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Baking soda is one of the oldest and still effective remedies for removing stains from carpet and upholstery. When you sprinkle baking soda on a stain, you rest assured that at the very least, you can prevent the corrosive substance from permeating rancid odours into the surrounding air.
With this in mind, how can you use baking soda to get stains out of a carpet?
Baking soda works on stains by acting as a drying agent and a whitening solution. Since stains are primarily caused by liquids, it can help to remove the stain and neutralise any odours. It is best to allow the baking soda to set into a carpet and avoid scrubbing the substance into the stain.
Since there is no denying the power of baking soda in stain removal and prevention, we will explore exactly how this household product responds to stains.
Read on to find out more about its relationship to stain removal in carpets.
What Makes Baking Soda Such a Popular Carpet Stain Remover?
Sodium bicarbonate is an alkaline substance that can be used for many household issues and even health-related remedies. This white powder uses neutralisation as its primary mechanism of action for a variety of different issues.
Most stains are strongly composed of acidic substances in one way or another. Wine, grease, even pet urine is highly acidic, which means that baking soda is effective at breaking down that acidity. Since baking soda is commonly used as an antacid in humans, you do not have to worry about any toxicity when using it as a stain remover.
There are two primary ways in which baking soda works against carpet stains and dirt. The first way is through neutralisation. Since baking soda is alkaline and stains are mostly acidic in nature, the alkalinity of it acts as a buffer to absorb and cancel out the staining properties of the acidic substance.
Secondly, baking soda can also work wonders against stains that can cause odours. Odours are also caused by the strong acidity and presence of corrosive chemicals in a substance. The baking soda works by absorbing the odours completely.
It’s a fairly simple process, and this is what makes baking soda such a handy tool for stain removal. It should be understood that baking soda is generally only a good solution for fresh stains. The longer a stain has set into carpet fibres, the effectiveness of baking soda becomes diminished.
Does Vinegar and Baking Soda Remove Old Stains From Carpet?
Much like baking soda, vinegar is also effective at cleaning stains. A vinegar mixture is always a popular tool used for cleaning and this is due to the high levels of acetic acid that are found in vinegar. The acetic acid in vinegar acts as an antagonist against the chemicals that cause stains.
When you combine the neutralising properties of baking soda with the stain-attacking power of white vinegar, you have a fairly effective organic stain remover. The best part about vinegar and baking soda combined as a cleaning agent is the ability of the combination to remove stubborn, old stains.
If you would like to try this method to remove old stains, be sure to have this handy checklist on hand to ensure you have everything you will need:
- Warm water
- Paper towel
- Vacuum
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Spray bottle
To get stains out of carpet with baking soda and vinegar, make sure you apply an even amount of baking soda and vinegar to a spray bottle. You will also need warm water to ensure that the mixture is not too overpowering.
Make sure to saturate the old stain with the mixture. This is important since older stains are very stubborn and set deep into the carpet fibres. Once you have allowed the mixture to absorb into the stain for at least 30 minutes, you can then begin to scrub the stain.
You have to strike a delicate balance with this because you do need to use force to remove the stain, but not too much force to strip the carpet fibres. After the scrubbing process, which you should do until you can visibly see the stain start to lift, sprinkle baking soda on top of the scrubbed stain and allow it to sit on the stain overnight.
The next day, you can vacuum up all of the particles and check to see if the stain was able to lift. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t. If the old stain is simply not budging, your best bet is to call a professional carpet cleaning service to address the stain.
Got bad stains in your carpet? Our carpet cleaners can help! Contact us for professional carpet cleaning and get rid of those stains!
How Long Should You Leave Baking Soda on Carpet?
Using baking soda on carpet stains is a popular solution, yet there is a divide in the opinion on how long you should leave the it on a stain. Generally, this method works best on spots when the baking soda is allowed to set into the carpet fibres for hours at a time.
The longer you allow the baking soda to absorb into the fibres, the more the method can allow the it to neutralise the stain. This can move along a lot quicker if you use vinegar and baking soda together, but baking soda on the stain by itself on the stain can be effective.
