Nothing can make a home unwelcoming like lingering odors trapped in carpeting. Fortunately, there are a number of strategies to employ that will effectively minimize of even get rid of carpet odor. Here are some simple solutions you can try before ripping out the carpeting and buying new carpets.
Carpet odor that is not overwhelming can often be dealt with effectively by using a common household item: baking soda. The baking soda should be distributed in an even layer on the carpeting and allowed to stand for several minutes. This method allows the odor to be absorbed by the baking soda. By vacuuming up the baking soda, the carpet smell is eliminated and the carpeting is left with a fresh and clean smell.
Carpet foam cleaners may be necessary to get rid of odor when baking soda is not sufficient to deal with the issue. The foam cleaners are sprayed in an even coating on the surface of the carpet. Depending on the usage instructions, the foam is allowed to soak into the carpeting and dry to a powder or is worked into the pile of the carpet using a sponge mop. Once the product has been left in place for the specified time, the residue is vacuumed off the carpet, leaving behind odor free carpeting.
Some carpet odors are nothing more than the product of small amounts of dirt that have become trapped in the pile of the carpeting. When this is the case, often all you need to do is dislodge the dirt and remove it from the pile. Renting a water-based steam cleaner is powerful enough to loosen and remove the dirt from between the fibers and eliminate the odor. Using a carpet cleaning fluid as part of the steam cleaning will also help to rid odor from the room. If you want to go in a more natural direction, use white vinegar instead of the cleaning fluid. In addition to renting a machine, it is also possible to purchase effective and affordable steam cleaners for use on a regular basis.
Carpet odor may in fact not be a problem with the carpeting but with the pad underneath the carpet. When this is the case, efforts to get the smell out of carpet will provide nothing more than temporary relief. The only solution for dealing with odor from the padding is to remove the existing carpeting and replace the underlying pad. While this process is time consuming, it does allow for the elimination of odor without the necessity of replacing the carpeting itself.
Effective carpet smell removal sometimes requires the efforts of a professional. The chemicals used to clean your carpet will depend on the nature of the causes of the carpet odor and usually are much stronger than anything you can purchase over the counter. If your carpeting is in good condition, using a professional cleaning service may be your most cost-effective means of getting odor out of carpet in your home.
Before calling in the professionals, it does not hurt to try do-it-yourself solutions to remove smell from carpet around the home. If they are not effective, bite the bullet and call a reputable carpet cleaning service. In the long run, it will save you a lot of money and prevent a great deal of frustration.