10 Ways to Get Rid of Old Smells from Carpets

Last Updated on February 5, 2024

Just bought (or inherited) an old house with carpet?  Does it have that funky smell that makes your nose turn up? Unfortunately, carpets are like sponges and absorb icky smells down deep into their fibers.  Luckily, there are several ways to get rid of old smells from carpets.

Read on below to learn how to eliminate those loathsome smells from old carpets once and for all.

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What Causes Old Smells from Carpets?

As discussed further in Why Your Old House Smells Funny, there are several ways an old house can obtain that, uh, unpleasant, fowl smell.  Specificall for carpets, however, the most common sources of smell are:

• Smoke
• Mold and mildew
• Pets
• Dirt

Ahh, the joys of old houses…..

As you read below, some methods to get rid of old smells from carpets work better at eliminating stinks.  For example, ammonia is most effective as tackling smoke smells, while enzyme cleaners target smells from old pet urine and feces. So if possible, determine the smell’s source to achieve the best clean.  

Before You Start Eliminating Smell….

The easiest way to get rid of old smells from carpets is to just remove and throw away.  Who knows – maybe you have gorgeous hardwood floors hiding under that carpet.

But if you want to keep the carpet and eliminate smells, there are 2 things you must do first:

1. Dry Carpet 

If your carpet has a musty odor, it indicates a water problem – either past or present.  Ensure the source of the water has been fixed.  Otherwise, the carpet will continue to be damp and the mold/ mildewy smell will only return, which can lead to poor indoor air quality and health problems.

[Related Post: 7 Environmental Dangers in Old Houses]

Once the water source is under control, ensure the carpet is completely dry.  Open windows, run fans, use dehumidifiers, etc.

2. Clean Carpet 

Get a fresh start by vacuuming up debris and dust from the carpet.  A simple, thorough vacuuming removes a significant amount of particles and dust from carpet fibers, which often means also removing the smell. 

The cleaner the carpet you start with, the more effective the following ways to get rid of old smells from carpets will work.  

 10 Ways to Get Rid of Old Smells from Carpets

Below is a wide range of ways to get rid of old smells from carpets.  Some rely on chemical methods, while others focus on a more natural route.  These 10 different methods should give you plenty of options to decide how to tackle that smelly carpet.  Good luck!

1. Baking Soda

Eliminating smells using baking soda is often recommended by professional carpet cleaners due to its fantastic odor-neutralizing abilities. It excels at absorbing moisture and trapping unpleasant smells, making it especially effective against musty odors.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over carpet.  Some folks use a colander for even application.
2. To ensure the baking soda seeps to base of carpet deep into its fibers, walk around the carpet (wearing clean slippers) or use a nice brush.
3. Let baking soda sit on your carpet for at least 30 minutes, overnight if possible.
4. Vacuum it up

If the smell persists, you may need to repeat this process or combine baking soda with white vinegar as mentioned below.

2. White Vinegar

Acidic products, such as white vinegar, is a natural disinfectant that work wonders in eliminating bacteria and the unpleasant odors they create in carpets.

Here’s how to use white vinegar to tackle odors on your carpet. Remember to stick with WHITE vinegar, and do a quick test on a discrete area before doing the whole carpet. 

1. Mix 2 cups of warm water with 1 cup of white vinegar.
2. Lightly spray carpet with vinegar solution (don’t soak carpet!).
3. Wait a few hours, ideally overnight, for the vinegar to work its magic.
4. Blot out dampness with clean rag

If the smell of vinegar bothers you, add 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil, such as lemon, grapefruit or lavender, to the white vinegar and water solution.

White Vinegar AND Baking Soda

If you need a bigger kick to get rid of old smells from carpets, then consider sprinkling a liberal amount of baking soda BEFORE you spritz the carpet with the white vinegar solution.  The bubbling you see and the fizz sound you hear might transform you back to 5^th grade science class.  Wait until the vinegar is completely dried before vacuuming the carpet. 

3. Enzyme Cleaners

If the previous owner of your old house was a pet owner, accidents on the carpet might have been a common occurrence.  Perhaps their cat liked to pee in one particular corner of the livingroom.  And now that sour and pungent urine odor can be smell is odor that can be quite challenging to eliminate.

Enzyme cleaners utilize bacteria (they kind you want in your home) that digest organic waste, stains, molds, or odor. They speed up the natural process of breaking down organic waste, including pet waste.

Enzyme cleaners come in various forms – concentrate or prediluted, spray bottle or machine. Simply follow the instructions on the label to apply the product effectively.

4. Ammonia

If a previous smoker lived in your old house, ammonia tends to be a very effective way to remove that smell. 

Fill a couple of containers with ammonia, and place bowls around rooms with smoke smells.  Allow the containers to sit, undisturbed, for at least 1-2 days.  It’s OK to dispose of ammonia down the sink as long as you flush it with plenty of water.

