How to Clean Carpet with Baking Soda and Vinegar
A comprehensive guide on how to clean carpet with baking soda and vinegar. These two ingredients create a frugal cleaning product.
When you walk into my house, there is carpet almost right away. We don’t have any sort of mudroom to help keep the dirty shoes at bay. And when you’re on a tight budget, you have no choice but to make do with what you have.
I try my best to keep our carpet fresh and clean for our young kiddos, and I have a crawler right now, so it’s extra important! But have you seen the price of carpet cleaning solution at the store? It’s super expensive!
This month, I had the opportunity to try a homemade cleaner using two natural ingredients on our carpets. We were at the end of our budget, so I needed a cheap yet effective method to clean our carpet.
As someone who was super skeptical that these two simple ingredients were adequate cleaning products, I was quite impressed by how effective just plain baking soda and vinegar were!
Below, I share five ways to use baking soda and vinegar to clean carpets in just a few easy steps.
Why Use Baking Soda and Vinegar to Clean?
Baking soda and vinegar are two inexpensive products that are economical, environmentally-friendly, and multi-purposeful. In addition, using these nontoxic products instead of harsh chemicals from standard cleaning solutions at the grocery store is safer for kids and pets.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a chemical compound called sodium bicarbonate, and it has a plethora of uses. It has alkaline properties and can be used as a baking ingredient, deodorizer, whitening agent, cleaning product, and more. This multi-purpose ingredient is also a gentle abrasive and an absorbent material, which are very useful characteristics for cleaning carpet!
White Vinegar
White vinegar is a combination of acetic acid and water created through a fermentation process. It a nontoxic green cleaner product that has a variety of uses as well. White vinegar is used in both cooking and cleaning, like baking soda, but it has different purposes. It is not very effective at disinfecting; however, it is effective at breaking down and removing buildup. Vinegar is a safer bleach alternative as well and is biodegradable.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is considered another natural product useful to cleaning and similar to vinegar. It has antimicrobial properties and is a natural disinfectant, much stronger than vinegar, so it is more useful for killing germs and bacteria. It can be used in place of white vinegar in the methods below, but do not mix hydrogen peroxide with white vinegar in the same solution.
Be sure to spot test it before use. I have not used hydrogen peroxide on my carpet yet so I cannot recommend it, but I know some people have had success using it to clean their carpets.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Together
Mixing baking soda (alkaline) and vinegar (acid) together creates a chemical reaction that neutralizes the two ingredients. While they may not effectively kill germs, they are can remove dirt, grime, stubborn odors, and tough carpet stains. Additionally, you can feel safe knowing there aren’t any harsh chemicals for your kids or pets to ingest.
Overall these two simple ingredients found in your pantry provide a safe, cheap, and competent method for cleaning carpets!
Supplies
You seriously can get away with just baking soda, vinegar, and whatever you already have at home. However, here is a supplies list so you know what to look for in your home that will help you clean your carpet:
- Baking soda — I buy the 4lb box of Arm & Hammer.
- Distilled white vinegar — It’s important to get white vinegar and not a different type of vinegar. I buy the gallon size.
- Spray bottle — You can get one for $1 at Walmart!
- Clean cloth — An old towel or white cleaning cloth is perfect.
- Vacuum cleaner
- Water
Optional:
- Paper plate
- Paper towel
- Soft bristle scrub brush or toothbrush
- Cleaning gloves
- Shaker or strainer
- Carpet cleaner — My carpet cleaner – it does a great job and is reasonably priced!
- Essential oils — If you want to add scents!
Before You Clean Your Carpet
Before you clean your carpet using these methods, read the manufacturer’s instructions on your carpet and any cleaning machine you use. For instance, my carpet cleaner owner’s manual says, “Use only cleaning products intended for use with this machine.” Using other cleaning products in your machines may void any warranty you may have. My method below does not require putting anything other than water into your machines.
Also, the first time you try to clean your carpet with baking soda and vinegar, you should spot test the ingredients in a small inconspicuous area!
There is a possibility that baking soda and vinegar will discolor your carpet. I have not had this occur, and I have used baking soda and vinegar to clean my carpet in multiple ways.
How to Deodorize Carpet with Baking Soda
You can use baking soda to remove unpleasant smells and give your carpet a quick fresh up. Here is how to use baking soda to remove odor:
- Sprinkle a thin layer of dry baking soda over the area of carpet you wish to deodorize.
- Allow to sit for up to one hour.
- Vacuum it up.
You can deodorize your carpet during your regular vacuuming or when you notice unpleasant odors such as after cleaning up pet urine or vomit.
Scent Tip: Mix a few drops of essential oils (such as lavender or a citrus scent) into the baking soda before sprinkling it on the floor for a sweet aroma.
