How to Get Smells Out of Carpets & Rugs

Carpets and rugs can trap odours from pets, spills, smoke, and damp conditions.
Quick home remedies include salt, baking soda, and mild soap solutions.
For stubborn odours, professional steam cleaning is most effective.
Regular maintenance and proper ventilation help prevent lingering smells.

Carpets make any room feel cosy, but they’re also magnets for odours. From pet accidents and damp spots to lingering cooking smells, a smelly carpet can be frustrating. In this guide, we explain how to remove odours from carpets and rugs using DIY methods and professional cleaning.

Why Do Carpets Smell?

Carpet fibres are highly absorbent, meaning anything that touches them—spills, smoke, or pet accidents—can leave an odour that lingers for weeks. Carpets can also harbour bacteria and mould, which contribute to persistent smells. According to Enviro Clean research, carpets may contain around 4,000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.

Common causes of carpet odours include:

Pet urine or accidents that weren’t fully cleaned – learn how to get urine out of carpet
Spills from food, drinks, or oily substances – see our guide on how to get oil out of carpet
Smoke from cigarettes or cooking
Damp rooms or poor ventilation, which can lead to mildew
Residues from old stains that feed bacteria or mould

Even after vacuuming, these smells can persist. Understanding the source is key to effective odour removal. For more tips, check out 10 Reasons Vacuuming Alone Won’t Keep Your Carpets Clean.

Quick tip: If your carpet smells after cleaning, residues from detergents or water may be the cause. Deodorising solutions can remove these smells.

Why Carpet Odours Are a Problem

A smelly carpet isn’t just unpleasant—it can make your home or workspace less hygienic. Lingering odours may come from bacteria, mildew, or old spills. Many store-bought sprays only mask odours temporarily.

At Enviro Clean, we specialise in keeping carpets fresh and hygienic. In this guide, we’ll show effective DIY and professional methods to remove stubborn carpet smells for good.

4 Proven Ways to Remove Odours from Carpets

Before trying any method, always check the care instructions for your carpet and test a small hidden area first. For delicate carpets or persistent smells, professional cleaning is recommended.

1. Salt Treatment
Salt is a cheap and effective odour remover, especially for fresh spills or pet accidents. Salt crystals absorb moisture quickly, which helps neutralise smells.

Steps:

Sprinkle a generous layer of salt over the affected area.
Leave it until the carpet is dry—salt naturally absorbs moisture and odours
Vacuum thoroughly to remove the salt along with trapped smells. See our guide on how to vacuum like a pro.

Tip: Salt works best on fresh spills and can prevent odours from setting into the fibres.

2. Baking Soda Magic
Baking soda is a natural odour absorber that works for deodorising carpets and rugs after cleaning.

Steps:

Sprinkle baking soda generously over the smelly area.
Optional: Add a few drops of essential oils (lavender or eucalyptus) for a pleasant scent.
Leave for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for stronger odours.
Vacuum thoroughly.
Pro tip: Use baking soda between professional cleans to maintain freshness. It works well on rug smells too.

3. Soap and Water Solution
A mild soap solution can tackle both stains and odours, making it a reliable DIY option.

Steps:

Mix ½ teaspoon of gentle dish soap with a cup of warm water.
Blot the affected area—avoid scrubbing, which can damage fibres.
For persistent odours, lightly spray a mix of water and white vinegar and blot again.
Repeat as necessary and ensure the carpet dries fully.

Extra insight: For pet accidents, enzyme cleaners break down proteins in urine, helping to eliminate odours ordinary solutions can’t remove.

4. Professional Carpet Cleaning

For stubborn odours, professional steam cleaning is highly effective. It:

Penetrates deep into fibres to remove dirt and odours
Eliminates bacteria and mould causing carpet smells
Uses high heat to kill odour-causing microbes, including mildew

Pro tip: Schedule professional carpet cleaning every 6–12 months for high-traffic areas or frequent spills. Choose a reputable service that removes odours at the source, rather than masking them with fragrances.

Preventing Carpet Odours