Welcome to today’s blog, the topic of this post is well awaited by many of you. The subject of this post is cleaning our carpets with sodium carbonate, or how many of us know it, baking soda. This is one of the most popular cleaning methods because it’s so cheap and simple. Soda is a product that you can find in any house. Today we will talk about what makes soda properties so good for cleaning, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using this method, and also precautions that you must consider.
Stay with us and I hope you will read it till the end.
The History of Using Baking Soda for Carpet Cleaning
What is the chemistry behind the soda? Soda that also known as sodium bicarbonate is actually a salt composed of the bicarbonate anion and sodium cation. The first baking soda was first produced in 1846 by 2 usual bakers in the US who used it for cooking. That they didn’t stop on that, they actually opened the first factory that was producing the baking soda from carbon dioxide and sodium carbonate.
From that moment, soda has found many new uses in our homes, some people were trying to use it for curing the flu, and someone discovered that it’s an excellent cleaning solution.
It can be used to remove stains from all types of surfaces, including carpets and rugs. Read on to discover the details of using soda for carpet cleaning.
What are the Benefits and Cons of Soda Cleaning Method
Just like all the other cleaning methods, soda has its benefits and drawbacks. Read them carefully and keep them in mind before cleaning your carpets, we don’t want you to spoil your favorite rug.
We do not recommend using the soda cleaning method for the higher pile carpet because soda residue will be very hard to remove from the fibers. It is perfect for removing stains from coffee, tea, red wine, juices, and other liquids.
We know that baking soda is put into food, however, it is a powerful solution. Discover how to use it properly to achieve the best results.
Benefits of Using Soda
- From my personal experience, the main benefit of using soda for carpet cleaning is that this product is really multipurpose. Imagine you bought a large package and you have just a small stain. No need to worry, you can use the same soda for cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, living room, doing the laundry, and of course cleaning your carpet.
- Another huge advantage of soda is that it’s natural, and of course, it doesn’t have bad toxins that will influence your health and the health of your family. Plus, if you have allergies or skin conditions you don’t have to worry about getting hurt with the fumes. For me, this is a huge finding! People with allergies will understand, cleaning with a runny nose is never pleasant.
- In terms of safety, you can only compare it to expensive hypoallergenic cleaning solutions. It doesn’t pay off buying them for personal use, that’s why soda is the best choice for the do-it-yourself carpet cleaning.
- It saves the penny. Yes, soda is so budget-friendly that you can’t possibly imagine a cheaper cleaning solution. And in the case of soda, cheap doesn’t mean ineffective.
- You can use it for cleaning the carpet in many ways. For example, removing stains, neutralizing bad odors, or just freshening up the carpet and making it look fluffy again.
Cons of Using Soda
- Soda is natural and doesn’t have a lot of cons when it comes to safety and cleaning. But there are still a few things that it cannot fix.
- It is quite a mild cleaning solution, old and dry stains will require special attention. You may even need to clean the seams team if you times. This will help for the best results.
- As we said, soda is, mild however it can still damage some fabrics that’s why I always make a test first on the small and the less visible part of the carpet. Do it to make sure that soda will not remove the colors from the carpet.
- Do not breathe in the soda powder if you have allergies or asthma. It is also recommended to take small kids out of the room.
- Do not try to clean the silk carpets with soda because they are very delicate. They shouldn’t be rubbed. Leave this task to professionals.
- Soda can leave a residue which doesn’t look good. However, a simple vacuum cleaning will fix the issue.
Different Ways to Clean Carpet with Baking Soda
Baking soda effectively collects dust, dirt, and absorbs spilled liquids and grease. For cleaning carpets, it can be used both dry and dissolved in water. Dry soda can be simply scattered over the surface of the pile, brushed over it, and then collected together with dust and dirt with a vacuum cleaner. Soda solutions are also used to remove stains of mold, urine, and other organic contaminants.
Often, in order to remove the stain most effectively, it is covered with baking soda until moisture is completely removed, and then the stain is treated.
Before the cleaning, you have to prepare the soda cleaning solution, the carpet, and the room. If you have hardwood floors or laminate, it’s better to cover it with some foil because soda particles may leave scratches.
Now let’s prepare the cleaning solution. Your need:
- spray bottle where you will put the soda
- baking soda
- vacuum cleaner
- sponge
- brush
- some clean clothes paper towels
- water
This solution can be used in so many ways.
