How to Deodorize Carpet With Baking Soda

Vacuum your carpet first., 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...

23 Steps 2 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: 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.
  2. Step 2: Once your carpet is as clean as possible

    ,, 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. , This will help you distribute it more evenly. , A fresh, unopened box will be able to absorb more smells. , 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 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. ,, It won't work unless it's actually touching the parts of the carpet that smell. , 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.
  3. Step 3: 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.

  4. Step 4: If the carpet is in an area with a lot of foot traffic

  5. Step 5: you may need to treat it one section at a time.

  6. Step 6: Liberally sprinkle baking soda over the area you want to treat.

  7. Step 7: Since baking soda tends to get clumpy

  8. Step 8: it might be useful to transfer it to a large shaker before applying.

  9. Step 9: Use fresh baking soda

  10. Step 10: rather than soda that's been sitting open in your refrigerator.

  11. Step 11: Scrub it into the carpet.

  12. Step 12: If you're worried about ruining the texture of your carpet

  13. Step 13: use an old sock or t-shirt to rub it into your carpet

  14. Step 14: rather than scrubbing.

  15. Step 15: At this point

  16. Step 16: it's best not to walk on the carpet until the job is complete.

  17. Step 17: Let the baking soda sit for several hours or overnight.

  18. Step 18: During this time

  19. Step 19: try to stay off the carpet

  20. Step 20: so baking soda doesn't get tracked through the house.

  21. Step 21: If you see a spot where the baking soda isn't covering the carpet

  22. Step 22: fill it in.

  23. Step 23: Vacuum up the baking soda.

Detailed Guide

(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.

,, 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. , This will help you distribute it more evenly. , A fresh, unopened box will be able to absorb more smells. , 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 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. ,, It won't work unless it's actually touching the parts of the carpet that smell. , 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.

About the Author

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Shirley King

A passionate writer with expertise in crafts topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.

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