Many people love the softness of the carpet, but care must be taken as this piece of furniture can get dirty easily. Since it is composed of textile fibers, it tends to absorb bad smells that form when you spill something, smoke in the surrounding environment or our four-legged friends leave unwelcome memories. If your carpet gives off an unpleasant smell, you don't have to buy a new one; you probably just need to do a deeper cleaning. With the help of some household products you will be able to deodorize it.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Neutralizing Odors
Step 1. Treat the stains
Before making the bad smell go away, you need to remove any encrustations, absorb the humidity and apply a detergent on the most obvious stains. In this way, you will prepare the carpet for the actual cleaning phase.
Step 2. Pour the baking soda
Baking soda neutralizes odors trapped in the fibers, so just spread a thin layer of it and get a box of baking soda for each room you plan to treat. If it clumps together in various places, use your hand to spread it.
For better results, you can also add borax. Take one part of baking soda and one part of borax and mix them well. If you want a scented treatment, add a few drops of essential oil. Then, distribute the mixture as described for the baking soda
Step 3. Let the baking soda sit
It is best to wait a few hours before removing it, but if the smell is strong, you may want to leave it overnight.
Keep children and pets away from the treated area
Step 4. Use the vacuum cleaner
Check the bag or tank, as it can quickly fill with baking soda. Empty it if necessary.
Step 5. Get a deep treatment
If simple baking soda is not effective, you can prepare a more aggressive treatment using 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of hydrogen peroxide, 45 g of baking soda, 5 ml (1 teaspoon) of washing-up liquid and 1 l of water. Mix the ingredients in a bowl. Test the solution in a hidden spot on the carpet before applying it diffusely.
- Use a pair of gloves when handling these substances.
- DO NOT close the bowl once you have blended all the ingredients.
Step 6. Pour or spray the solution
It is preferable to spray it because doing so will apply it evenly, but remember to leave the nozzle open and avoid keeping it closed in a spray bottle without using it. When you pour it, be careful not to soak the carpet.
Remember to wear gloves, especially if you pour the solution
Step 7. Wait 24 hours
The solution takes time to work, so leave it on. You can ventilate the room, but protect the carpet from the incursions of children and pets.
Step 8. Use a towel to absorb excess liquid
If wet areas remain, use an old towel or white cloth to blot. Let the residual moisture evaporate.
Part 2 of 4: Eliminating the Smoke Smell
Step 1. Fill 2-3 bowls with white vinegar or ammonia
Leave some space at the top of each bowl to prevent the substance you have chosen from spilling out. Place them in the room where the carpet to be treated is located. While this remedy will not allow you to deodorize it completely, it will lessen the smell of smoke in the surrounding environment and be the first step in the overall removal of the bad odor.
Do not mix the two substances, otherwise they will react by producing noxious fumes
Step 2. Leave the bowls in the room for 24 hours
White vinegar and ammonia absorb unpleasant odors even if they are not applied directly to surfaces. Once the treatment is finished, remove and discard the substance chosen for this treatment.
Keep children and pets away from bowls filled with vinegar or ammonia
Step 3. Use baking soda
As described in the previous section, distribute the baking soda and let it sit overnight before vacuuming it off.
- Keep children and pets away from the area you are treating.
- You can also try a special carpet cleaner made from scented granules.
Step 4. Use a steam cleaner filled with distilled white vinegar
White vinegar is an acidic substance with a very effective cleansing action. It kills bacteria and removes the strongest odors, such as tar and resin.
You can also buy a special cleaner. Some are formulated to neutralize the smell of smoke
Step 5. Pass the steam cleaner
Follow the instructions of the appliance. If you don't have the option to rent it, try soaking the carpet with white vinegar. The strong odor will disappear as the substance evaporates.
- Turn on a fan and, if you can, open a window to prevent the carpet from getting moldy when wet.
- Contact a company that offers cleaning equipment rental services if you want to have a carpet and carpet steam cleaner for a short period of time.
Step 6. Let the carpet dry
Leave the fan on while it dries. Avoid stepping on it when it is still wet.
Part 3 of 4: Eliminate Pet Smell
Step 1. Absorb any remaining traces of urine
Use paper towels to remove urine stains. If they are old and dry, wet the area to be treated with clean water and dab with paper.
Step 2. Apply green dish soap
Generally, to treat fresh urine stains locally, it is recommended to use a green dishwashing liquid. Pour a spoonful onto a piece of wet absorbent paper. Clean the area by blotting the soapy paper.
