How to Get Rid of Carpet Smell

Keep carpets in good condition by removing odors promptly.

Carpets add a pleasant appeal to rooms in a home, but they can harbor odors. Odors stick to carpet fibers and can linger. New carpets contain an unpleasant chemical smell, while older carpets are prone to smells caused by spills and stains. While the carpet odor may fade overtime, removing it will make the room more pleasant. Tending to the odor as soon as possible will help to remove it from the carpet quickly.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Straw broom
• Vacuum cleaner
• Carpet shampooer
• White vinegar
• Spray bottle
• Shallow bowls
• Fan

Instructions

1. Sprinkle baking soda over the carpet, covering it completely. Brush the carpet with a straw broom to push the baking soda into the fibers. Allow the baking soda to sit overnight to absorb the odors. Vacuum the carpet the following day to remove the odors.

2. Clean the smelly carpet with a carpet shampooer. Follow the manufacturer instructions carefully to ensure that you use it properly. The machine uses water extraction to remove stains deep in the carpet fibers, which may be the culprit for the carpet odors.

3. Combine an equal amount of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the carpet with the solution to neutralize the smell. Allow the carpets to dry and repeat as necessary.

4. Fill shallow bowls with white vinegar. Place the bowls in the room to absorb the odors. Replace the vinegar daily as necessary.

5. Open the windows and doors in your home to allow the air to circulate. Place a fan in the room to help with the air circulation so you can remove the odor effectively.

Tips & Warnings

• Hire professional carpet cleaners if you have difficulty removing the odor.

• Always test cleaning products on a small area of the carpet first to ensure that they will not fade the fibers.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How to Deodorize Carpets
• Vinegar Tips: Cleaning with Vinegar
• "Good Housekeeping"; Deodorize Your House; Heloise