How to Remove Odors From Carpet with Baking Soda

Treating the Carpet With Baking Soda

Vacuum your carpet first. (Mixing baking soda with dirt won't be very effective). You want to start with a carpet that's as clean as possible. Vacuum your carpet to pick up any of the big particles of dirt or loose fibers. The bottom of your shoes contains oil and dirt and the constant contact with your carpet can grind away the surface of your carpet and leave dirt deep in the fibers.

Once your carpet is as clean as possible, tell your family you'll be cleaning the carpet and ask them not to walk on it while you give it the baking soda treatment.

If the carpet is in an area with a lot of foot traffic, you may need to treat it one section at a time.

Liberally sprinkle baking soda over the area you want to treat. Plan to use up at least one, and maybe two, boxes of baking soda. You want to completely cover your carpet so you can hardly tell what color it is. Since baking soda is not harmful to humans or pets, don't skimp.

Since baking soda tends to get clumpy, it might be useful to transfer it to a large shaker before applying. This will help you distribute it more evenly.

Use fresh baking soda, rather than soda that's been sitting open in your refrigerator. A fresh, unopened box will be able to absorb more smells.

Scrub it into the carpet. Use a dry scrub brush or sponge to scrub the baking soda deep into the fibers of the carpet, so it gets all the way to the bottom. This is especially necessary if your carpet is shaggy and long; you want to make sure every part gets coated with soda.

If you're worried about ruining the texture of your carpet, use an old sock or t-shirt to rub it into your carpet, rather than scrubbing.

At this point, it's best not to walk on the carpet until the job is complete.

Let the baking soda sit for several hours or overnight. If you can let it sit for 24 hours, that's even better. The longer it sits, the better your results will be. Baking soda naturally neutralizes and absorbs odors rather than covering them up.

During this time, try to stay off the carpet, so baking soda doesn't get tracked through the house.

If you see a spot where the baking soda isn't covering the carpet, fill it in. It won't work unless it's actually touching the parts of the carpet that smell.

Vacuum up the baking soda. Work slowly, since that much baking soda is going to take awhile to vacuum up. You'll need to go over each section of the carpet several times to get the job done. As long as it didn't get wet, the baking soda should come right up.

Dealing With Tougher Smells

Give your carpet a sniff after the first baking soda treatment. Is the bad odor neutralized? One treatment will be sufficient to neutralize most bad odors. If the carpet had a particularly strong smell, you might need to give it a second treatment. Remember, the longer you let baking soda sit on the carpet, the better it will neutralize odors.

Consider shampooing your carpet before treating it. If your carpet is quite dirty, baking soda alone might not get rid of the smell. You may want to do a deeper cleaning and shampoo your carpet in preparation for a baking soda treatment. This will increase the likelihood that the treatment will work.

In place of regular carpet shampoo, try using a mixture of half white vinegar and half water.

If you wash your carpet, wait until it's completely dry before applying baking soda.

Consider scenting the baking soda to help mask the smell. For the smelliest of carpets, you may want to add a fresh scent to replace the old smell. To scent your baking soda, pour it into a large bowl. Add five to ten drops of essential oil. Use a whisk to stir the scent in and integrate it into the soda. Spoon the soda into a shaker, then treat your carpet as directed. The following fresh scents will help counteract the smell: Lemon or lemongrass Lavender Eucalyptus Cedar

NOTE: If you have pets, check to make sure the oil you choose is safe for use around your cat or dog.

Repeat the process once every few weeks. If you let your carpet go too long between cleanings, the bad smells will build right back up. Stay on top of your carpet's cleanliness by using a baking soda treatment every few weeks or at least once a month. The baking soda is more likely to completely eliminate odors that haven't been lingering for months or years at a time.