The first method that we will cover today is cleaning of old greasy stains.
Cleaning the greasy stains
When the spill has happened, it’s better to act fast. Blot the stain with a wet sponge if the stain is colorful, pour some water, and blot it again. Be careful, do not rub.
Apply if you spoons of baking soda on the stain, and leave it there to sit for a while. The soda layer should completely cover the stain and the piles. You can even leave it on the carpet overnight for the best result.
Vacuum the soda from the carpet to remove the residue. Check if the stain is still there. Repeat the process if needed. These greasy stains can be really stubborn.
Cleaning the usual non-greasy stains
This is much more simple comparing to the processing above.
- First of all, take some soda and put it on top of the stain.
After that put some hot water into the sprinkle bottle and spray some on top of soda. Wait for this solution to sit in. I would recommend leaving it overnight for the best result. Or at least for 5 to 6 hours. - When the time comes, vacuum clean the spot, and remove the soda residue. Make sure you vacuum clean well between the fibers. This should be enough, however, you can always repeat the process when needed.
- Check if the carpet is completely dry if it’s still a little bit wet I would dry it with a fan heater or a hairdryer. As we wrote before in a previous post, leaving the carpet wet for a long time can cause the mold to appear.
- To give your carpet a fresh fluffy look, use a carpet rake or a carpet brush whichever you like most.
Removing unpleasant odors with soda
Another fantastic use of soda that I personally use most is its ability to remove unpleasant orders from the carpet. When you have pets and kind in the house, it’s important to clean the carpet on a regular basis. The smell may come from the urine stains or just basic spills. What to do, we have all been there!
Luckily for you, baking soda is a perfect smell absorbent. Simply use the method for the non-greasy stains described above, and check how soda will leave your carpet smelling fresh like new.
Precautions for Soda Cleaning
While soda is relatively safe, there are some precautions that you must take while cleaning. They will help you avoid skin irritation and abrasion.
- Always wear rubber gloves while cleaning the carpet and working with all the cleaning solutions including soda. Soda itself is safe for the skin but rubbing it against the carpet can cause burn and irritation.
- Another safety concern of soda is that it can irritate your eyes and cause redness. If you accidentally get some soda in your eyes, wash them with running water for a few minutes and see a doctor whenever possible.
- More precautions should take place when combining soda with other cleaning solutions such as vinegar because when combined with acid, soda will release heat and carbon dioxide. Don’t let the small kids play with “soda bombs”, and store them away from their reach.
- Rugs like silk, woolen, and made of fur, should not be cleaned with soda, as vinegar and soda are too aggressive for the natural materials. The best way to remove dirt from a natural carpet is to use the cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer. Or take the product to a professional dry cleaner.
Other than that, soda is pretty safe to use in cleaning.
Soda with Vinegar Cleaning Solution
In a previous post, I was speaking about the use of vinegar for carpet cleaning. As it turns out, you can combine it with baking soda and achieve even better results. Such cleaning is super easy and you will need only two ingredients: white winter and ordinary baking soda.
Remember to apply them on the carpet in the correct order.
- First, pour some vinegar over this stain and then sprinkle it with a few spoons of baking soda. While the vinegar will soften the stain and make it easy to remove, baking soda will make the bubbles and help the dirt out. Together, they work in a similar way as soap foam does, only more effective.
- I normally leave the solution on the carpet for at least an hour to make sure it penetrates all the dirt.
- Now, should let your carpet dry. Use a hairdryer to speed up the process.
- Vacuum clean the carpet and, if needed, brush it to make it fluffy again.
Is Cleaning with Soda Safe for Health?
The last thing you want when cleaning the carpets is getting sick. No wonder the question about cleaning product safety always should come first. Is baking soda safe for health? The short answer is – yes. It is non-toxic, natural, and non-allergenic.
Conclusion
Baking soda a perfect ingredient for many do-it-yourself carpet cleaning solutions. Plus, it can be used as a standalone product. It is one of the most affordable and versatile remedies. Cleaning your carpet at home with baking soda will remove unpleasant odors and remove many types of stains, even stubborn ones. It is not only safe but effective on different kinds of stains. I hope the cleaning tips mentioned above will help you keep your house fresh and clean, and save you lots of time, nerves, and money.
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Happy cleaning!