How to Get Smells Out of Carpet
Your carpet smells musty or of pet even after vacuuming because dirt, spills, and pet accidents work down into the fibers and the padding underneath, where vacuuming does not reach. Deodorize with baking soda, treat spots with an enzyme cleaner, and deep clean, and it comes back fresh.
We make small-batch beeswax candles in Far Rockaway, so a room that truly smells clean is our whole focus, and that always starts at the source rather than the scent. Below is where the smell comes from, how to clear it step by step, and how to keep the space fresh afterward, with the full the MBur beeswax candle collection here as you read.
Why carpet holds smells
Carpet traps everything that lands on it, and foot traffic grinds it deep into the pile. Liquids like spills and pet urine soak through to the pad and subfloor, where they sit and smell.
Surface cleaning leaves that source in place, and humidity adds a musty note. Reaching down into the fibers and pad is what clears it.
How to clean it, step by step
- Vacuum thoroughly. Use slow passes, especially in high-traffic areas, to pull out embedded dirt.
- Deodorize with baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda over the carpet, let it sit several hours or overnight, then vacuum it up.
- Treat spots with enzyme cleaner. For pet urine especially, an enzyme cleaner breaks down the odor at its source. Saturate the spot per the product, since urine reaches the pad, and blot rather than rub.
- Deep clean the whole carpet. Rent or hire a hot-water extraction cleaner a couple of times a year.
- Dry it fast. Extract well and run fans, since an over-wet carpet grows mildew in the pad.
Enzyme cleaner is what handles pet accidents. Because urine soaks to the pad, only a cleaner that breaks down the odor source clears it, and you have to saturate the spot to reach it.
Keep it from coming back
Vacuum once or twice a week, and blot up spills immediately before they reach the pad.
Treat accidents with enzyme cleaner right away, deep clean periodically, and keep indoor humidity in check.
Freshen the whole room once the source is gone
With the smell in the carpet handled, the air itself is the last step. A clean candle is the finishing touch here, best lit once the space is already clean. From there it is the fastest way to make the room read fresh rather than merely neutral.
For your living room, Room Service fits well. It is cozy and sweet, with vanilla, almond milk, white tea, and tonka bean, and like every MBur candle it is poured from 100% beeswax with a wooden wick and phthalate-free non-toxic fragrance oils, so freshening the air never means adding soot on top.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a musty smell out of carpet?
Vacuum well, deodorize with baking soda, and deep clean with hot-water extraction, then dry it fast. Mustiness usually means trapped moisture, so drying matters.
How do I get pet smell out of carpet?
Use an enzyme cleaner on accident spots, saturating them enough to reach the pad, since that is where the urine and odor settle.
How often should I deep clean carpet?
A couple of times a year for most homes, more often with pets or heavy traffic.
Why does my carpet smell after cleaning?
It was likely left too wet, and the pad grew mildew. Extract thoroughly and dry with fans so moisture does not linger.
Ready to keep your space smelling clean once the source is handled? Explore the MBur beeswax candle collection and find the scent that fits the room.
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