Your carpets can add warmth and comfort to your home, but when that carpet begins to smell, it is an entirely different story. Nobody wants to enter a room and be welcomed by a foul smell! The good news is in this article, you will discover that it is not that complicated to maintain the freshness of your carpet. Here are some easy ways and tips that will help you make your carpet smell fresh and clean all the time. Let’s look at how this can be done.
1. Regular Vacuuming: The First Step to Freshness
Do you have any idea of how fast crumbs, dust, and pet hair can accumulate on your carpet? Vacuum cleaning is the first way you can prevent foul odours from building up on your carpet. Dirt and residue tend to accumulate in the fibres, and if not removed, they can make the carpet give off an unsightly smell.
You should vacuum the high-traffic areas of your home daily and the other parts of your carpet daily as well. For the best results, one should use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. The first step in eliminating odours is the vacuuming of dry soils because the accumulation of dirt retains moisture that fosters microbial activity.
But what happens if vacuuming will not suffice and your carpet smells fresh? Let’s turn to an inexpensive and easy method of dealing with deeper odours.
2. Tackle Odours with Baking Soda
There are times that you have vacuumed your carpet, and it still doesn’t smell as clean and fresh as you wish it would. That is where baking soda comes in. It is a natural deodorizer that is the perfect weapon against bad smells.
Drop a bottle of baking soda into your carpets and leave it to work for some hours or even for the whole night, and then vacuum it out. To give it a nice smell, add a few drops of any favourite essential oil and spray it.
It is effortless and does not take much time, but what if you want to be more authentic? Moving on to something a bit more close to our hearts.
3. Homemade Deodorizers for a Personal Touch
Why buy products from the store when you can make them at home? Homemade deodorizers are so simple to prepare, and this way, you can control the fragrance. Try using baking soda together with dried lavender or rosemary or the essential oils of citrus fruits for a great smell.
Pour your mixture over the carpet; let it work for some time, then vacuum the area. It is cheaper and very much safer for the environment to ensure that your carpet smells fresh. However, even with the use of good deodorizers, spills can still be a big issue. What should you do when accidents occur?
4. Clean Up Spills Immediately
Unfortunately, accidents are part of life, but the way how we contain them is the key. If not cleaned out immediately, spills can sink deep into the carpet fibre, which causes a lingering smell.
First of all, try to press a clean cloth over the spill to soak the maximum liquid from it. Don’t scrub–spreading it makes the stain sink further into the pile of the carpet. You may use a mild carpet cleaner or a solution of white vinegar diluted with water. However, it needs to be done immediately as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) argues that damp carpet is an ideal environment for microbial growth. They suggest that the relative humidity should not exceed 60% and should be between 30-50% in particular to avoid the growth of mould.
Spills are only one aspect of the problem. What about the humidity, though? But first, let’s take a look at how humidity affects your carpet.
5. Control Indoor Humidity
You might be surprised, but the air that circulates in your home has a lot to do with the carpet odour. Studies done in the Microbiome Journal showed that high relative humidity fostered microbial growth on carpets, which gives off microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that cause the typical musty smell.
One way is to reduce humidity levels; this is especially important in rooms with high moisture content. Use a dehumidifier, particularly in the basement; an air conditioner with a built-in dehumidifier can help. It is recommended that indoor humidity levels should be kept between 30 – 50 percent in order to reduce the odours.
Now that we’ve discussed the air let’s move on to fur babies, who can sometimes bring their unique smells to carpets.
6. Handle Pet Odours with Care
Pets are wonderful companions, but they also come with that certain ‘pet’ smell. No matter if it is hair loss or some accident, it is crucial to clean up pet mess.
Clean up any spillages when they happen with an enzyme-based cleaner that helps neutralize pet smells. Bathe and brush your pets often to minimize fur shedding and dander. What about other daily habits that can help to keep the carpet smell fresh every day?
7. Adopt a No-Shoes Policy
Do you ever consider the amount of dirt that shoes bring into your house? Enforcing that no shoes are allowed is a very basic method of eradicating smell.
Put a shoe rack near the door and insist that everyone change into the slippers when they come in from the outside. It is a small adjustment, but it changes a lot. But that is not all – it is crucial not to forget that fresh air also has something to do with it.
8. Air Out Your Home
Every space needs fresh air, and this also applies to your carpets. Open windows and doors whenever possible to let in a breeze. You can also use fans to enhance airflow and help dry out any damp areas.
A properly ventilated carpet will also make it easier to keep bad smells from developing not only in the carpet but in the entire house.
Speaking of getting freshened up, how about when DIY doesn’t pan out and does not help the carpet smell fresh? Let’s talk about professional cleaning.
9. Use Hot Water Extraction (HWE) Cleaning
Is there still that unpleasant smell coming from your carpet even after trying the above tips? Then it is high time you considered giving the carpet a thorough cleaning. Hot water extraction (HWE) or steam cleaning is one of the best methods of handling odour problems.
HWE gets rid of dirt and grease that hold odour-causing particles in the carpet fibres. They also remove bacteria, fungi, and particles that are responsible for emitting bad odour from the carpet, and applying surfactants to the carpet before extraction helps neutralize odour-causing compounds, including oils and other residues on the carpet. Post HWE, drying must be done as quickly as possible to ensure that no microorganisms grow and mouldy smells are developed.
If you are residing in Canberra, Australia, and want to get the best, you can count on WOW Facility Cleaning Services. Our professional staff employs the latest in HWE cleaning methods to clean your carpet and give your home a beautiful fragrance. By having your carpet cleaned professionally on a routine basis, the life of the carpet can be prolonged, and it will not have an unpleasant odour.
It is always the little details that define the significant change. Prevent and clean stains immediately, vacuum often, and refrain from having meals on the carpet that can cause stains in them.
Conclusion
Having your carpet smell fresh doesn’t have to be a tough job. Using these tips and a modicum of effort, you can have a clean, inviting home that doesn’t require effort to walk in the door. For a more thorough cleaning, it is best to call for a professional cleaning service.
If you are looking for expert care to make your carpet smell fresh in Canberra, then you can trust WOW Facility Cleaning Services. We’ve got specialized cleaning solutions to make your carpets look and smell amazing in no time!