How to Get Bad Smells out of Carpet

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: November 2, 2023 Approved

Many people enjoy the softness of carpet, but it can quickly become dirty. Because carpet is so absorbent, it tends to hold onto the pungent smells from spills, accidents, and smoking. If your carpet smells bad, don’t assume that you need to purchase new carpet. You may just need to do a bit of extra cleaning. With a few common household products, you can get bad smells out of your carpet.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Dealing With General Odors

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Before treating your carpet, remove any dried on spills, blot away wetness, and dab soap on noticeable stains. You want your carpet to be in its best state before treating the smell.
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Sprinkle baking soda onto the carpet. The baking soda will work to neutralize the odors that are trapped in the carpet. You should create a thin coat of baking soda, so get a large box of baking soda for each room that you plan to treat. If it clumps in spots, use your hand to spread it out.^{[1]
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- You can also add Borax to baking soda for better results. Simply measure one part baking soda with one part Borax and mix well. Add a few drops of an essential oil if you'd like it to be scented. Then use as you would baking soda.
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Let the baking soda sit. The recommended wait time is several hours, but if you have really bad carpet odors, then you may want to let it sit overnight.^{[2]
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- Keep pets and children away from the area.
Monitor your vacuum cleaner bag or canister because baking soda can quickly fill it. Empty it out as necessary.^{[3]
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Apply a deep treatment. If baking soda alone doesn’t work, you can make your own deep cleaning treatment with 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup (59 milliliters) of baking soda, 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of liquid soap, and 1 quart (1 liter) of water. Mix the ingredients together in an open container. Test it on a hidden area of your carpet before using it on the whole carpet.^{[4]
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- Use gloves when handling this treatment.
- DO NOT put a lid on the treatment once it’s mixed.
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Pour or spray it on the carpet. Spraying is better because it provides an even coat, but remember to leave the nozzle open and avoid leaving unused treatment in a closed spray bottle. When pouring be careful not to saturate the carpet.^{[5]
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- Remember to wear your gloves, especially if you pour the treatment.
The treatment needs time to work, so leave it untouched. While you want to ventilate the room, keep it secure from pets and children.^{[6]
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If any wet areas remain, use an old or white towel to remove it. Let the remaining wetness air dry.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Removing Smoke Odors

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1
Fill 2-3 bowls with white vinegar or ammonia. Leave enough room at the top of each bowl to prevent it from sloshing over the sides. Set the bowls out in the room with smoke-scented carpet. While it won’t completely remove the odor from the carpet, your chosen substance will break down the smoke smell in the room and start the removal process.^{[8]
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- Do not mix white vinegar and ammonia. Doing so will create a harmful gas.
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Allow your bowls to sit for 24 hours. The white vinegar or ammonia will absorb the odor, even though it isn’t applied to a surface. Once you’re finished with the treatment, remove and dispose of your substance.^{[9]
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- Keep pets and children away from your vinegar or ammonia bowls.
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Treat with baking soda. As with general odors, sprinkle with baking soda and allow it to sit overnight before vacuuming it up.^{[10]
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- Keep pets and children away from the area during treatment.
- You can also try a commercial carpet cleaner, which will consist of scented granules.
4
Pour distilled white vinegar into a steam cleaner. White vinegar is an effective acidic cleaner. It kills bacteria and removes odors from tar and resin.^{[11]
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- You can also opt for a commercial cleaning product. Some are targeted at smoke smells.
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Run the steam cleaner over the carpet. Follow the instructions for your machine. If you absolutely can’t rent a steamer, you can try saturating the carpet with white vinegar. The smell from the vinegar will evaporate away.
- Be sure to have a fan on, and, if possible, open a window to help prevent mildew from the wet carpet.
- You can rent a carpet steam cleaner from a hardware store or supermarket.
Leave your fan on while the carpet dries. Avoid walking on the wet carpet.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Banishing Pet Smells

