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Keeping your rugs clean and freshly makes your home feel clean, smell nice and cosy. Over time, rugs can trap wetness, spills, pet messes and dirt, which makes your rug smell bad that vacuuming can’t fix. The good news is there are easy ways to freshen your rugs and get rid of those smells. You don’t need strong chemicals or to pay for cleaning. These simple home remedies can help you to spot clean your rug and keep it fresh and odour-free.
In this guide we’ll share some easy ways to get rid of rug smells without spending a lot of money.
Why you rug smells
Before we get to the fixing thing let’s look at what’s make your rug smelly
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Dust and dirt build-up
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Improper cleaning
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Cooking odours
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Food or drink spills
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Pet pee
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Smell of smoke or chemical
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Moisture or mould
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Foot traffic, shoes and sweat
These smells get stuck in the rug’s material, which makes then hard to get out without trying.
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Baking soda
Baking soda works wonders and doesn’t cost much to get rid of smells. It soaks up stinky stuff so it’s perfect for making rug oudor free.
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First vacuum your rug to get rid of and loose dirt.
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Sprinkle baking soda all over it, make sure you cover the whole smelly spot.
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Wait for an hour or 2 hours, but if your rug really smells bad, let it sit overnight.
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Last vacuum everything up to get rid of the powder.
Note- Keep in mind that lots of baking soda can hurt pets, so keep them away from where you’re using it. After the baking soda has sat for a bit, vacuum well to clean up what’s left.
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White Vinegar
White vinegar might not smell great at first but it’s awesome for getting rid of odours stuck in your rugs.
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Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
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Lightly spray on the rug (careful not to soak it).
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Let it dry all way as the vinegar dries, the smell will disappear taking the bad odours with it.
Quick tip- Do this in a well-ventilated room to make it dry faster.
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Cornstarch
Cornstarch can soak up smells and greasy stuff, if you spill food, drink or something greasy on your rug it can help freshen things up.
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Mix cornstarch with baking soda and sprinkle it all over the rug.
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Let it sit for least half an hour.
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Give it a good vacuuming to remove all the powder.
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Sunlight and Fresh air
Sometimes your rug just needs some sun and air, sunlight can help get rid of smells, kill germs and dry out moisture that might cause mould.
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Pick a dry sunny day and take your rug outside.
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Hang it up or lay it flat where the sunlight hits it.
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Let it sit for a few hours, Turing it over once.
Note- If your rug is delicate or has bright colours, don’t leave it in direct sun for too long or it could fade.
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Essential oils
Want your rug to smell good? Try making a spray at home.
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Mix 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar.
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Add few drops of your favourite essential oil.
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Shake it up and spray lightly on the rug.
This will freshen it up without making the room too fragrant.
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Deep clean for those stubborn smells
If you want to clean your whole rug, it’s time to give it a good cleaning. This is great for rugs that have seen better days, pet messes, spilled food or just life. Luckily if you have Green Decore’s machine washable rug the process is simple and easy.
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Take it outside and shake off all the loose dirt.
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Put the rug in your washing machine
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Use a gentle cycle with a little bit of mild soap and cool or warm water.
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Don’t use bleach since it will change the fibres and colours.
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Let the rug air-dry, you can lay it flat or hang it outside in the sun until it’s dry.
Machine washable rugs make cleaning a breeze, so you get fresh and good smelling rug without a lot of trouble.
A quick Guide to washing machine compatibility.
|
Rug Size(cm) |
6kg+ |
8kg+ |
10kg+ |
Commercial Machine |
|
60X90 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
60X150 |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
76X243 |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
90X150 |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
120X180 |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
150X210 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
170X240 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
200x300 |
|
|
|
Yes |
Tips for the long run
Here’s how you can keep your rug smelling good with minimal effort.
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Vacuum often-try for once a week to keep dirt from pilling up.
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Deal with spills ASAP- blot don’t rub, to keep stains and smells away.
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Turn your rugs around so they don’t wear out too fast in busy spots.
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Give them some sunlight, hang them outside for bit once in a month if you can.
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Think about a rug you can wash in your washing machine, they are easy to keep clean and fresh.
If you’re looking for a stress-free option, Green Decore offers a wide range of machine washable rugs. They have a lot of style and colour options and are great if you have kids, pets pr hectic life.
Related Blogs to Read on Green Decore
-
Maintaining Freshness: How Frequently Should You Clean Your Washable Rugs?
- Explore Easy and quick ways to remove stains and pet hair from your rug on Blogger
- Explore Expert Tips to Make Your Washable Rug Last Longer on Wix.com
FAQ
Q. How to get rid of pet pee smell from rug?
A. Soak up as much as you can right away. Then sprinkle baking soda on it and spray a bit of vinegar mixed with water. If it still smells after that try Enzyme cleaner to get rid of smell.
Q. Is it okay to use baking soda on all rugs?
A. Yes, baking soda is usually fine but if your rug is made of delicate fibres like silk, wool or cashmere or any sensitive material please test it on a small patch first just to be safe.
Q. How often should I freshen up my rug?
A. Let it air-dry in place with good air flow or put it outside in sunlight. Don’t put it right next to something hot like a heater because that could ruin the rug.
Q. Are machine washable rugs worth buying?
A. Yes, they are great for saving time and money, and they’re super easy to clean.
Conclusion
Getting your rug smell-free is not as hard as you might think. You can make your rugs smell nice and fresh without spending too much money, with a few simple tricks like baking soda, vinegar or cleaning it deeply. Clean your rugs regularly and take some easy preventative actions to keep your rug fresh, clean and smell great.
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