6 Ways To Clean A Smelly Carpet (Updated)

Want to learn the 6 ways to clean a smelly carpet? Carpets provide a soft, comfortable place to walk and rest in your home after a long day in Singapore’s busy life. However, they are also inclined to capture and hold on to all kinds of odors, even the tiniest ones. A stinking, lingering odor from your carpet can make your home inhospitable, to say the least.

Whether the entire floor of the house is reeking or just from one room, the smell can be unbearable. The good news is that you can remove these carpet odors. The time and effort needed will mainly depend on the nature and intensity of the odor. Below are six different ways that might work with different types of odors.

Sprinkle baking soda for general odors

One excellent solution to removing unappealing carpet odors is sitting right on your kitchen shelf. Baking soda is a well-known remover of bad smells. It is easily accessible, simple to use, and highly effective. Begin the process by sprinkling the baking soda generously on the smelling surface.

Using a broom, lightly brush the carpet to work the powder into its surface. Sprinkle an extra layer of baking soda to the surface afterward. A thin layer of the powder will not be as effective in removing the odors, so do not be afraid to be liberal with your baking soda. Leave the powder to set overnight, and then use a stiff broom to sweep the top layer into a dustpan.

Then use a strong vacuum cleaner to vacuum the remaining baking soda from the affected area. You must sweep the top layer first before vacuuming to avoid damaging your carpet. Smell the area to see if there is any change; if so, repeat the process until the smell is gone completely.

Use white paper towels for Pet Urines.

Pet urine odors in the carpet are among the most intolerable. If you can smell it, but you are not sure where it is coming from, follow your nose or use a black light to find the target area. Certain vitamins and body fluids contain phosphorus.

A black-light emits an ultraviolet light that will make the phosphorus glow. Once you have located the urine in the carpet, blot using white paper towels until you get out as much liquid as possible. Avoid rubbing as you might spread the stain.

Apply an equal mixture of water and vinegar to the affected area generously, leave it for a few minutes, and then use clean paper towels to absorb the solution. Please keep away from the area until it is scorched. If the odor is not completely gone, you can now use the baking soda approach.

Apply vinegar for liquid odors

Often, carpet odors come from spilled food, drinks, beverages, and other liquids that may have been left unattended or not cleaned properly. If that’s the case, then vinegar is an excellent solution. Using a soft cloth to blot the vinegar onto the carpet or use a spray can spray the surface.

Since the liquid emanating the bad smell has most likely already been absorbed by the carpet, use sufficient vinegar to reach the odor’s source but do not saturate it. Give the vinegar 15 minutes to set on the carpet, and then use a clean cloth to blot it out.

Blot or spray the affected area with clean water to rinse it, and then use a dry cloth to absorb any remaining water. Allow the area to dry and repeat if necessary.

Consider using Ammonia and water for smoke odors.

Depending on the frequency of exposure and the buildup, smoke odors can be tough to eliminate. Your carpet can emit a smoke odor if you regularly smoke in the house or if something burns and accidentally falls on its surface.

Spray a mixture of one cup of ammonia with one bucket of water on the affected area and then vacuum after a few minutes to clean and deodorize your carpet’s surface. Remember, ammonia can burn if it gets in your eyes, so use protective gloves and eyewear while handling it.

It also has a pungent smell, so make sure you open windows for adequate ventilation, especially if you have plenty of cleaning to do. For peace of mind, the smoker should go outdoors.

Take your time vacuum cleaning and try different angles.

Vacuum cleaners were invented to save time, but that does not mean you should hurry over your carpet cleaning process. If you are in a hurry to vacuum your carpet and get it over with, you will likely not be able to remove stubborn dirt embedded deeply in its fibers, which can be a source of bad smell.

To achieve this, you need to go over your entire carpet with the vacuum cleaner several times. For the best results, try to use a different stroke or pattern each time. You can also use a good deodorizing product to apply to the carpet surface a few minutes before you begin vacuum cleaning.

It is also crucial to act on any stains promptly. The longer they stay on your carpet, the harder it becomes to clean them, and the worse the smell gets. 

Try steam cleaning or a washing machine.

When all fails, you can deep clean your carpet on your own using a steam cleaner or a washing machine to remove all stains and odors. This approach is best when you have allowed a long time to pass without acting on your stains and odors.

Renting a good steam cleaner from a nearby department store is possible. For extra cleaning and best result, use the carpet steam cleaner and a good odor-fighting cleaning solution to add to water. You can apply hydrogen peroxide to the affected area to remove odors, but test it on a tiny surface first to ensure no discoloration or damage to the carpet since not all carpets are made equal.

If the carpet is small enough to be removed and fits in a washing machine, then washing it as normal is the easiest and fastest way to remove the stain and odor. Contact us if you are looking for professional carpet cleaning services in Singapore today.

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