A cleaning fan has shared a simple hack for banishing unwanted odours from your carpets or rugs and all it requires is the savvy use of one common kitchen cupboard essential.
Keeping soft furnishings looking – and smelling – their best can be quite a chore, especially in households with pets or children who may traipse in extra mud and muck.
Carpets and rugs provide a sense of cosyness and warmth but they’re much harder to keep clean than wood, laminate or tiled flooring. This is because the fabric fibres can trap dust, dirt, hair, allergens and much more deep in the pile, while any food and drink spills come with the risk of causing permanent damage.
Regular cleaning does help keep it in tip top shape, with consistent vacuuming essential.
Blotting spills immediately is important too as this can help prevent stains from forming. Still, busy households combined with the demands of day to day life can make accidents feel inevitable.
Many people turn to social media looking for guidance and hacks for sprucing up their homes, with millions of people – professionals and novices alike – sharing a wealth of ideas, tips and tricks with the masses.
Mum Lily – who posts under the handle “Clean with Lily” – is one person building a following on TikTok thanks to her regular video uploads where she shares her approach to cleaning and tidying her home.
In a recent clip posted to the popular social media platform, Lily shared a series of quick hacks, with one proving to be a viable solution for getting rid of unwanted carpet smells.
Narrating the footage, Lily began: “Just in case your mum didn’t teach you to clean, I’m here to give you my quick and easy hack which will absolutely change your life.”
As the clip progresses, the mum can be seen sprinkling bicarbonate of soda over her carpet before using the vacuum cleaner to remove it.
She explained: “If you sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda over your rugs and carpet, [then vacuum] it’ll get rid of any lingering smells.”
The majority of kitchen cupboards will contain bicarbonate of soda, which is also known as baking soda or sodium bicarbonate.
This white crystalline powder, typically used as a leavening agent in baking, has absorbent and deodorising properties which gives it the ability to neutralise smells.
In the comments section beneath Lily’s video, fellow TikTok users were keen to share their thoughts. One person asked for clarity, commenting: “The carpet, how long do you leave on?”
Lily replied: “Only about half hour”.
Someone else said: “Really great tips, I also follow the Flylady system for beginners”.
Another shared: “Thank you, I didn’t know any of these”.
While someone else agreed: “Love following ‘clean tok’ accounts so much”.
One person asked: “Can we make this a series?”
While another simply added: “Great hacks!”
