boost its deodorizing power.
You can further improve your mixture’s effectiveness by adding 1. 10-15 drops of the essential oil of your choice; 2. A teaspoon of a ground sweet-smelling spice like cinnamon or clove; or 3. A teaspoon of crushed dried herbs or flowers of your liking, like rosemary or lavender. Give the new mixture a good shake before using it.
WARNING
SPICES & STAINS
Use spices only on dark-coloured carpeting as they can stain easily.
Method 2: Carpet deodorizer
Make a natural and cheap baking soda carpet deodorizer with just three materials! All you need is one cup of baking soda, 20-30 drops of essential oil and a mason jar or any kind of shaker. You can also add half a cup Borax for increased strength. Punch holes on a circular piece of paper of the same size as the jar if the lid does not have shaker holes.
Add the ingredients in the container and shake properly. Before your regular vacuuming, sprinkle this mixture on your carpet and wait for an hour or overnight. Vacuum thoroughly to remove the entire mixture and enjoy your fresh smelling carpets! Store this mixture in a dry and ventilated area to use again when necessary! This deodorizer will help in removing pet odors.
Method 3: Deep treatment
The baking soda deep treatment is for carpet-owners with prolonged unpleasant odors. The process starts with first vacuuming the carpet to remove any dirt particles and loose hair fibres. You also have to ensure that no one walks on the carpet during the treatment.
1.Sprinkle fresh baking soda liberally but not excessively on top of your carpet with a shaker or a container.
2.Use a sponge or a dry scrub brush to scrub the powder deep into the carpet’s fibres. Coat them with baking soda. For delicate carpets, use an old t-shirt or cloth.
3.Let the baking soda sit overnight or for 24 hours. The longer you leave it on, the better it is. Do not walk on the carpet during this time. You also need to make sure that no part of your carpet gets wet during this time.
4.Finally, vacuum the carpet in sections thoroughly to ensure all the baking soda gets removed from the fibres.
This lengthy baking soda treatment ensures a deep-clean for your carpet that lasts long as the salt naturally neutralizes and absorbs bad odors in carpets instead of concealing it.
PRO TIP
VACUUMING TIP
Vacuum slowly and thoroughly to remove every fine particle of the baking soda and treat each section of your carpet at a time if it is in a busy area and heavily walked on.
Benefits of using baking soda
Baking soda is a cheap and effective odor absorber that can be used in DIY deodorizing methods. Apart from this, it also offers you the following advantages:
Natural method
The use of baking soda proves to be the most effective for carpet deodorizing as it is effective and completely natural. Baking soda leaves a neutral, colourless and fresh scent on carpets!
Lifts grease and removes stains
When dealing with food stains and odours, baking soda is the best solution because of its effectiveness against greasy spills. It works as a natural deodorizer and is great at lifting grease.
Gets rid of odors
Baking soda naturally draws out smells from carpet fibres and works harder than other materials in deodorizing. It absorbs odor in a small amount of time and neutralizes it with less effort.
Removes moisture and mildew
Baking soda is also used to dry out damp carpets. Its unique properties soak up all moisture, as a result, reducing the impact of dangerous mold and mildew on carpets.
Disadvantages of using baking soda
Apart from being a really practical solution for your carpet deodorizing needs, using baking soda does have a few downsides you need to remember.
Can corrode your vacuum
As mentioned in a warning above, using baking soda excessively can corrode your vacuum. Avoid cleaning up a powder-based freshener with a robotic vacuum. It is important to keep replacing your HEPA filters and bags regularly. Use the powder in moderation.
Stays for a long time
Because of its fine particles, baking soda sometimes seeps through carpet padding and remains there. Make sure you vacuum thoroughly and remove as much of the powder as you can.
Natural method
Despite being a natural solution for odor-elimination, baking soda can be toxic to animals if ingested in large amounts. Make sure you keep your pets away while treating your carpets.
Keep the mentioned warnings in mind and you’ll be able to remove all odors with the baking soda without worrying about its drawbacks!
Conclusion
This post talks about ways to keep your carpets smell-free and the methods to use to deodorize them if they smell bad! With the intention of informing you of the various ways baking soda can be used to deodorize your carpets, I’d like to conclude by emphasizing the benefits of using it for your cleaning needs. You can too achieve immaculate results by using baking soda carefully! Enjoy the refreshing smell of your “brand-new” carpet!
