Getting Your Carpet to Smell Good Again: Tips & Tricks

Besides popular alternatives like hardwood and concrete floors, traditional carpets are still one of the essential parts to make your home feel cozy. However, as time goes by, your favorite carpet will start losing that fresh smell.

Dirt, bacteria, and accidental spills are to blame and can cause your carpet to develop unpleasant odors. How to make carpet smell good, you wonder? 

Luckily, we’ve singled out some tips to help you eliminate that musty smell and keep your carpet alive for many years.

Foul-Smelling Carpet: Why Do Carpets Get an Unpleasant Smell

Let’s be real. Nothing stays new forever, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prolong the life of your carpet and keep it smelling fresh for as long as possible. There are a few causes that can lead to a foul-smelling carpet. 

Dust and Dirt

You’re probably unaware of it, but dust and dirt work day and night behind your back to accumulate on your carpet. They’re like bacteria’s favorite hiding place, as they let it grow and thrive over time. 

Pet Accidents

Pets are incredibly cute, but who can stop them from urinating on your carpet? If you’ve ever dealt with such an accident, you know that pet feces is almost impossible to clean. The smell just intensifies over time, and discoloration on your carpet is inevitable.

Stains and Spills

When you were just a kid, you probably didn’t understand the fuss about one little food stain. As you grow up, you actually realize that stains and spills are a big deal. 

How to make the carpet smell nice when every living person is prone to drink spills? – is the question that bothers every household. We’ll discuss a few tricks further down to freshen up your carpet. 

Mold and Moisture

Mold and moisture are a whole different story. Not only do they create an unpleasant odor on your carpet, but they can seriously threaten your overall health. If your carpet doesn’t dry properly or you live in a humid environment, mold and mildew can grow. 

Cigarette Smoke

Is there anything cigarettes don’t ruin? They’re also going after your fresh-smelling carpet. If you’re a smoker, you probably don’t even notice the smell, but visitors can immediately tell. 

Old Age

Your carpet will age in time, and there’s nothing much you can do about that. The older it gets, the bigger the chances are of accumulating dirt, dust, and other debris that can lead to a foul-smelling carpet. 

Additionally, the padding underneath will also age and make the perfect nest for bacteria and moisture. While stopping your carpet from aging is impossible, there are some tips and tricks to make the carpet smell good and prolong its lifespan. 

How to Make Carpet Smell Good: Ultimate List of Ideas

If you’re tired of cleaning around the house, and your carpet just won’t let that smell go, you’re in the right place. We’ve prepared the ultimate list of ideas on how to make your carpet smell better, with an accent on how to make carpet smell good while vacuuming. 

Regular Vacuuming

Regular vacuuming is the best way to fight against dust and dirt, preventing them from getting deep into the carpet fibers and destroying the nest of bacteria. Not only will this keep you keep your carpet clean, but it will extend its overall lifecycle. 

That’s why you shouldn’t save on vacuum cleaners. The stronger the suction power of a vacuum cleaner is, the better it will remove dust and dirt from your carpet. Invest in a high-quality vacuum cleaner to remove food particles and pet hair efficiently. 

Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning is another effective way of cleaning your carpet. The hot water and steam will penetrate the carpet and remove any visible stains, as well as bacteria and dust mites hidden deep within your carpet. 

If you’ve never tried steam cleaning before, now is the time. Schedule a professional cleaning carpet service today and free your carpet and home from any unpleasant odors and allergens freely floating in the air. 

Better Ventilation

Having good ventilation can help a lot, especially if you’re living in a humid environment. Poor air circulation is the true culprit behind the growth of mold and mildew, which can lead to damp odor over time. 

Maintaining clean and fresh air should be your number one on the list. Good ventilation in every room can help you dry out your carpet, and stop bacteria from growing. You can open the windows regularly to let fresh air enter your home, but fans and air purifiers can also do the job. 

Place Plants Around Your Home

Who doesn’t want their home smelling like spring and fresh blooming flowers? A house without plants seems dull and lifeless. You’re probably admiring your flowers and the beauty they bring to your place daily, but did you know that they’re also improving the air quality?

Plants tend to release oxygen, which makes the air better to breathe. However, special types of plants, such as spider plants, snake plants, common ivy, and peace lily, can absorb harmful toxins from the air and remove musty odors coming from your carpet. 

Timely Remove Stains

Another solution for how to make your carpet smell good is to timely remove any spills and stains that it comes in contact with. If you spill a drink on your carpet, don’t leave it until tomorrow but instead, try removing it as soon as it happens. 

You can start by using a clean towel to remove the liquid. Then, apply a stain carpet remover and let it sit for an amount of time for better results. Lastly, rinse it with water and use a clean towel to dry it out. 

Keep It Fresh: Ensuring a Long-Lasting Pleasant Carpet Smell

You probably want your home to smell pleasant if you’re like most people. While many might think the carpet is only for walking, it actually plays a huge role in creating a comfortable atmosphere. 

That is why your carpets should always be clean and smell fresh. Sure, vacuum and steam cleaning can remove stains and bacteria from your carpet, but the goal is to make it smell like it was just brought from a store. Here are some tips on how to make carpet smell good naturally. 

Use Essential Oils

Essential oils are a great way to reduce the foul smell of your carpet without relying on chemicals. The best ones you can choose for a carpet include lavender, grapefruit, rosemary, and thyme.

You can mix the essential oil you choose with coconut or jojoba oil for even better results. Then, sprinkle this onto your carpet and allow for 20 minutes to react before you vacuum it. 

Sprinkle Baking Soda

Baking soda has many use cases including absorbing and neutralizing unpleasant odors. It’s a natural deodorizer that will surely bring back the fresh smell – not only on your carpet but on other pieces of furniture as well. Just sprinkle a bit of baking soda on your carpet before vacuuming, and you’re good to go.

White Vinegar Solution

White vinegar is a known natural cleaner for carpets, floors, and even bathrooms. To make a white vinegar solution, add white vinegar in a spray bottle, but not all the way. Add warm water to fill up the rest of the bottle with a ratio of 1:1 and spray the affected area. 

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal has the power to absorb moisture and unpleasant odors from the air. You can place it in a bowl, leave it on your carpet, and wait a few hours to see the results.

Citrus Peels

Are you throwing away the peels after eating an orange or lemon? Well, now you can repurpose them to freshen up your carpet. Just place the peels in a bowl with hot water and let them rest for several minutes. Then, pour the scented water into a spray bottle and sprinkle it over the affected area. 

Our Thoughts on Fresh-Smelling Carpets

Your carpet is essential to your home and deserves all the care in the world. While a clean carpet adds beauty to your place, it can also save you from allergies and health problems – especially important for those who have asthma or are prone to allergies.

You’ve now learned the best tips and tricks on how to make carpet smell good, and the only thing you need to do is put these into action. Start by finding a cleaning carpet service near your location to deep steam your carpet, and then try natural ingredients to freshen up its smell!

FAQ

Will Bad Carpet Smell Go Away?

The bad smell won’t go away on its own. However, you can get rid of it by using the right techniques, such as vacuuming regularly, using essential oil and baking soda, timely removing stains, and not smoking in your home. 

What Is the Hardest Smell to Get Out of Carpet?

So many chemical cleaners exist, and there are still odors that are hard to get out of the carpet. These are usually strong smells, such as pet urine, and cigarette smoke, as well as mold and mildew. 

What Soaks up Smell From Carpet?

There are so many natural deodorizers you can use to soak up the smell from your carpet. These include essential oils, baking soda, white vinegar solution, activated charcoal, and citrus peels.