Allow the baking soda to neutralise a stain overnight. 8 hours is beneficial but 12 hours is ideal. This solution works best to get smells out of the carpet, which you can then vacuum up and see and smell a noticeable difference.
What Is the Best Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solution?
A simple and effective carpet cleaning solution is one of the best solutions for cleaning a spot on the carpet or even stubborn stains. Such solutions are not feasible for cleaning your entire carpet but there is no denying how effective homemade carpet cleaning solutions can be for stains.
Vinegar and baking soda are still the best solutions when it comes to a carpet stain or odours. All you have to do is combine the two substances with warm water and you have a highly effective homemade remedy for carpet cleaning.
How Do You Clean Badly Stained Carpet?
For stains that are too difficult to remove, you will likely need the help of a professional carpet cleaning service. Bad stains are best understood as not only stains that are hard to remove but also stains that have badly damaged the carpet fibres, and most likely return after standard cleaning.
In this case, hot water extraction is one of the most effective techniques to use against bad stains. This process can remove spots as severe as pet stains or as stubborn as red wine or grease spots. This is due to the hot water that is combined with high pressure and a powerful cleaner.
The process involves hot water and detergent that is blasted into a carpet at very high pressure. Once the three components work to break up dirt particles and stains, the hose sucks up the remaining dirty water and leaves the carpet thoroughly cleaned.
A stain remover is typically also used before the hot water extraction process to help break up the stubbornness of the stain. This professional service works incredibly well as a stain removal solution.
Additionally, steam cleaning has also been proven to be successful in removing incredibly stubborn stains, yet this process lacks the overall power of hot water extraction.
Q: Does baking soda discolour carpet?
Using baking soda to remove a stain on your carpet is generally safe. You do not have to worry about the color of your carpet changing or any sort of white stain left behind from baking soda. Since it’s a neutraliser, there is no need to worry about a stain. However, baking soda can leave behind a film of white dust that will need to be vacuumed up.
Q: Does white vinegar discolour carpet?
White vinegar can be a common concern for those worried about discolouration on carpets. This is only a concern if you have a carpet made of very delicate fibres, such as silk. If this is the case, it is recommended not to use vinegar to treat stains on these kinds of carpets. The acidic compounds in vinegar can damage the color threads inside of the fabric.
Q: Does baking soda take dog urine smell out of carpet?
Baking soda is one of the best products to use when it comes to removing smells out of virtually any kind of fabric. The substance works by breaking down and neutralising the strong chemicals inside of urine. When using baking soda to remove the smell of urine from the carpet, it is recommended not to scrub the baking soda into the urine.
Blot the urine with a paper towel to remove as much of the waste as possible. You can then sprinkle the baking soda over the spot and allow the substance to break down the odour overnight. Simply vacuum up the remaining baking soda and waste the next day.
Conclusion
We realise that carpet stains are incredibly unpleasant, which is why we also provide knowledgeable and understanding customer service to listen to your needs and target our approach to what will completely eliminate the problem.
Following all of the above tips will help to neutralise these stains and smells, yet you will need a strong and effective cleaning service to restore your carpet to its original state. We make it our goal to never leave a job until your carpet is thoroughly cleaned and sanitised.
Contact us today to talk to a carpet cleaning professional to get your carpet back to its original state and to let us show you how dedicated we are to handling all of your carpet and upholstery cleaning needs.
FAQs
Can you leave baking soda on carpet too long? ›
The longer you can allow the baking soda to sit, the better it can work to absorb odors—if you can afford to leave it on the carpet for a few hours or even overnight, you'll really reap the benefits. But you can still use the mixture for a quick 15-minute application and enjoy the smell and a little deodorizing boost.
How to remove stains from carpet with baking soda and vinegar? ›Pour a little vinegar to cover the stain. Sprinkle baking soda over the vinegar. Let the vinegar and baking soda bubble up and absorb the stain. Rub away stain with damp white cloth – let dry and vacuum up!
