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How to clean carpets with bicarbonate
Want to freshen up your carpet with bicarbonate of soda? First, vacuum it thoroughly, then sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the dry carpet. Leave it to work for a few hours, then vacuum everything up thoroughly again.
Want to freshen up your carpet with bicarbonate of soda? First, vacuum it thoroughly, then sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the dry carpet. Leave it to work for a few hours, then vacuum everything up thoroughly again.
What can you use baking soda for?
Bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is particularly useful for reducing odours and freshening up your carpet from time to time. Stubborn stains usually require a different approach.
Always test bicarbonate on a small, inconspicuous patch of your carpet first, to check that the colour and fibres remain undamaged.
Why clean your carpet regularly?
A carpet instantly makes a room feel warmer and cosier. However, rugs also accumulate a lot of dust, hair and crumbs without you realising it. Especially in highly frequently areas, dirt can become embedded deeper and deeper between the fibres. Regular vacuuming remains the most important step. Does your carpet start to smell a bit musty because of household pets, cooking or simply everyday use? In that case, bicarbonate can help to freshen it up in between thorough cleanings. One and the same method can be used on many types of loose rugs. Always check the care label before you start though. Wool, silk and other delicate materials sometimes require a different approach.
What do you need?
This cleaning tip does not require an extensive collection of cleaning products. All you need is:
vacuum cleaner
Bicarbonate (baking soda)
A soft brush
A clean, white cloth
Optionally, a mild cleaning product suitable for your type of carpet
How to clean a carpet with bicarbonate in 5 steps
1. Clear the space
Move chairs, plants and small pieces of furniture to the side. This will allow you to take on the entire carpet and don’t miss any patches. If you have a loose rug, make sure to lay it out flat.
2. Vacuum thoroughly
Always start by vacuuming thoroughly. Go over the entire carpet slowly and, if possible, hoover in different directions. This will remove as much dust, hair and crumbs from between the fibres as possible.
Pay extra attention to highly-frequented areas and the space under furniture.
3. Test a small area first
Before treating the whole carpet, it’s best to test bicarbonate on a spot that isn’t immediately noticeable.
Leave the baking soda to work its magic for a while and check whether the colour or texture of the carpet changes. If it seems OK, then you can carry on.
Extra care is needed with woollen, silk, handmade or other delicate carpets. Always follow their specific care instructions.
4. Sprinkle a thin layer of bicarbonate
Make sure your carpet is completely dry. Then sprinkle a thin, even layer of bicarbonate all over the surface. More isn’t better: a thicker layer will only be more difficult to remove from the fibres afterwards.
Leave the bicarbonate to work for a few hours. If you mainly want to get rid of a musty smell, then leave it on a little longer, for as long as the material allows. Keep children and pets away in the meantime.
5. Vacuum everything again
To remove the bicarbonate, hoover the rug slowly and repeatedly if necessary. With a deep-pile carpet, it’s best to check particularly carefully that no powder is left between the fibres.
Done? Then empty your vacuum cleaner’s dust container or check the dust bag and filter.
What about stains on your carpet?
A glass that tips over or a coffee cup that lands just beside the table: it happens faster than you think.
With a recent stain, it’s especially important to react quickly. Soak up as much liquid as possible with a clean, white cloth. Dab rather than rub. Scrubbing too hard can actually push the stain further into the fibres.
Bicarbonate is particularly effective at reducing odours and freshening up your carpet. But stains of red wine, coffee, grease or urine, will often call for specific treatment.
In that case, use a product that’s suitable for your carpet’s material and test it first on a spot that is less visible.
Mistakes to avoid
Scrubbing too hard
Your first instinct when you see a stain is to start rubbing vigorously. However, it’s better not to do this, as it can make the stain larger or drive it deeper into the fibres. Gentle dabbing is usually the better approach.
Mixing different products
Combining bicarbonate with other cleaning products may look impressive as they start to fizz, but it doesn’t mean it cleans better. So don’t just mix cleaning products together.
Making your carpet too wet
Use as little moisture as possible when cleaning. A carpet that has gotten too wet dries slowly and can therefore develop a musty smell or coloured rings.
Ignoring the material
A synthetic carpet is often easier to maintain than a woollen, silk or handmade one. Always make sure to follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.
Using too much bicarbonate
A thin layer is sufficient. Particularly with a deep-pile carpet, too much powder can get stuck deep between the fibres, making it difficult to vacuum-clean it.
When is it better to have your carpet professionally cleaned?
Bicarbonate is useful for a quick freshen-up, but it is no substitute for a thorough deep clean.
In the case of large or old stains, stubborn odours, damp or water damage or even mould, it’s best to seek professional help. If in doubt, it’s also best to have valuable, woollen, silk or handmade carpets treated by a specialist.
Frequently asked questions about carpet cleaning
Yes. You can use bicarbonate to freshen up a dry carpet and reduce odours. First, vacuum thoroughly, sprinkle a thin layer over the carpet, leave it to work for a few hours and finally, vacuum again.
A few hours is usually enough to freshen up your carpet. For stronger odours, you can leave it to work for a little longer, provided the carpet material allows is suited to this.
Bicarbonate is particularly suitable for reducing odours and freshening up a carpet. For stubborn stains, you’ll usually need a specific treatment. With a fresh stain, it’s best to start by gently dabbing away as much of the liquid as possible.
Yes. Baking soda, bicarbonate of soda and sodium bicarbonate are different names for the same product. Baking soda is not the same, however, as baking powder or washing soda.
First, vacuum the carpet thoroughly. Then sprinkle a thin layer of bicarbonate over the dry carpet, leave it to work for a few hours and vacuum it all up again. Is the odour coming back? Then dirt or moisture may be deeper within the carpet.
No. Always check the care label first. Wool, silk, handmade rugs and other delicate materials in particular may require special treatment.
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