When it comes to floor covering options, few things make a room seem more inviting than a nice, soft carpet. Unfortunately, it’s that softness that can make carpets tough to maintain. Since they’re so absorbent, they tend to hold onto bad smells for a long time. This can include smells from spills, smoking, pet accidents, and more. The good news: removing bad carpet odors isn’t as hard as you may think. Here are three carpet odor eliminator techniques that will make your home smell great!
1. Removing General Odors
Not sure why your carpet smells bad? If so, you’ll want to start with the baking soda method.
First, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda all over your carpet. This is an excellent way to neutralize any odors trapped inside; if the carpet clumps in some spots, spread it out with your hand.
For pungent odors, consider adding some Borax. Create a mixture of one part Borax and one part baking soda, then use it like baking soda. You can also add a few drops of essential oil for some aromatherapy benefits.
Once you’ve poured the solution over the carpet, let it sit for a couple of hours. If you’re dealing with a particularly bad carpet odor, let it sit overnight. Finally, vacuum up the solution and enjoy your nice-smelling carpet!
2. Dealing With Cigarette Smoke
As smokers know, cigarettes and carpets don’t mix well. Long after you snuff out a cigarette, its smell will still linger on your carpet.
Start the removal process by filling two or three bowls with ammonia or white vinegar. Don’t mix them, as doing so can create a harmful gas. Set the bowls on each side of the room and let them sit for 24 hours.
Once you’re done with the treatment, dispose of these substances. Then, sprinkle baking soda over the carpet, have it sit overnight, and vacuum it up. You can also use a commercial cleaner, which consists of scented granules.
Your final step is to use a steam cleaner. Pour cleaning vinegar into the cleaner and run it over the carpet. Help the carpet dry faster by opening a window or turning on a fan.
3. Getting Rid of Pet Smells
With pet accidents, your best bet is to act quickly. As soon as you notice urine on your carpet, use a paper towel to clean it up.
Now, put a dollop of green dish detergent on a wet paper towel and use it to blot the area. While the carpet is wet, pour some baking soda over it. Again, allow it to work its magic by letting it sit overnight.
Before removing the baking soda, spray white vinegar onto the dried urine spot. You should notice foam as these two substances react to each other. Have the mixture sit for five minutes, then soak it up with a soft cloth.
More on Using a Carpet Odor Eliminator
If none of the above methods works, you may need a stronger carpet odor eliminator. This can be anything from an air purifier to carpet powders. The longer you wait with removing carpet odors, the harder it will be.
Of course, you can also leave your carpet cleaning to professionals. At Quality Care Carpet Cleaning, we use eco-friendly products to get rid of any bad carpet smell! Contact us here—we’ll get back to you soon.
