How to Get Spilled Vinegar & it’s Smell Out of Carpet?

Last Updated on October, 2024

Vinegar is considered a powerful cleaning agent, but it leaves a strong odor. This smell can sometimes be unbearable for some people. Can you remove this pungent smell? Yes, there are many solutions. 

This article is about natural and eco-friendly ways to clean up vinegar spills and their smell. The following detailed guide will make it easy when you have accidentally spilled vinegar on the carpet! 

Quick Summary

• Vinegar’s strong odor can be neutralized using natural solutions like baking soda, white wine vinegar, essential oils, coffee granules, onions, and fresh air.
• Baking soda absorbs odor and can be applied by sprinkling, letting sit, and vacuuming. White wine vinegar and essential oils are effective for creating cleaning solutions that neutralize smells.
• Natural remedies such as coffee granules, onions, and indoor plants help eliminate vinegar odors.

Guide to Cleaning Up Spilled Vinegar and Vinegar Odor

We all know that a strong vinegar odor can be a nuisance, especially when guests are coming over, or you are sensitive to smell. Getting rid of the vinegar smell is easy. 

We have described various methods and solutions for vinegar stains and vinegar smell. Most of the ingredients you need are household items and can be found right at your fingertips. 

Baking Soda

Baking soda is considered an amazing cleaning agent, and the best part is that it is easy to find! Because of its alkaline properties, it absorbs odour and neutralises the strong smell of vinegar. 

You can clean the vinegar stain and remove the smell by blotting the affected area using a clean white cloth to remove excess moisture. Then, sprinkle baking soda on the area and push well so that the powder can go into the carpet fibres.

Leave it for a while or even overnight for the best results. Lastly, vacuum the carpet well to remove any residue. You can also make a cleaning solution to remove odours on the carpets.

Add one cup of baking soda to a slow mixture and a few cups of water. Set the cooker to slow. Let this vinegar-water solution boil for about thirty minutes.

White Wine Vinegar

White wine vinegar is a natural air freshener with antibacterial properties. It is an ideal alternative to distilled white vinegar. It fights germs and can neutralise odours. 

To prepare the cleaning solution: 

1. Mix white wine vinegar and warm water to a ratio of 1:1. 
2. Then, use a spray bottle to lightly spray the vinegar stain. 
3. Do not overdo it, and let it sit for a few hours. 
4. Vacuum well to get rid of any residue. 
5. Essential Oil

Essential oils have a pleasant smell and antibacterial properties that can neutralise almost any kind of strong smell. You can select any essential oil according to your preference, such as lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus, orange, or lavender. 

Mix around twenty drops of essential oil with white wine vinegar. Use the vinegar solution to blot the stained area slightly and let it dry completely; otherwise, the wetness will attract dirt to the carpet.  At the same time, you can simply diffuse essential oils to get rid of the odours. 

Coffee Granules

Coffee granules have a strong aroma that can mask the pungent smell of vinegar. Coffee granules act as a natural deodoriser for removing odours. 

Add coffee granules to a container and place it near the carpet. Leave it for several hours or overnight to absorb the smell. 

Onions

Believe it or not, onions contain properties that can absorb odour. Here is how you do it using onions. Cut the onion into two halves and keep those near the affected carpet. Leave it for up to two days so that it can absorb the bad smell. Make sure you remove it after two days. 

Fresh Air and Ventilation

You can let fresh air and ventilation do the job for you by opening all the windows and doors around the vinegar-stained carpet. At the same time, you can keep the carpets outside the house to let some sunshine in. 

Indoor Plants

Indoor plants act as natural air purifiers that remove smells and freshen up the space. Make sure you choose a plant known for its air-purifying qualities, such as Snake Plants or Boston ferns. 

Dishwashing Detergent

You can use dishwashing detergent as a cleaning solution to clean carpet. If your carpet has vinegar stains, make a cleaning solution by mixing one teaspoon of liquid dish soap and one cup of cold water. 

Use a brush or apply the solution to erase the vinegar stain. After you are done, blot dry with a white cloth to remove the wetness. 

Use Other Aromas

You can mask the strong smell of vinegar with other aromas. This is a quick and effective method if you spill vinegar in an emergency. You can use wax melts or scented candles to cover up the spill. 

Citrus

We all know that citrus has a strong and nice aroma that triumphs all the other strong smells. Cut lemons or any other citrus alternative. Add to a pan full of plain water. Then, let it simmer for a while until the vinegar smell dissipates. 

Air Conditioner/ Dehumidifier

You can let the air conditioner or the dehumidifier do the job. There is no blotting or cleaning—just let the machines remove all the bad odours!

Professional Help

If something else works better to make your vinegar spill right, call for professionals. They have modern technology and specialised tools and equipment for cleaning the clumsy stains on your carpet. 

Useful guides:

• How to Clean Carpet on Stairs?
• How to Get Grease Out of Carpet?

What Do You Need to Clean a Vinegar Spill?

You will not need much to clean a stain on your carpet. The following list shows the equipment and tools you need in addition to the ingredients mentioned above. 

• Paper towels 
• Dry cloth/ dry towel
• Brushes 

More Tips and Guidelines

Here are more tips and guidelines to remove spills on your carpet. 

• Do not let vinegar soak into the carpet. Blot using a paper towel or other clean cloth. Excess water makes the stain worse.
• Blot as much as possible; otherwise, the stain remains.
• If the stain on the carpet is larger, go to a steam cleaner or get professional supervision. 
• Do not rinse off the stain using warm water. 

FAQs

Conclusion 

Consequently, you need not worry about the bad odour on the carpet anymore. Use these natural and eco-friendly solutions to get rid of the vinegar scent; they do magic!