When it comes to home flooring, everyone’s got a preference. Some swear by the natural look and feel of hardwood flooring. Others prefer vinyl flooring or laminate flooring.
A significant portion likes carpeting too. Carpeting accounts for 51% of the U.S. flooring and 44% of homeowners have indicated they prefer carpeting in the bedroom.
When it comes to carpet installation in a home, there are several benefits:
- Carpet installation is fast, cheap and easy compared to wood flooring.
- Carpet can be extended with regular vacuuming and steam cleaning.
- Carpet offers a level of comfort that can be hard to get with hardwood flooring.
- Carpets made out of recycled content can be eco-friendly for a home and eliminate a potentially high source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can cause serious health problems if they are not dealt with.
- A good quality carpet can last between 10-15 years.
- On the design front, there are a lot of options compared to other flooring options.
As great as carpet can be, odds are pretty good that it’s a significant source of odor in the average house. If you have pets or your carpet is old, you might have odor in your house. Despite your best efforts to clean, residue and dirt buildup over time can cause odor as well.
So what can be done to eliminate that odor? Well, you can do a number of things for carpet odor treatment. Some are highly effective in eliminating odor, while some methods will do little more than just hide the smell. With that in mind, here are some useful carpet common cleaning techniques:
- Deodorizer and carpet cleaner: The right deodorizer or carpet cleaner can remove even the toughest of odors and get your carpet smelling nice and fresh again. An online search of carpet cleaners can give you reviews on the best one you might think will work for your carpets.
For whichever one you choose, try to get into the habit of cleaning your carpets on a regular basis. Doing this will help prevent odor buildup before it becomes too serious. - Vinegar: When it comes to deodorizing, vinegar can be very effective. While vinegar can be potent at the outset, it becomes odorless once it dries. As it dries it also absorbs bad smells. This makes it a great choice for deodorizing around the house, neutralizing cat litter and cleaning carpets. Using white vinegar works best, especially if you use it in a spray bottle.
- Vodka: Believe it or not, vodka can be very effective in eliminating carpet odor. It removes stains and also kills bacteria. If you use vodka for spot cleaning, put baking soda over top after 15-20 minutes and then finish by vacuum, your carpet should be nice and clean.
- Baking soda: If you’re a smoker and/or a pet owner, chances are you’ve got pet odor such as urine and smoke trapped in your carpet. If that’s the case, baking soda is the answer. Baking soda works by trapping unpleasant smells as well as absorbing moisture.
To make sure the baking soda works, sprinkle it on your carpet and let it get into the carpet’s fibers overnight. Once it’s had enough time to sit, vacuum it up. If you want to take an extra step to ensure that the baking soda is effective, mix one of your favorite essential oils into the baking soda and then sprinkle it on the carpet.
There are plenty of methods you can use for odor treatment on your carpet and it may take some trial and error to find a method that works the best.
To keep your carpet clean, there’s plenty you can do in addition to the methods described above. If you have a pet, it’s recommended that carpet be steam-cleaned every six months. At the very least, it’s recommended that carpet be professionally cleaned once a year. Doing so will keep your home smelling fresh and your carpet lasting for many years.