What can you mix with baking soda to clean carpet? ›Apply Baking Soda and Water to Carpet
Liberally sprinkle the carpet with dry baking soda. After sprinkling, spritz the area with a spray bottle filled with cool water. The carpet should be very damp, but not sopping wet.
Sprinkle dry baking soda on the stain immediately, and let it sit for 15 minutes or until you can deal with the stain (early treatment is best). The baking soda will soak up liquid and pigment as it dries1.
Does sprinkling baking soda on carpet clean it? ›Baking soda is an inexpensive solution that is safe for your entire family and the environment; it will even help to get rid of odors and stains with ease. You can just sprinkle it on the floor before you vacuum to revitalize the carpet.
How do you get deep stains out of carpet? ›You can try a mixture of white vinegar, Dawn dish soap, and water in a spray bottle. Use 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1 tbsp. of Dawn dish soap, and fill with water. Spray area liberally and let soak for 5-10 minutes and then proceed with blotting with a clean, dry towel until stain is removed.
Do you put baking soda on wet or dry carpet? ›It's really straightforward – all you need to do is sprinkle a generous among of baking soda over your wet carpet and let it sit. The baking soda not only absorbs moisture, but it'll also absorb any nasty odours.
What is the best homemade carpet stain remover? ›For those times when you need a little more stain fighting power, add baking soda to dish washing liquid, white vinegar, and warm water. Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle and you're ready to go. Or, try this combination of white vinegar, salt, and lavender scented essential oil to clean stains and deodorize.
Can you leave vinegar and baking soda on carpet overnight? ›You'll probably need to let it sit overnight, but the key is to wait until the vinegar has completely dried. As it dries, the smell of the vinegar should dissipate. Finally, you'll just need to vacuum up the baking soda. If there's more than a little left in the spot, you may want to scoop some of it up first.
Will baking soda ruin dark carpet? ›Using baking soda to remove a stain on your carpet is generally safe. You do not have to worry about the color of your carpet changing or any sort of white stain left behind from baking soda. Since it's a neutraliser, there is no need to worry about a stain.
Can you vacuum wet baking soda? ›
Baking soda's minuscule size can clog the filters and potentially damage vacuum cleaners – particularly the motor. If you're using a bagless vacuum, the potential chokepoint would be the cyclonic filters and the post-motor HEPA filter. For bagged vacuums, it's the HEPA filter. What is this?
How much baking soda do I put on my carpet? ›Liberally sprinkle baking soda over the area you want to treat. Plan to use up at least one, and maybe two, boxes of baking soda. You want to completely cover your carpet so you can hardly tell what color it is. Since baking soda is not harmful to humans or pets, don't skimp.
Does baking soda and peroxide clean carpet? ›Carpet fibers are one of the most difficult surfaces to clean. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can penetrate deep into the fibers to remove dirt, grime, and stains.
Can you leave baking soda on a stain overnight? ›And if the smell is pretty much everywhere on the clothes, dissolve a cup of baking soda in a basin of water, let the clothes soak overnight before you pop them into the wash the next day.
What kind of stains does baking soda remove? ›Grease stains- apply baking soda onto stain and leave for 30 mins to 1 hour. Sweat stains- rub paste on stained area and let sit for a few mins. Blood stains- rub paste on stained area and let sit for a 1 hour. Vomit stains- apply baking soda directly onto stain and leave for 1 hour.
How much peroxide and baking soda does it take to remove stains? ›Mix a paste of two thirds baking soda to one third hydrogen peroxide, spread it over affected areas, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then rinse away. Follow with a mist of distilled white vinegar if necessary. Got any other uses to add?
What type of stains Cannot be removed from carpet? ›- Red Wine. Red wine is a classic stain that many fear, as it's a dark liquid that is notoriously difficult to remove from carpet. ...
- Pet Urine. ...
- Vomit. ...
- Blood. ...
- Other Coloured Drinks. ...
- Coffee. ...
- Ink. ...
- Cooking Oil.
- Apply white vinegar to the area, let it soak in for a couple minutes.
- Pour salt onto the stained area, then work it in with your fingers.