Step 3. Use baking soda
When the carpet is still wet, pour in a layer of baking soda. Don't worry if it gets wet.
Step 4. Leave it on overnight
The baking soda and detergent will take a few hours to take effect. If it's a small spot, cover it with paper towels.
Step 5. Spray the white vinegar on the dry urine spot
Do not remove the baking soda. It is normal for it to react with vinegar to form bubbles, but this reaction allows you to remove the bad smell.
- You can also clean the area with a mixture of water, white vinegar, and baking soda. Just mix 240ml of water, 240ml of vinegar and 30g (two tablespoons) of baking soda in a spray bottle. You can keep this solution for 2-3 months.
- If the smell persists, try applying hydrogen peroxide to the urine stain. However, you should first try it on a hidden spot on the carpet as it may bleed.
- On the market you can find products that neutralize bad odors thanks to the power of enzymes. You won't have to resort to additional cleaning methods.
Step 6. Let the white vinegar sit for five minutes
In the meantime, keep an eye on it. Keep children and pets away.
If you have chosen hydrogen peroxide, wait 10-15 minutes
Step 7. Absorb with a soft cloth
Remove the baking soda and pat the area dry. Then sniff to see if the bad smell is gone. If not, you may want to use a carpet and carpet steam cleaner.
If the carpet is completely impregnated with urine, you should probably take it off and buy another one to get rid of the bad smell
Step 8. Use a carpet and carpet steam cleaner
If the smell of pets is not strong, try treating the entire carpet with a suitable cleaner. You can use an odor remover or make a water and white vinegar solution. Wipe it all over the surface, then let it dry. You will probably have to apply it several times to get rid of the bad smell completely.
If the carpet smells really bad, an enzymatic cleaner can help stop the bacterial growth that is causing the problem. Just apply it and let the carpet dry, so it's very easy to use
Part 4 of 4: Getting rid of the mold smell
Step 1. Identify the cause
If you smell musty, you probably live in a very humid house. Just treating the odor problem won't be enough if you want your carpet to be in good condition, as the spores will continue to reproduce. Instead, change your habits to lower the humidity. Turn on the fan when you shower, open the window to let the steam out of the bathroom or kitchen, and use a dehumidifier.
Step 2. Use a wet vacuum
If the carpet is wet, this appliance can help you limit the growth of mold by removing the moisture that feeds it.
Step 3. Mix 240ml of white vinegar in 500ml of warm water
To neutralize the smell of mold, dilute the vinegar with warm water. Make sure it's not hot.
Do not heat the water on the stove
Step 4. Spray the solution
Distribute it evenly on the carpet. It should be moist enough to cause a reaction with the baking soda.
Step 5. Pour the baking soda onto the wet carpet
Proceed when it's still wet. The baking soda will react with the diluted vinegar.
Depending on the size of the carpet and the ease of use of the dispenser, it may be more convenient to proceed in small sections
Step 6. Let the solution evaporate
You will probably have to wait a few hours or all night, depending on how much you have applied and whether or not you use the fan.
Step 7. Use the vacuum cleaner
Empty the tank full of baking soda into the outside garbage can.
Step 8. Turn on the fan
To prevent the bad smell of mold from returning, shorten the drying time. If the day allows it, you can also open a window to air the room.
Step 9. See a cleaning company if the bad smell returns
If there is any damage caused by water or mold, consult a professional. Mold is a serious problem that can cause damage to a certain extent, even from an economic point of view, so the sooner you ask a specialist, the better it will be for your home.
Advice
- If you are unable to remove mold, spores and odors from pets with these remedies, the carpet has been damaged inside and needs to be replaced.
- DO NOT use vinegar on marble or natural stone. The acidity of this substance can ruin the finish.
- Don't underestimate the effect of the sun and fresh air when it comes to neutralizing bad smells. Try to ventilate the smelly room as much as possible by opening the windows and turning on the fan. If you can't machine wash your pet's bed or mattresses, try placing them in direct sunlight for a few hours so the UV rays can kill odor-causing microbes. However, keep in mind that UV radiation can also fade colors if sun exposure is too long or too frequent.
- To combat the smell of smoke in your home, you should also wash furniture, walls and windows.
- To remove odors or urine stains, mix 100 g of borax, 75 g of salt and 60 ml of vinegar, then apply the solution to the area to be treated.
Warnings
- Do not use hot water or a steam cleaner to remove urine stains, as the heat tends to set them.
- Be careful when mixing substances and ingredients. Follow the instructions and use gloves.
- Be careful if there are children and pets around. Make sure they don't come into contact with any treatment.
