Removing stubborn stains from a carpet is an extremely tough job, but has anyone ever told you how to clean a carpet with baking soda?
That little jar of baking soda sitting in your pantry has some incredible cleaning properties!
If you have carpeted floors in your home, you probably deal with carpet stains and smells regularly. However, you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Baking soda is the perfect natural solution to your problem!
Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate. It has unique chemical properties that make it one of the best cleaning agents for your home.
It helps in removing abrasive stains and odors from carpets almost instantly, mainly because of its impressive neutralizing and deodorizing properties, primarily when used with vinegar.
Why Use Baking Soda for Your Carpet?
You might find yourself wondering, can I use baking soda in my carpet cleaner? The answer is yes, you can.
One of the main reasons for using baking soda as a carpet cleaner is that its particles go deep down, and completely penetrate your carpet. In doing so, it helps neutralize odors and ensures the complete removal of tough stains.
The simplest and easiest way to make use of baking soda as a stain and smell remover is to either use it on its own or combine it with water.
Water and baking soda together produce a bubbling reaction that helps you clean your carpets with great ease and to a high degree of cleanliness.
Rub the baking soda mixture on your carpet with the help of a portable carpet cleaner. Once you are done, it will leave your carpet smelling fresh and looking as good as new.
Another great benefit of using a baking soda carpet cleaner is that it is a natural and inexpensive solution. Not only does it remove carpet stains and smells with ease, but it also has no lasting impact on the environment.
Baking Soda Reacts with Vinegar
Vinegar is undoubtedly an incredible weapon when it comes to fighting carpet smells and stains, and baking soda significantly reacts with the ingredients present in vinegar.
Baking soda and vinegar are like partners in crime, and together, they can do wonders in terms of removing dirty stains and unpleasant odors from carpets. Carpet cleaning with vinegar and baking soda is a simple but effective solution.
Cleaning a carpet with vinegar and baking soda is the best way to keep your carpet looking fresh and clean. The ideal method is to soak the affected areas with vinegar and then sprinkle some baking soda on top.
This process will result in a bubbling mixture as the baking soda reacts with the vinegar. Allow the mixture to absorb the stain for a few minutes. Then, you can wipe it and vacuum it up.
Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a useful agent for teeth whitening, but did you know that it also does an excellent job as a carpet cleaner?
If you want to know how to clean a carpet with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, it is a relatively simple process, given that you follow the steps correctly.
First, cover the stain with a generous amount of baking soda, enough to create a small mound that rises above the stained area. Next, make a solution of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of plain washing detergent.
Pour the peroxide solution on the soda and wait for a few moments till the mixture completely penetrates through the stain. Use a scrubbing brush to work the solution into the carpet and then allow it to dry.
Once the wet area has dried up, use a vacuum cleaner to remove the residue, leaving behind a fresh-looking carpet. Cleaning with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is a sure-shot way of removing stubborn stains from your carpets.
Homemade Carpet Freshener
You can whip up your own homemade baking soda carpet freshener to clean your carpets.
If you have pets in your home, this will come in extremely handy considering how house pets can sometimes leave your carpets smelling unpleasant. A good freshening powder can do an excellent job at removing pet odor.
For the perfect baking soda carpet cleaner recipe, all you need is a little baking soda with dried rosemary or lavender. You can also use any other dried herb that you may have lying around in your kitchen pantry.
First, mix baking soda with any powdered dried herb in a bowl. Sprinkle it all over the carpet and then thoroughly vacuum the entire area.
If you don’t own a vacuum cleaner, you can either scrape it off with a brush or use a portable carpet cleaner if you have one.
Baking Soda and Essential Oils
If the carpets in your home smell a little dingy, you must immediately freshen and deodorize them. The best way to do this is by creating a baking soda carpet cleaner with essential oils.
Although there are carpet deodorizers that are readily available in grocery stores, you should read their labels carefully. Some of them contain harsh chemicals that can seriously damage your carpets.
Essential oils like lavender have excellent antibacterial and antiviral properties. They are also great at deodorizing your home. When you mix these oils with baking soda, they create the perfect deodorizing solution that helps remove odors from carpets.
To make this carpet cleaner, mix baking soda with your favorite essential oil that has a strong, fresh scent. The use of scented oils adds extra cleaning and deodorizing power, which helps in getting rid of tough stains and odors.
Sprinkle or spray the mixture generously all over your carpet and let it sit there overnight or just for a few hours. Vacuum well till your carpet looks clean and smells just like the essential oil that you used.
Removing Greasy Stains
If you have little kids in the house, you probably spend a lot of your time removing greasy stains from your carpets.
Greasy stains such as those from oil or face creams are challenging to clean because they leave behind very stubborn marks. However, there is no stain that a handful of baking soda can’t remove.
For a greasy stain, you first need to blot up as much of the grease as possible with the help of a paper towel. Make sure that you blot it by patting down the paper towel.
Avoid rubbing the grease because that will make the stain worse by setting it deep into the carpet. Once the blotting is done, sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda on the stain and let it sit overnight.
Doing the above will allow the soda to absorb as much grease as possible, which will make it easier for you to remove the stain.
Many homeowners often hesitate to use baking soda on a wet carpet, especially in the case of a wet, greasy stain. However, it is perfectly safe to use it on a damp carpet since it helps in drying.
Vacuum the stained areas properly the next morning, and in case the grease marks are still there, try blotting with soapy water and a towel.
Carpet Freshener Baby Powder
There may be times when you urgently need to clean the stains and odor from your carpet. But you might not have any of the following in your pantry: hydrogen peroxide, essential oils, dried herbs, or even vinegar.
In such a situation, the best thing to do is to make a homemade carpet freshener with baby powder and baking soda.
For this carpet cleaner recipe, you will need baking soda, baby powder, and some laundry powder. Mix all these ingredients in a shaker jar and then sprinkle it all over your carpet.
That is not only the best carpet deodorizer powder, but it is also the perfect alternative to commercial carpet fresheners. Store-bought deodorizing powders contain many toxic chemicals that can cause skin irritation and allergies in case of close contact.
Get Rid of Baking Soda Residue
One primary concern that some people might have is how to get baking soda out of a carpet. It is possible that even after a thorough vacuuming, your carpet still gives off a strong scent of baking soda.
The best way to get baking soda remains out of your carpet is by soaking a clean sponge in a mixture of water and vinegar. Dab the sponge on the affected area and then let it dry.
If the residue on the carpet is already dry, try vacuuming it up. Rub the residue with a brush to loosen it so that it can be vacuumed up.
If that doesn’t work either, use a steam cleaner if you have one. If you don’t own a steam cleaner, you can always rent one for emergencies.
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