How to get the smell out of carpet – effective DIY Methods
Smelly mat, smelly mat!
That strange, unusual odor, the persistent smell you are noticing in your room might be because of the dirty carpets.
It may be the furry pets, accidentally left dirty dishes, spilled coffee or wine, smoke after you’ve burnt something, carpet or rugs can easily absorb such odors.
Instead of just spraying room fresheners or burning incense sticks, it is wise to get rid of the smell for once.
The musty-smelling carpet can certainly pollute your indoors and make the space unpleasant but the good news is, neutralizing odor from your carpet is pretty simple.
There are several easy ways to remove bad smell from the carpet.
You won’t believe it, but you already have the tools in your home pantry that will help you to eradicate the musty smell from the carpet.
If you are wondering how to remove odor from the carpet using household ingredients then go through our complete guide below.
Begin with:
- To get complete access to the carpet, make sure all the furniture is cleared off the carpet so that you can work on the entire area.
- Ensure the area is dry. In case, there is any water problem like leakage or something, get it fixed first. It must be the reason for your carpet getting moist and smelly.
- Vacuum the carpet to remove moisture, dust, and dirt.
How to get the smell out of the carpet?
Deodorize your carpet using baking soda
Things you’ll need:
- Baking soda – 1 box or more (depending on the size of carpet)
- Vacuum
Method:
- Sprinkle a small section of baking soda on the carpet
- Either use your finger or brush to evenly spread it
- Make sure the baking soda penetrates deep into the carpet fiber
- Let the natural deodorizer settle on the carpet. Leave it for several hours or overnight for best results
- You’ll notice the baking soda has absorbed much of the odor. Sweep the baking soda or better vacuum it till the baking soda is completely removed off the carpet
- If you still witness some odor, you can repeat the above steps again
Note – If you have pets or children at home then baking soda is the best solution as it is non-toxic, chemical-free, and does not even damage the fabric.
Get smell out of carpet using white vinegar
Things you’ll need:
- White vinegar – 1 cup
- Warm water – 2 cups
- Spray bottle
- Vacuum
- Clean cloth
Method:
- Mix warm water and vinegar together and pour it into a spray bottle
- Spray the solution evenly all over the rug/carpet
- Just mist the carpet. Do not oversaturate it as it can build moist and make the smell more worse
- Let the mixture get settled. Leave it at least for 15 minutes
- Blot the solution with a clean cloth
- Vacuum to make the carpet completely dry
Vinegar acts as a natural deodorant. It neutralizes the odor and keeps the carpet smelling fresh for a long time.
Remove musty smell using hydrogen peroxide
Things you’ll need:
- Water – 5 parts
- Hydrogen peroxide – 1 part
- Spray bottle
Method:
- Mix hydrogen peroxide and water together and pour it into a spray bottle
- Now gently spray or apply the solution on the back of the carpet
- Applying hydrogen peroxide will help in killing the mold spores and eradicate the musty smell from the carpet
Note – Before you use hydrogen peroxide, perform a spot test to ensure your carpet fabric can handle the chemical effect.
Get rid of the smell using carpet shampoo
Things you’ll need:
- Carpet shampoo
- Sponge
- Vacuum
Method:
- First, you need to vacuum the carpet to remove all the dirt and dust settled on it
- Now apply the shampoo to the carpet using a sponge
- Run it gently into the rug and ensure it does not get oversaturated
- Let it get soaked into the carpet by leaving it for half an hour
- Finally, let it dry
- Vacuum the carpet again
Treat deep odor using isopropyl alcohol
Things you’ll need:
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Towel
- Fan/vacuum
Method:
- First, you need to get up close with your carpet and identify the source of the odor
- After identifying the smelly area, gently pour the isopropyl alcohol
- Wait for at least 15 minutes to let the alcohol get soaked into the carpet
- Now take a clean towel and remove all the excess liquid
- You can either let the carpet dry by placing it under a fan or just vacuum it to dry
Note – Before you use isopropyl alcohol, perform a spot test to ensure it does cause any negative reaction on the carpet fabric.
Get rid of mold and mildew that causes odor
Things you’ll need:
- Water
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Spray bottle or clean cloth
- Broom
- Vacuum
Method:
- Spread a liberal amount of baking soda on the carpet (make sure the baking soda is fresh and not clumpy)
- Spread it evenly on the carpet
- Make sure the baking soda penetrates deep into the carpet fiber
- Let it settle for a few hours or even days. The longer it stays on the carpet, the more effective it will be
- Sweep the baking soda
- Later you can vacuum the leftover
- After cleaning the baking soda, spray the mixture of water and white vinegar or dab the solution on the rug with a clean cloth
- Dry the carpet by vacuuming it again
Additional tips
Essential oils for a fresh smelling carpet
Essential oils work as the best natural aromatherapy.
You can always add a few drops of any of your favorite flavors of essential oil to the carpet cleaning solution so that it eliminates the musty smell.
Just add 5 to 10 drops of any essential oil or combination of essential oils.
Show some sunshine
One of the most effective and natural ways to kill the bacteria and remove the bad smell from the carpet is exposing it under the sun.
The powerful ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun can kill the microorganisms and pungent smell.
So it is recommended to put your rug or carpet under the sun for a few hours. Keep the carpet flipping.
These odor removal methods are all in your budget. Routinely, deodorize your carpet and make your home smelling fresh again.