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Use a paper towel to clean up the urine spot. If the spot is dry, then wet it with clean water and dab the area with a paper towel.^{[12]
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Green dish detergents are recommended for spot cleaning recent pet urine accidents. Put a dollop of green dish detergent on a wet paper towel. Blot the area with the soapy towel to clean up the urine.^{[13]
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While the carpet is still wet, pour a layer of baking soda over it. The baking soda may get damp, but that is okay.^{[14]
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The baking soda and soap will need several hours to work. If you’re working on a small spot, cover it with paper towels while it treats.^{[15]
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Spray white vinegar onto the dried urine spot. Don’t remove the baking soda. It’s normal for the area to foam as the baking soda and vinegar react to each other. This reaction between the two substances helps remove the bad smell.^{[16]
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- You can also clean the area with a mixture of water, white vinegar, and baking soda. Simply mix one cup (237 milliliters) of water, one cup (237 milliliters) of vinegar, and two tablespoons (30 milliliters) of baking soda into an empty spray bottle. This cleaner has a shelf life of 2-3 months.^{[17]
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- If the smell still lingers, hydrogen peroxide can be applied to the urine spot; however, you should test it on your carpet in a hidden area first as it can discolor carpet.
- Products that use enzymes to break down the smell are commercially available and require no extra cleanup.
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Allow the white vinegar to sit for five minutes. Monitor the vinegar as it treats the carpet. Make sure that your pets and/or children are kept away from it.^{[18]
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- If you’re using hydrogen peroxide, it should sit for 10-15 minutes.^{[19]
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Soak up the cleaning agents with a soft cloth. Wipe away the remaining baking soda and blot the area dry. Once it’s dry, smell the carpet to determine if the smell remains. If it does, then you may have to use a carpet steam cleaner.^{[20]
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- If your carpet pad is soaked with urine, then you may have to replace it to get rid of the smell.
8
Use a carpet steam cleaner. If you have a lot of set-in pet odors, you may need to treat the entire carpet with a carpet cleaner, such as a Green Machine or a Rug Doctor. You can use a commercial odor removing cleaner, or you can mix your own cleaner with white vinegar and water. Run the cleaner over the entire carpet and then let it dry. You may need to make several passes to get out the odor.
- If you have set in odors, an enzymatic cleaner can help deactivate the odor-causing bacteria. You simply soak the carpet in your cleaning and let it dry, so they’re easy to use.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Eliminating Mold Odor

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If you’re smelling mold, then you likely have a high humidity level in your house. Treating the smell won’t be enough to keep your carpet smelling good because the mold spores will continue to thrive. Instead, change your habits to minimize humidity. Run a fan during showers, open a window to let shower or cooking steam out, and use a dehumidifier.^{[21]
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If your carpet is wet, a wet-dry vacuum can help limit mold growth by removing the wetness that facilitates it.
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Mix 1 cup (237 milliliters) of white vinegar into 2 cups (.5 liter) of warm water. For mold smells, dilute your vinegar with water. Make sure that the water is warm rather than hot.^{[22]
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- Don’t warm your water on the stove.
Coat the entire carpet in the room. The carpet should be damp enough to react to baking soda.^{[23]
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Sprinkle baking soda on top of the dampened carpet. While your carpet is still damp, sprinkle on your baking soda. The baking soda should react to the diluted vinegar.^{[24]
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- Depending on the size of your room and the quality of your sprayer, you may find it more convenient to work in small sections of your room.
This may take several hours or overnight, depending on how much you applied and if you use fans to help the carpet dry.^{[25]
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Dump the baking soda in your outside trash can.^{[26]
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To prevent a return of the moldy-mildew smell, hasten the drying time. Depending on the weather, open a window as well to prevent the room from being stuffy.
If you have water damage or mold, you may need the help of a professional. Mold is a serious issue that can quickly get expensive, so the earlier you get professional help the better it will be for your home.^{[27]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you remove pet odor from carpet?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

For pet urine odors, make a solution of water and green dish soap and dip a towel into it. Blot the area with the towel, then cover the area with baking soda and let it sit overnight. Once it is dry, spray some vinegar on it and let it react for 5 minutes. Wipe it all away with a clean cloth and vacuum up any remaining baking soda.

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Question

How do you deodorize a carpet?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Baking soda is the best and simplest method for deodorizing a carpet. Clean the carpet first, then apply baking soda over it. Let the baking soda sit for 24 hours, then vacuum it up. For added strength, you can add hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, and water to the baking soda to create a spray (use 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of liquid soap, and 4 cups of water). Spray this on the carpet, let it sit for 24 hours, then wipe and dry the area with a towel. Let the carpet air dry completely when you're finished.

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Question

How do you get an overall bad smell out of a highly trafficked area (sometimes with wet feet due to a pool entry) without blocking it off for several hours?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Unfortunately, it often takes time for baking soda, vinegar, or any solution you end up using to work. If you really want to get the bad smell out of the carpet, it will be in your best interest to block the area off for at least a couple hours.

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If you cannot remove mold, mildew, or bad pet smells with these processes, the carpet pad has been damaged and needs to be replaced.

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Do not underestimate the effect of sunshine and fresh air in removing bad smells. Keep the smelly area as well ventilated as possible, by opening windows and turning on fans. Try putting pet beds or rugs that aren't machine washable out in direct sunlight for a few hours so the UV light can kill odor-causing microbes. However, realize that UV light can also fade colors if items are left out too long or too frequently.

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DO NOT use vinegar on marble or natural stone. The acidity of the vinegar can damage the finish.

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Warnings

Do not use warm water or a steam cleaner to clean up urine stains. The heat will set the stain.

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Be careful when mixing cleaning agents. Follow directions and use gloves.

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Be careful if you have pets and children. Make sure that they stay away from all treatments.

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