How to Deodorize a Carpet

Just because your carpet looks clean and neat doesn't mean that issues aren't underfoot. All too often, through neglect or other means, otherwise beautiful carpeting can harbor something that isn't so pleasant: nasty odors. Nothing detracts from the quality of a room quite like an unpleasant odor, so it pays to take care of the issue as quickly as possible. If you wait too long to address the odor, you could end up with a problem without a workable solution. Besides, who wants to sit around in a room that has carpeting that smells absolutely awful? It's in your best interest - and everyone else's - to remedy the situation right away. The following tips can help you eliminate nasty odors from your carpeting.

A Quick Fix

Let's say that you walk into your living room, bedroom, family room or another carpeted area of your home and detect an unpleasant odor. If you determine that it's coming from the carpet, and there's not enough time to do a thorough cleaning, don't panic. There is a quick and easy way to minimize the impact of the odor temporarily. While spray room deodorizer may help, placing small bowls of vinegar around the room is even better. Vinegar absorbs the majority of a nasty odor and leaves a room smelling relatively clean. Although the smell of vinegar will initially be palpable, it will fade away quickly. This solution is only viable for the short term, though, so don't attempt to use it for long-term fixes.

Pet Mishaps

If you have pets, you are probably used to the occasional mishap. Urine and feces can do a real number on a carpet. Even after you have cleaned up the mess, unpleasant odors can linger for days, weeks and even months. Simply removing the mess isn't enough. The first thing that you should do is sprinkle baking soda on the affected area. Let it sit overnight; vacuum it up the next day. From there, steam clean the carpet using an odor-deodorizing solution. Make sure that it is compatible with the machine that you are using. Upon drying, your carpeting should be back to normal.

Mold and Mildew

It's critical to clean up spills from carpeting immediately. If they are allowed to sit, they won't just create stains - they could also cause mildew and mold to grow, which will create very nasty odors. If you detect the unmistakable smell of mold or mildew in your carpeting, try using a deodorizing solution from your local grocery store. Otherwise, you could try mixing a solution of regular water and 20 percent white vinegar. Apply it to the affected area. After that, shampoo the carpeting. Once it is dry, no unpleasant odors should remain.

Smoke

Nothing is worse than carpeting that smells like smoke. Whether someone randomly lit up in your home or if you enjoyed a fire in the fireplace and have been left with a lingering smell, you don't have to put up with it. While products are available from the store, you probably already have what you need in your kitchen cupboard: baking soda. Just sprinkle some baking soda on your carpet. Use a straw brush to work it in well. Allow it to sit overnight. The next day, slowly and carefully vacuum the entire room. You should be able to work out most of the baking soda, and the odor of smoke should be gone.

After spending so much money on carpetingProsource carpet, the last thing that you want is for it to smell awful. Before you rip it out and buy even more of it, you should put the preceding techniques to work. In most cases, these techniques should more than do the trick. If all else fails, you could always call in a professional cleaning company to clean your carpeting. When the offending odors are gone, your carpeting will be returned to its previous state, and you will be able to relax with ease.

Andrew White writes about Prosource carpet and other home improvement topics out of Seattle. Always looking for the highest quality materials at the best price he tends to end up shopping at http://www.prosourcefloors.com more often than not.