- Put the garment in the sun and let it air dry.
- Wash as usual.
- Check to see if the stain's gone, repeat the steps if not.
Douse the stain with white vinegar, then apply a paste made of equal parts baking soda and vinegar. If this doesn't work, immerse the item overnight in a bucket of water containing a few tablespoons of detergent and vinegar. Rinse and wash the following morning.
What are the 3 ingredients used to remove stains from carpet? ›Ingredients For Homemade Carpet Cleaner:
White Distilled Vinegar (5% acidity) Baking Soda. Hydrogen Peroxide.
How do you make homemade carpet stain remover? ›
Try this sure-fire homemade carpet stain remover: Mix a teaspoon of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with a little cream of tartar or a dab of non-gel toothpaste. Rub the paste on the stain with a soft cloth. Rinse. The stain, whatever it was, should be gone.
Why you shouldn't use baking soda on carpet? ›1. The particles of baking soda are so small, that a portion of the product remains in the carpet fiber and/or sifts beneath the rug and padding to the floor below (never to be recovered!)
When should you not use baking soda to clean? ›*Don't use baking soda for cleaning glass surfaces, silverware, stone countertops, and wooden floors or furniture.
Why do people put baking soda before vacuuming? ›Stock up on baking soda and use it to sprinkle over your flooring before vacuuming to brighten, lift stains and deodorise both soft and hard surfaces.
Why did my carpet turn yellow after washing? ›As the name suggests, chemical yellowing is caused by certain chemicals reacting with the composition of the carpet fibres. Some chemical cleaners contain high amounts of alkaline detergents or pH, creating a yellow stain after using them.
Does white vinegar and baking soda remove stains from carpet? ›Method 1: Using white vinegar and baking soda. A combination of white vinegar and baking soda is an excellent cleaning agent for various stubborn old stains such as wine spills, blood stains, coffee stains, and fat stains.
Can baking soda alone remove stains? ›As a Stain Remover
The baking soda will lift the stain out of the fibers. Discard the baking soda before you put the item in the washer. For oily stains, Reichert recommends sprinkling baking soda directly on the stain and letting it sit overnight before washing.
Bonus tip: Break down stains with baking soda
It's been trusted for more than 170 years to help break down most stains and get clothes fresh and clean. To make a pre-treating paste, combine 6 tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda with ⅓ cup warm water.
When you have a stubborn spot you want to remove, make a paste of 1 part Dawn dishwashing liquid, and 2 parts hydrogen peroxide. Add a little baking soda to make a paste. The baking soda isn't essential, you can also just use the liquid soap and hydrogen peroxide.
Is vinegar and baking soda safe for carpet? ›If you must do it yourself, natural supplies such as white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda are preferable to soaps and chemicals in DIY carpet cleaning because they do not leave behind residues that attract dirt.
Can you mix baking soda and white vinegar together? ›
These two common household materials can serve as natural cleaners to remove grime and keep your surfaces clean. Because vinegar and baking soda are on opposite ends of the pH scale, they can be combined and used as effective cleaning solutions.
How long do you let baking soda and vinegar sit on carpet? ›This can move along a lot quicker if you use vinegar and baking soda together, but baking soda on the stain by itself on the stain can be effective. Allow the baking soda to neutralise a stain overnight. 8 hours is beneficial but 12 hours is ideal.
Can you mix Dawn and vinegar and baking soda? ›Try this: Vinegar Cleaner: 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp Dawn dish soap 1 tbsp white vinegar Directions: Fill spray bottle with water. Add Dawn.
Why shouldn't you mix baking soda and vinegar? ›Baking Soda And Vinegar
The mixing reaction causes the baking soda to foam up and produce carbon dioxide gas. If these chemicals are kept in a sealed container for a long time, it can cause a small explosion because the carbon dioxide will try to escape.
When vinegar (dilute acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) mix together, the pair "foams up" to produce carbon dioxide gas, as well as liquid water, acetate ions and sodium ions. The carbon dioxide gas is what produces the bubbles.