As someone who likes to keep your home fresh and clean, you may often wonder if you can use baking soda on your carpets. This everyday pantry staple has endless uses around the house for cleaning and deodorizing. But is it truly safe and effective to use on delicate carpet fibers?
Well, as an avid do-it-yourselfer, I decided to do some research and find out. I wanted to learn the potential pros and cons before trying it myself. And while it’s inexpensive and natural, baking soda could also pose risks on a carpet.
After digging into it, I discovered baking soda is generally a good option for occasional carpet freshening between professional deep cleanings. It can absorb funky odors, lift some stains, and neutralize smells without harmful chemicals when used carefully. However, there are a few precautions to avoid possible fiber damage or residue. Let’s take a look into this.
What is Baking Soda?
If you’re unfamiliar, baking soda is a powdery white substance, usually sold in boxes in the baking aisle. However, don’t confuse it with baking powder – they aren’t the same!
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a naturally occurring mineral compound. It has gentle abrasive qualities and also releases bubbles when mixed with acids. This makes it a handy, non-toxic cleaner and deodorizer for many household uses. It’s super affordable at just a few bucks per box. And a little bit goes a long way when cleaning.
Benefits of Using Baking Soda on Carpets
If you have kids and pets, I am sure you are familiar with funky odors and mystery stains on carpets. The truth is you may hate using harsh chemicals around your family, so baking soda seems like a good natural solution. Here are some of its specific benefits:
Absorbs Odors
If you’ve ever had a weird smell in your carpets that vacuuming alone can’t fix, baking soda may help. Sprinkle some on and let it sit for a while before vacuuming. This allows it to absorb various odors from pets, food, smoke, etc. The longer it sits, the more it can work its magic.
Cleans Stains
Mixing baking soda with water makes a simple paste for pre-treating stains before vacuuming. The baking soda loosens and lifts stains gently without chemicals. So, you can use it on juice, grease, dirt, and more. Just rub it in, let it bubble up, then blot and vacuum.
Deodorizes Carpets
As stated earlier, baking soda doesn’t just mask odors like air fresheners. It soaks them up and neutralizes them over time. Lightly sprinkling it all over the carpet for 30 minutes before vacuuming can freshen the smell. And you can do this in musty high-traffic areas.
How to Use Baking Soda on Carpets
Using baking soda on carpets is super easy. You just have to perfect the technique to avoid making a mess or causing damage:
Sprinkle on Carpet
Lightly sprinkle a thin layer over the carpet, about a teaspoon per square foot. It would help if you allowed it to sit for at least 30 minutes or overnight for smelly spots. This gives it time to work before you vacuum it all up.
Vacuum After Letting Sit
Here’s an important step – always vacuum slowly and thoroughly after letting the baking soda sit. This ensures you remove the soda from the fibers. Otherwise, it gets grimy. You can go over it a few times to be sure.
Spot Cleaning with Baking Soda
For stains or spills, mix 1-2 tablespoon baking soda with just enough water to make a paste. Using an old toothbrush, gently scrub the paste into the stain for several minutes before rinsing and blotting with a rag. This works great!
Tips for Using Baking Soda on Carpets
Here are some handy tips for successfully using baking soda on carpets:
Test on Small Area First
This, in fact, is very important. You must always test baking soda in an inconspicuous corner or closet first. Before using the soda elsewhere, this checks for color damage or fuzzing to the fibers.
Don’t Use Too Much
A little goes a long way. If not, too much baking soda gets left behind, making vacuuming a mess. A light, even sprinkling, does the trick. You can use about a teaspoon per square foot of carpet space.
Freshen Between Deep Cleans
While baking soda is handy for freshening carpets and absorbing odors between professional deep cleanings, it doesn’t replace them. Every so often, you can still get them steam cleaned.
Risks of Baking Soda on Carpets
Baking soda is pretty safe for most carpets, but it also does come with a few risks to know:
Can Discolor Fibers
The abrasive quality of baking soda may damage more delicate natural fibers like wool or cotton. That’s why it must first be tested in an inconspicuous spot.
May Attract Dirt
Baking soda can make carpets dingy grey if it’s not entirely removed. For this reason, repeated vacuuming is a must after use to remove all traces from the fibers and avoid dirt buildup.
Bottom Line
To wrap up, baking soda is worth using judiciously on carpets to remove odors, stains and refresh worn fibers. So far, the benefits outweigh the risks as long as you are careful not to overuse it or leave any powder behind.