Carpeting can add an important softer touch to your home, can dampen sound, and add beauty. However, it can also be a problem, particularly if yours starts to hold odors. The good news is that removing odors from carpet doesn’t have to be a major challenge. There are several things you can do on your own to eliminate those smells.

BAKING SODA

If you’re looking for a natural, environmentally friendly way to get rid of carpet odors, and the odors are on the surface of the carpet, baking soda can help. If you’ve ever left an open box of baking soda in the fridge to remove old food smells, you know exactly how this works. Simply sprinkle the affected area with baking soda and then let it sit overnight (at least – strong odors may need 24-48 hours). Then, all you need to do is vacuum the baking soda up. The smell should go with it.

WHITE VINEGAR

Another all-natural deodorizer, white vinegar can be used to help eliminate surface odors from your carpet, as well. Add equal parts of white vinegar and water to a spray bottle and then spritz the area where you noticed the odor. Once the vinegar dries, the smell of the vinegar and the offensive odor should be gone.

The two options above work well with odors on the surface of the carpet, but what about for those that are deeper down? Pet odors (including dog urine) fall into the category, but really, anything that soaks down into the pile and backing of the carpet can cause odors.

In the case of dog urine, you’ll need an enzyme digester. There are several commercially available options at the average big box store, and they work the same. You’ll need to pour the liquid onto the affected area of the floor, making sure that you cover the entire stain. This generally means having to use the same amount of liquid as caused the odor in the first place. After about 15-20 minutes, soak up the liquid with a towel and allow the area to dry (use a fan if possible to speed the process up).

PULL IT UP

If the tips above don’t work, you may need to clean the upper portion of the carpet as well as possible, allow it to dry, and then pull the carpet up so you can access the padding underneath. Serious spills can soak into the padding, and even soak down to the floor underneath.