Q&A for How to Deodorize Carpet With Baking Soda

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

Is baking soda a good deodorizer?

Haim Shemesh
Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist
Haim Shemesh is a Carpet and Rug Cleaning Specialist and the Owner of Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration, a business based in New York City. Haim specializes in Oriental, Persian, handmade, and antique rug cleaning and repair. He also conducts rug restoration along with fire damage care. He has over 17 years of experience in the carpet cleaning industry. Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration has been awarded Angie's List Super Service Award in 2017 and 2018. Their clients include Staples, Ace Hotel, Momofuku, Banana Republic, and more.

Haim Shemesh

Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Yes! Baking soda is great for removing smells, even if the smell accumulated over time. For instance, it can help get rid of pet odors or old food smells.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7
Question

Does baking soda need to be fresh?

Haim Shemesh
Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist
Haim Shemesh is a Carpet and Rug Cleaning Specialist and the Owner of Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration, a business based in New York City. Haim specializes in Oriental, Persian, handmade, and antique rug cleaning and repair. He also conducts rug restoration along with fire damage care. He has over 17 years of experience in the carpet cleaning industry. Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration has been awarded Angie's List Super Service Award in 2017 and 2018. Their clients include Staples, Ace Hotel, Momofuku, Banana Republic, and more.

Haim Shemesh

Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Yes! Baking soda is great for absorbing smells, but it loses its potency over time. Open a new box of baking soda to absorb odors.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 10
Question

What do I do if my carpet has bad stains?

Community Answer

Make a paste with apple cider vinegar and baking powder, and apply it to the stain. Let that dry over over night, then vacuum it.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 19 Helpful 45
Question

Will baking soda help moldy-smelling carpet?

Community Answer

Add peppermint oil to help with the smell. If there is actual mold (not just mold smell), baking soda alone will not help. Vinegar would be a better start.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 25
Question

Does baking soda help with cigar smells?

Community Answer

The problem with cigar smoke is that is not just contained to carpeting. It will permeate any porous fabric or material such as curtains, cushions, lamp shades, or basically anything that is not a hard surface. Baking soda alone is insufficient. The entire area should be cleaned; try a vinegar and water solution in lieu of perfumes or products with perfume additives that just mask odor. You will be nose-blind, but your guests will not.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 6
Question

Does baking soda or vinegar sitting in a bowl in a room help?

Community Answer

Vinegar in a bowl helps deodorize a room. It does give off its own aroma, but this dissipates as the vinegar evaporates.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 12 Helpful 24
Question

Does this take away the new carpet smell?

Community Answer

Possibly, but it probably won't because that smell is very strong and requires time for it to fade away. You can mask the smell with some kind of perfume or something similar.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 14
Question

Will using baking soda on the carpet keep my dog from licking the carpet all the time?

Community Answer

If your dog has a distaste for baking soda, it could help. If not, buy a dog chew deterrent that you can spray on furniture and carpets.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 10 Helpful 14
Question

Does this work for car carpeting as well?

Community Answer

Yes, this should work for car carpeting as well.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6
Question

How do I get dried baking soda off a carpet?

Community Answer

Use a vacuum, very slowly. Check the container or bag often. If you notice a lack of suction, check the hoses on your vacuum for buildup and repeat until done.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 8
Question

Can I mix bicarbonate soda with water to rinse dog urine out of rug?

Community Answer

White vinegar and baking soda together will neutralize the pet smell and keep your furry friend from returning to that area.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 40 Helpful 34
Question

There are many articles that say baking soda can harm your vacuum cleaner. True?

Community Answer

In my experience, it clogs the filters, but it depends on your vacuum. I've used a Hoover with no filters and the baking soda did no damage and worked great.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 9 Helpful 11
Question

Could I sprinkle a light amount of baking soda on the carpet and just leave it there permanently?

Community Answer

It seems to me that if you did this, the baking soda would still hold the odor you're trying to eradicate, so that would be a waste of time and effort.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

How do I remove the smell of spilled milk from my car?

Community Answer

Get a plastic soap container and put holes in the top of it. Place a sponge inside it and about 1 cup of white vinegar. Close the lid and place it in your car. This will neutralize the smell in a few days. It is a natural air freshener that can be used in any area. Also, the vinegar smell goes away too.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

To freshen carpet, can you simply shake some baking soda on it after vacuuming, then vacuum it up after a short while?

Geesearegood

Community Answer

Yes, that can work to help freshen your carpet and remove odors from it. You should leave it for at least ten minutes.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0