If soda is used skillfully, the carpet is not only freed from deep-rooted dust, but it also removes foreign odors, refreshes the color and disinfects the carpet. You can find out how to clean your carpet with soda in this article.
Clean carpet with soda
Using soda is an inexpensive and safe way to clean the carpet without heavily moistening the product and using expensive industrial means. If you increase the effect of the powder by adding vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, citric acid or salt, the resulting mixture will produce a better cleaning result.
The application ranges from simple to complex: first try cleaning with soda without adding other components, and if that doesn't help, add a reinforcing component.
When treating stains, make sure that the cleaning agent is distributed evenly and that the exposure time on the floor is the same. Otherwise there may be a significant difference in color of the cleaned areas.
The subtleties of using sodium bicarbonate
Typically, traces of sodium bicarbonate are easily removed with a vacuum cleaner, but sometimes small particles are left behind on the floor - particularly noticeable on dark carpets. You can remove them with a weak vinegar solution (1 teaspoon in 1 liter of water at room temperature) - soak a soft brush with it, shake off the excess moisture and clean the carpet, then vacuum and dry it again. In general, however, powdered soda is better for light-colored carpets, while salt or a tea infusion with spit is preferable for dark carpets.
Step-by-step instructions for cleaning carpets with soda
First, vacuum the carpet to remove dust and small debris from the surface.
How to preparea cleaning solutionbefore:
- Add 1 cup of sodium bicarbonate to 10 liters of slightly warm water and mix thoroughly.
- Using a spray bottle, spray the water-soda solution evenly onto the surface. The carpet should be noticeably damp, but not wet.
- Brush the carpet with a soft brush in even circular motions to allow the solution to penetrate deep into the carpet.
- Dry the carpet in a well-ventilated room or outdoors.
- Vacuum the carpet on both sides to remove traces of soda.
Note: Wet cleaning helps to remove most simple dirt, but requires thorough drying of the carpet. If the carpet is not dried thoroughly, it can become moldy. Do not walk on a wet carpet - otherwise the floor will deform. If drying the carpet on the floor, place boards or floorboards under the carpet and turn on a fan or dehumidifier to speed up drying.
Caution: Drying with a hairdryer or turning on a heater is not a good idea - it can damage the carpet. If you dry the carpet outside the house, place it in the shade because direct sunlight can burn or warp the floor.
Also read:Removing candle wax from carpet: How to get your carpet clean again!
What can you add to sodium bicarbonate to improve its cleaning properties
As already mentioned, it is not always possible to qualitatively clean the carpet with soda alone. In difficult cases, we recommend using the compositions described below, which allow you to eliminate stubborn stains and persistent odors.
Add salt for stubborn stains and odors
Mix equal parts baking soda and table salt and use the resulting powder for dry cleaning. This allows you to more effectively refresh the color of the carpet and eliminate stubborn foreign odors on the floor. A big advantage of this mixture is that it can be used to clean all carpets except silk carpets.
Use soda and vinegar to clean the carpet
To make a cleaning solution from soda and vinegar you will need:
- 1 liter of warm water;
- 5 tablespoons 9% vinegar;
- 3 tablespoons baking powder.
How to introduce the mixture:
- Mix water at 50-60℃ with vinegar and add soda.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray the carpet cleaned of dust and dirt, paying special attention to stains and greasy areas (these should be rubbed with a brush).
- Wait 1 hour, vacuum and dry if necessary.
Note: This product can be used to clean synthetic carpets, for natural or bonded carpets it is better to choose another option.
Dishwashing detergent to enhance the cleaning effect
The baking soda-vinegar composition can be strengthened with dishwashing gel - such an agent is particularly effective for greasy stains and large greasy areas. Components and proportions:
- dishwashing liquid – 1 teaspoon;
- soda – 1 teaspoon;
- Vinegar – 1 tablespoon;
- warm water – 1 cup.
How to proceed:
- Mix dishwashing detergent and vinegar in a large bowl (the product is highly foaming), add water and then – baking soda.
- Apply the resulting product to the dirty areas and rub with a soft brush or sponge. Absorb excess moisture with a paper towel.
- Repeat cleaning if necessary.
Note: Do not use this product to remove stains from carpets made from natural materials.
Citric acid is effective in cleaning carpets
A detergent composition of 1 tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate and 3 teaspoons of citric acid per 1 liter of water has good cleaning and deodorizing properties. The solution is applied to the carpet with a sponge or brush, rubbed in, left for 20-30 minutes and then washed off with water.
Note: The citric acid can be replaced in whole or in part with a similar amount of lemon juice.
Washing powder helps clean blood stains
This method removes traces of fresh blood and other contaminants of protein origineffectively removed:
- Blot the stain with a paper towel to catch any unabsorbed liquid.
- Sprinkle the stain with a 1:2 mixture of washing powder and baking soda.
- Pour a small amount of water over the sprinkled area and rub into the carpet with a soft brush (carpet or toothbrush, depending on the size of the stain) - using light circular movements from the edges towards the center.
- Let the cleaning mixture sit for 30 minutes and then rinse the carpet with room temperature water.
