Your carpet is made of plush fibers. These fibers provide the softness that you love to feel under your feet, and they buffer noises to provide a more relaxing home environment.
However, carpet fibers capture various particles that can make your home smelly. Vacuuming regularly will remove some of these particles, but additional effort is required to deodorize the carpet sufficiently.
Understanding the Causes of Carpet Odors
Your carpet acts as a catch-all for the particles drifting in your home’s air. These particles include dust, tiny food and grease particles, mildew and mold spores, cigarette smoke and more.
Pets contribute to the smelly mess in your carpet with pet dander and hair. Spills, including from pets, drinks and more, can emit smells as well. Even if you think you’ve cleaned the spills properly, some remnants may linger in the fibers. Over time, these elements build up, and the unpleasant smell can be overwhelming.
How Often Should You Deodorize Your Carpet?
You can take steps to deodorize your carpet each time you vacuum. For example, sprinkling baking soda on the carpet before vacuuming is an effective way to tackle odors. Your carpet may require more extensive efforts from time to time. Consider deodorizing the carpet each time you deep clean it.
What to Do Before Deodorizing Your Carpet
Before deodorizing your carpet, identify what is causing the smell. This will help you determine the best deodorizing option. For example, vinegar can effectively fight bacteria, mold and mildew smells. In addition, test your deodorizing method on a small, concealed area of the carpet before applying it to a larger and more visible area.
How Do You Get Bad Smells Out of Carpet?
Eliminating bad smells in your carpet is relatively easy to do when you understand the options available. Consider these techniques.
Homemade Carpet Deodorizing Solutions
You likely have all of the ingredients required for a homemade carpet deodorizing solution in your pantry. These are among the most effective options to deodorize smelly carpet.
Baking Soda Method: Baking soda has strong deodorizing properties. Sift baking soda first to remove clumps. Then, sprinkle the powder across the floor. Use your hands to work the baking soda into the carpet piles. After several hours, vacuum the floor as usual.
Essential Oils and Baking Soda: While baking soda will tackle the tough odors, you may want to enjoy a lovely scent in your home. Choose your favorite essential oil, such as lemon oil or vinegar. Add a few drops to the baking soda before applying it to the carpet using the steps above. Do not use essential oils if you have pets.
Vinegar and Water Solution: If your carpet smells mildewy, use a vinegar solution. Vinegar combats odors and kills bacteria that could be growing in the carpet. Combine one part vinegar with two parts water in a spray bottle. Without soaking the carpet, spray the problem area. After 15 minutes, use a clean cloth to blot the extra moisture. The lingering vinegar smell will dissipate quickly.
Using Store-Bought Carpet Deodorizers
Several carpet deodorizing products are available at local stores and online. These include powders that you sprinkle on the carpet and liquids that you lightly mist on the floor. Many of these products contain unhealthy chemicals. Before introducing a new product into your home, carefully research its ingredients and health effects.
Deep Cleaning Techniques for Persistent Odors
In many instances, these methods will eliminate problematic odors from your carpet. However, if the bad smells linger, deep cleaning is necessary.
Steam Cleaning
You can purchase a home steam cleaning machine or rent one from your local store. A steam cleaner injects moisture into the carpet fibers, which loosens smelly particles. The vacuum component of the steam cleaner is then able to extract more filth and odors than a regular vacuum can.
Professional Carpet Cleaning Services
Whether you’ve already tried other methods with no luck or you don’t want to mess with steam cleaning on your own, professional carpet cleaning services are available. Professionals use commercial-grade cleaning products and equipment to deliver enhanced results.
Preventing Future Carpet Odors
While carpet is prone to developing unpleasant smells, you can keep it smelling fresher for longer with these tips:
- Use doormats at all of your exterior doorways to minimize the amount of dirt that gets tracked inside your home.
- Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet each time you vacuum.
- Vacuum at least once each week.
- Clean liquid and solid spills immediately. This minimizes the amount of filth that settles into the carpet fibers.
- Improve air circulation, such as by running your ceiling fans.
FAQs
How Long Does It Take Baking Soda to Deodorize Carpet?
The deodorizing properties of baking soda are not immediate. After sprinkling the baking soda on the carpet and working it into the piles with your hands, it should sit for several hours or even overnight. You can then vacuum the floor and enjoy fresher-smelling carpet.
How Can I Make My Carpet Smell New Again?
Even old, worn carpet can smell fresh with the right deodorization methods. Baking soda is the most effective way to remove odors. To get the best results out of this method, allow baking soda to sit on the carpet overnight before vacuuming it.
Is It Safe to Use Essential Oils on Carpets If You Have Pets?
Essential oils are not safe for pets. If ingested, they can cause poisoning and choking. On the skin, they can cause hives, swelling and itching. Other possible effects are seizures, liver disease, respiratory distress and organ failure.
Staying on top of your housecleaning chores helps you keep unpleasant carpet odors at bay. If you’re tired of dealing with a smelly home or if you have other cleaning challenges, our Tidyhere team can help. Schedule home cleaning services with our pros today.