Also, since you are leaving out open containers, ensure that pets and children stay safe.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

Combatting that pesky mildew smell in your carpet can be fixed by using hydrogen peroxide.  BUT hydrogen peroxide can cause discoloration, so if you choose this method, remember to first do a quick test-patch by sprinkling a small amount on a discrete area.

Once you’re confident that it’s safe to proceed, mix one part hydrogen peroxide with five parts water in a spray bottle. Spritz this solution on the back of your carpet to eliminate any stubborn mildew spores.

After application, let sit for a good 24 hours. Keep the area well-ventilated and secure from kids and pets. Once the time is up, grab a towel and soak up any excess liquid.

If you can’t pick up your carpet, you can try this method that involves other ingredients:  Mix two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda, one teaspoon of liquid dish soap, and one quart of water. Spray solution onto the carpet, ensuring even coverage.

6. Take It Outside

While it might seem like stating the obvious, it’s worth mentioning that if your carpet is smaller in size and easy to remove, you’ve got a natural disinfectant at your disposal – air and sunlight! The powerful combination of airflow and sunlight works wonders in eliminating those pesky odors caused by bacteria and fungi.

How?  Quite simple.  In non-sciencey terms, UV radiation from the sun kills bacteria and fungi. 

Here’s what you do: On a dry, sunny day, take the affected area rug outside. Hang it up somewhere clean – a fence, over a few chairs, even a sturdy clothesline (do people still have those!?!?!).  Don’t worry if hanging it isn’t an option; you can even lay out on a bedsheet or tarp. 

Keep in mind that the carpet needs a significant amount of time outside to significantly do its job.  Both sides of the carpet need to be exposed to the sun at least for 4-6 hours, maybe even longer.  So this might be a best timed with 2 sunny days where you can exposed one side to the sun the first day, then flip to the other side the next. 

7. Vodka!?!?!

Yup, you read that right, vodka. Not for you (although I wouldn’t judge if you imbibed a cocktail while cleaning your carpets ?), but vodka for cleaning your carpet!

This clear alcohol found in so many of my fav drinks, can work wonders on those formidable smells that emanate from bacteria and mold.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide.  Note that this method might be best for spot cleaning.  Also note that vodka can discolor carpet, so test in an inconspicuous area first. 

1. Grab a spray bottle and either pour in vodka OR one part water and one part vodka.
2. Lightly spritz the areas on your carpet where the odors are particularly strong.
3. Let sit for about 15 minutes. [Enough time to make a drink….]
4. Using a dry rag, gently blot the dampened area.
5. Sprinkle baking soda over the affected spots.
6. After 30 minutes, vacuum up the baking soda.

Don’t worry, unlike you after a night out, your carpet won’t wake up hungover….

8. Onion

In all honesty, this way to get rid of old smells from carpets sounds disgusting.  I’m not sure I personally could do this one.  BUT people around the web says it works so…..

Onions! You might not have guessed it, but these humble kitchen staples can work wonders in eliminating unwanted smells. Onions absorb odors and (in the process) loses its own smell, leaving the room smelling fresh.

If you’ve always wanted to watch a tearjerker like Steel Magnolias or The Notebook, now is the time to use the onions lying around your house as an excuse for your tears.

Here’s a quick and easy guide to putting onions to work on those pesky odors:

1. Peel and slice a few onions into half and place on a plate.
2. Scatter plates evenly over the carpet.
3. Leave out overnight, preferably over 24 hours. 
4. Gather up onion slices and dispose. 

Note that folks who have used this method indicated that they needed to repeat the process a few times until the icky smell was neutralized.     

9. Shampoo

A good o’le fashioned wash and dry can be the solution to get rid of old smells from carpets.  For this one, you have the option of buying a carpet cleaner, or renting one from your local hardware store. 

Personally, as a homeowner with kids and pets, I found it worthwhile to invest in a carpet cleaner.  I use it a lot more than I expected!  Currently, I have (and recommend) Hoover’s PowerDash Pet Advanced carpet cleaner.

However, I must admit that the rentable carpet cleaners from your local hardware or supply store are probably more powerful to get the job done.

So, either way (buying or renting) it’s a win.

As with all the ways mentioned to get rid of old smells from carpets, it’s wise to test the method in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it won’t cause any discoloration or damage. Here’s the carpet cleaner that I’ve used for 2 years and recommend.

10. Professional Cleaners

Sometimes, you want to call in the professionals.  And that’s OK.  While some DIY ways to get rid of old smells from carpets can be effective, sometimes the job is just too big or time-consuming. 

When hiring any contractors to in your home, ensure that they give you a written quote, provide references, and satisfactory warranty.  

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