How to Get Vinegar Smell Out of Carpet (4 Foolproof Ways + Prevention Tip)

Did you accidentally spill vinegar on the carpet? That can be a disaster – I know, I’ve been there. Vinegar is a miracle cure for many household stains, but with its blessings comes some curses.

One of its main drawbacks is being assaulted with a horrible smell. Eventually, the smell will dissipate, and your floor will be clean again.

But if you’re like me, you don’t want to wait.

There are several remedies to remove vinegar smell from carpet, including using baking soda, vacuuming thoroughly, and blotting with a dry towel. But these remedies have their drawbacks; baking soda, for example, will neutralize the vinegar smell but may damage the underlay or the floors beneath your carpet.

So, what’s the best way to get rid of vinegar smell from carpet?

Keep reading, and I will reveal to you my secret technique.

Easiest Ways to Get Vinegar Smell Out of Carpet

1. Wait It Out!

If you only spilled or used a few drops to clean something else, there’s no need to do ANYTHING. Go see an episode of your favorite Netflix show. I’m serious!

Within a couple of hours, it will dry out and fade away on its own. If it hasn’t, you can also give steam a try, as it’s a tried and tested stink buster!

At the same time, this is the most risk-free way of getting rid of vinegar smell. Any other method could make it worse if you’re not careful.

But if you have a big puddle of vinegar, waiting won’t help.

2. Baking Soda to the Rescue

Yes, baking soda will de-acidify your vinegar and remove the pungent smell. Here’s how:

1. Use a clean white cloth to blot the spot of the vinegar spill if it is still damp.
2. Spread baking soda over the spot and sit for about 15 minutes.
3. Next, vacuum the carpet thoroughly.
4. If the smell persists, apply more baking soda to the spot and let it sit for a few minutes. You can let the baking soda stay overnight if the odor is still strong.
5. Repeat this process until you are satisfied.
6. As I have mentioned earlier, even though baking soda is an efficient stain remover for carpets, it has its challenges if not used correctly.

For one, no matter the amount of vacuuming, baking soda does not always go away. Its particles are so small that vacuuming may not be enough to remove the baking soda from the carpet.

Plus, baking soda can damage your vacuum cleaner. Its tiny particles can clog the filter, and this can cause serious problems for the vacuum’s motor.

So if you do opt for this method, apply baking soda to the carpet in moderate amounts.

3. Use Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds have a reputation for tackling pungent smells like cigarettes and smoke from carpets.

Simply spread the coffee grounds all over the stained area, let it sit for a few minutes, and vacuum it up.

The caveat with the coffee ground is that brown stains aren’t the sexiest thing on carpet! So be cautious about that. Don’t use too much, and make sure not to wet them up!

4. Use a Commercial Deodorizer

This method to get vinegar smell out of carpet will not leave residue on your carpet. But you have to be careful as some of these chemicals can be harmful.

Per the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), use commercial cleaners with their Seal of Approval when cleaning pungent odors in carpets or rugs.

Once you’ve gotten the deodorizer from the grocery store, follow these steps:

1. Clean the area with the vacuum stain, and rinse it with cold water. You can repeat this step as necessary.
2. Next, remove excess moisture by blotting the stained area with a towel. If you have a wet-dry vacuum, use it to get as much moisture as possible out of the carpet.
3. Now, spray the deodorizer.
4. Wait for about 5 minutes, and rinse again.
5. Blot with a dry towel or wet-dry vacuum to remove any moisture.
6. Lastly, leave it to dry and vacuum.

Next Time, Make Scented Vinegar! Here’s How

The impressive cleaning power of vinegar means despite the pungent odor, you are very much likely to call on it for the next cleaning need in your home. So, in a way, that makes it a necessary evil.

But it doesn’t have to be.

You can suppress that strong vinegar smell by masking it with a scent you like. You can mix several drops of your favorite oil into the vinegar or add essential oils to it.

For example, you could use eucalyptus oil because eucalyptus oil has antimicrobial properties that play an influential role in mitigating the vinegar smell.

Below is a quick step of preparing your scented vinegar with essential oil.

1. Add a few drops of your preferred essential oil to the vinegar.
2. Shake the bottle to ensure that the scent is spread evenly throughout the vinegar.
3. And you are done! Now label the bottle and save it for your next cleaning need.
4. Other options to create scented vinegar for your next cleaning session are herbs, spices, or citrus peels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to get vinegar smell out of carpet?

Getting rid of a vinegar smell from carpet depends on the vinegar spilled on it. Was it just a drop or two? If so, you can use baking soda to absorb the smell. Perhaps the carpet has been soaked in it? In this case, you will need strong cleaning solutions to remove the odor.

Does vinegar smell go away?

Vinegar odor will eventually dissipate from the carpet after it dries. So the most seamless method for getting rid of vinegar smell is to just wait it out!

How long does it take for vinegar smell to disappear?

In theory, it could take up to 14 days for vinegar smell to disappear. However, in most cases, it won’t take nearly as long. Hopefully, you won’t have spilled an entire bottle of vinegar! If you cannot wait for the smell to disappear, use baking soda to absorb it.