How to Clean a New Spill with Baking Soda and Vinegar
If you had a recent spill, here is how to clean it up with baking soda and vinegar! These two ingredients can work together to wash out a fresh stain (such as blood stains, juice stains, coffee stains). Act quickly and try to prevent a permanent stain from settling by following these steps:
- Add equal parts vinegar and warm water to a spray bottle.
- Spray the spill site with the vinegar solution.
- Give it a minute or two and sprinkle a little baking soda on top.
- Allow to sit for a few minutes.
- Blot dry with paper towels.
How to Deep Clean & Remove Old Stains from Carpet
If you have stubborn stains or high-traffic areas that need a little extra love, letting baking soda and vinegar sit longer can create a powerful stain remover. Commercial stain remover is expensive and is just concentrated versions of regular cleaner. Here is how to use baking soda and vinegar to work out tough stains:
- Sprinkle a thin layer of dry baking soda over the old stain.
- Let the baking soda sit for 30 minutes.
- Add equal parts vinegar and warm water to a spray bottle.
- Spray the vinegar solution generously over the baking soda.
- Optional: Gently scrub with a soft bristle scrub brush or wet wash cloth.
- Allow to sit for at least one hour.
- Blot dry with paper towels.
- Once the area is dry, vacuum any remaining baking soda.
Extra Cleaning Power Tip: Add a drop of dish soap to the vinegar solution or replace the vinegar with hydrogen peroxide.
How to Carpet Clean a Whole Room with Baking Soda & Vinegar
Here is how to clean carpet with a carpet cleaner machine, water, baking soda, and vinegar:
- Sprinkle a thin layer of dry baking soda over the area of carpet you wish to carpet clean. You can do this with a shaker, strainer, or, what I found most effective, a paper plate! Fill the paper plate with a cup or so of baking soda and gently shake an even layer of baking soda onto the carpet.
- Let sit for 30 minutes.
- Add equal parts vinegar and warm water to a spray bottle.
- Spray the vinegar solution generously over the carpet.
- Fill your carpet cleaner water reservoir with hot water. Do not add cleaning solution.
- Clean your carpet according to the owner’s manual.
- Allow the carpet 12-24 hours to dry.
Can you see that dirty water??
How to Clean Vomit from Carpet with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Here are the simple steps to cleaning vomit from carpet using baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda is a really absorbent ingredient, so first, it absorbs the stain and odor of the vomit. Then, the vinegar breaks down and lifts the stain as well as washes the site.
- First, put on cleaning gloves.
- Use a paper towel to pick up any chunks and as much of the vomit as you can.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the vomit site — make sure it is completely covered.
- Allow to sit for one hour.
- Add equal parts vinegar and hot water to a bucket or bowl.
- Use an old rag soaked in the vinegar mixture to gently scrub the baking soda and vomit.
- Blot dry with paper towels.
With vomit or urine, you may want to follow up with a stronger carpet cleaner product to really clean it out. You can also try replacing the white vinegar with hydrogen peroxide.
Clean Carpet FAQ
How to clean baking soda off carpet?
To clean baking soda off carpet, you only have to vacuum it up. Just make sure it is completely dry first.
Can you use just vinegar or just baking soda to clean your carpet?
Yes, you can! Both ingredients provide different benefits to your carpet, but they can absolutely be used to clean your carpet separately.
Do these methods work on area rugs?
Yes, just make sure to spot test them first. I used baking soda and vinegar on two of my area rugs, and it worked well.
What to do if there is a residue or paste leftover?
Sometimes there may be a leftover white residue, paste, or powder. This can happen if the baking soda and vinegar is not washed out enough or vacuumed enough.
If you find it on your carpet, allow to fully dry and vacuum it up. If it is still there, you may need to gently scrub it with a wet cloth or paper towel. Then allow to dry and vacuum it up. It may also help if you go over it once or twice with a carpet cleaner and hot water.
If you find the residue on hard surfaces, use a wet rag or mop with warm water to wipe it up. This happened to me after wheeling my carpet cleaner onto my kitchen floor.
I don’t like the vinegar smell. What should I do?
When you clean with vinegar, it leaves a strong odor, but it’s only temporary and fades away after a short while. However, if you really want to eliminate the vinegar smell, you can add a few drops of essential oils to your baking soda or vinegar. Add more essential oils if you are cleaning a large area.
Conclusion
Now you know how to clean carpet with baking soda and vinegar. These natural products are effective at removing old stains, eliminating unpleasant smells like pet odor, and deep cleaning your carpet! They are also budget-friendly household products that you probably already have in your cupboard.
Did you give it a try? Let me know how it worked for you in the comment section! Also feel free to leave any questions!
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