In America, carpets cover almost half of all residential floors. Given the important role, carpets play in achieving the comfort and aesthetic we desire in our homes, this should come as no surprise. Even though cleaning your carpet isn’t the most exciting thing you’ll do all week, it could end up being the one that pays off the most.
But as soon as carpets begin to smell, they become unattractive. Fortunately, foul odors are simple to get rid of. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to deodorize carpet, you’ve come to the right place.
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Why Do Carpets Smell Bad?
Understanding where the smelly odors originate in the first place is the first tip for getting rid of carpet odor in your home. There are a few main culprits for the majority of bad smells that penetrate carpets.
Wearing Shoes In The House
Even clean-looking shoes have the potential to bring bacteria, bugs, and other unpleasant things into your house. These substances are difficult to remove because carpet fibers catch them before they can migrate into the carpet’s base. They can eventually begin to fester and smell there.
Kids And Pets
Kids and pets can eat, play, lounge, and nap on carpets because they are cozy and alluring places to do so. Unfortunately, accidents can easily result from this. Carpets are exposed to a lot of potentially unpleasant things, such as spilled drinks and snacks and accidents caused by pets.
If not removed as soon as possible and thoroughly, these elements can, like dirt and bacteria, cause damage to your carpet. That may immediately result in offensive odors.
Humidity
Your carpet’s fibers naturally function as tiny air filters. Any floating debris, including bacteria, allergens, and moisture, is captured and absorbed by them. The fibers of your carpet become the ideal breeding ground for these trapped elements to grow if your home is consistently humid, producing offensive odors.
How To Deodorize Carpet?
It’s impossible to maintain a spotless carpet all the time. Every home experiences unpleasant odors sooner or later. So how do you get rid of offensive carpet odors when they occur?
Here are our top seven suggestions for deodorizing your carpets quickly and effectively.
1. Vacuum Often And Thoroughly
Your first line of defense against bad carpet odors is simple vacuuming. Your carpets won’t stick around and smell bad because the majority of the dirt and other contaminants are removed when you vacuum. However, any vacuuming won’t do.
Speeding through the house with your vacuum hardly ever gives it the chance it needs to extract debris from the clinging fibers of your carpet. For vacuuming to work well, you need to:
- Vacuum slowly
- Vacuum often (up to three times a week in high-traffic areas)
- Replace vacuum filters and bags regularly
Additionally, it’s important to take good care of your vacuum. In contrast to what they claim to do, clogged, dirty filters or unemptied vacuums can actually add to the smell of the carpet.
2. Use Baking Soda
There will always be advice involving baking soda when searching for carpet deodorization methods online. But using baking soda—whether on its own or in combination with borax or essential oils—is more than just another online trick. It really works!
A well-known odor-absorber is baking soda. When you sprinkle it on your carpet, the odor-causing elements buried deep within the fibers are absorbed and bound by it. All those unpleasant particles are removed with the baking soda when you vacuum it up, leaving your carpet smelling fresh.
For best results, liberally sprinkle baking soda over your carpet and let it sit there for several hours or overnight. After that, carefully and slowly vacuum it up.
3. Deep Clean Every 6 To 12 Months
A thorough cleaning is the best method for eliminating carpet odor. Each six to twelve months, contract reputable cleaning service to come in and give your carpet the thorough cleaning it requires.
Not only will this keep bad smells away, but it will also:
- Protect your home and family from viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants
- Increase the longevity of your carpet
- Make keeping your carpet clean easier the rest of the year
4. Spot Clean Promptly
Messes and spills happen. They don’t have to create lingering issues like unpleasant odors if you clean them up quickly and properly. Stains become more difficult to remove the longer they remain.
Stock up on a quality commercial stain remover. Additionally, since club soda and hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove tough stains like wine and blood, you might want to keep those two items on hand.
Always use blotting rather than scrubbing to clean up spills. Scrubbing causes particles to become more deeply embedded in the carpet fibers, making cleanup more difficult. Blotting makes it simpler to remove stains and debris from clothing.
5. Use An Enzyme Cleaner
A carpet deodorizer for pet urine is one of the most sought-after carpet cleaning products. Pet accidents can occur, and the stench that results is unavoidable. And getting out is challenging.
The bacteria and other organic materials in pet vomit, feces, and urine are specifically broken down by enzyme removers. They can get rid of odors that other cleaners can’t. The use of enzyme cleaners should be done in accordance with the directions on the packaging and is readily available at grocery and pet supply stores.
6. Use Vinegar
Mildew could be developing inside the carpet fibers if there is a musty smell. You’ll need to get rid of the mildew in order to get rid of the odor. Fortunately, no harsh chemicals are required for this. Using vinegar to eliminate odors from your carpet is both efficient and affordable.
In a spray bottle, combine one cup of warm water and one cup of distilled white vinegar. Shake well. Spray the entire carpet, then let it air dry. The overpowering vinegar smell will fade as the mixture dries.
Additionally, you can stir in two teaspoons of baking soda. If the smell is particularly potent, it will be more effective if you do this.
7. Use Vodka
Vodka works wonders at removing stains and odors. When treating spills or pet accidents on your carpet, use it in place of peroxide or soda water.
Pour some vodka on the spot and let it sit before using. Then blot dry.
The use of pricey vodka is not required. Even the less expensive products work well!
How To Prevent A Smelly Carpet?
Avoiding odor settling is necessary if you want to avoid deodorizing your carpet every few weeks. The thing is, a carpet functions somewhat like a sponge, absorbing both liquids and odors. Smoking and high humidity are just two things that could harm your plush rug.
Here are a few things you can do to avoid a smelly carpet:
- Vacuum regularly. Yes, it’s not as enjoyable as binge-watching dating shows, but it’s a task that will be worthwhile in the long run. To keep odors at bay and to achieve those oh-so-satisfying lines in the carpet, give them a once-over at least once a week.
- Every time you can, open your windows. Why are there so many scented candles piled up on your table? That’s right, the aroma of freshly cut grass, flowers, and trees is wafting into your home to welcome you. For one thing, the carpet occasionally needs to breathe.
- Inside, take off your shoes. While adopting the “no-shoes inside” lifestyle may seem like your mother’s answer, it may actually be your new calling. Purchase some slippers or indoor shoes. (Because shoe shopping is enjoyable.) It’s difficult to believe that as a society we are generally okay with the same shoes walking us through parking lots, down aisles in grocery stores, in and out of restaurants, and through the hallways of our own homes. Defining no-shoe zones helps eliminate outside dirt and germs from being repeatedly traipsed through your home.
- Use a dehumidifier. More than just making your hair into a frizz ball, humidity also benefits your plants. It may have an unpleasant, damp odor when trapped in your carpet. Dehumidifiers are a great way to keep moisture out of the air and keep your carpets completely odor-free, or even better, completely odorless.
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