Does your carpet have an alcohol scent that you can't seem to get rid of? What is the best way to remove alcohol from carpet fibers, and do you need to hire a professional to do it? Luckily, we've done plenty of research into these questions and share the answers below.
One of the best ways to remove the alcohol smell from your carpet is to apply a mixture of 1/3 cup white vinegar and 2/3 cup distilled water.
White vinegar can disinfect and kill some bacteria, and you can use it to lift and remove any traces of alcohol that may be on your carpet. You can also try sprinkling a bit of baking soda on your carpet to help with the odor.
In this article, we'll discuss how to remove alcohol from carpet and give tips on removing the smell. Whether you recently threw a party, spilled an alcoholic beverage, or have been struggling with a lingering odor, we're here to help.
What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of The Alcohol Smell In Carpet?
When alcohol comes into contact with carpet, it can hold on to the scent for weeks. This is a huge issue for carpet owners, as the fibers retain scents much longer than hardwood or tile. Alcohol has a pungent scent, meaning you'll need to do some cleaning to improve the air quality.
Luckily, this isn't too challenging as long as you can locate where the alcohol was spilled. With darker carpeting, finding the exact stain or damp spot can be tricky, so turn on enough lights and make sure you find the problem area.
You should clean the area sooner rather than later, as the longer you wait, the deeper the alcohol can penetrate the fibers in your carpeting.
Tips For Cleaning
Once you locate the area where the alcohol was spilled on your carpet, it's essential to use a powerful cleaner. As we mentioned, you can use a mixture of 1/3 cup white vinegar and 2/3 cup distilled water.
One of the reasons this mixture works well to lift and remove the alcohol from carpet fibers is that white vinegar is a natural antibacterial and disinfectant. It can lift and eliminate the scent from the carpet. Many experts recommend white vinegar for carpet cleaning because it won't damage the carpet.
Using abrasive products to remove the alcohol scent from your carpeting can stain or strip it, which you want to avoid. You should gently clean the area where the alcohol is present.
You might also want to use a mixture of soap with water and scrub the carpet. Like white vinegar, the soap can lift and eliminate the alcohol smell without damaging the fibers.
You can use a gentle, antibacterial hand soap or a product meant for carpet cleaning. You can mix a quarter of a teaspoon of soap in one cup of lukewarm water. Using a product formulated specifically for the carpet is better.
What Should I Do If I Spill Alcohol On My Carpet?
If you spill alcohol on your carpet, the best thing to do is grab a white towel and blot the moisture from the spill, which will help lessen the aftermath.
Depending on the color of your carpet and the spilled drink, it may be wise to use a fast-acting carpet cleaner. Your best bet for immediate stain and odor removal is white vinegar and water or a specially formulated spray/scrub.
If you keep a bottle of carpet cleaner in your home, you want to spray it onto the carpet, let it sit for the recommended timeframe, and then scrub or brush it away.
Many stain removers come with a silicone brush or cleaning attachment, which makes this process easier. Time is of the essence with alcohol spills, so make sure to get this done ASAP.
One grave mistake many homeowners make is letting the beer, wine, or liquor sit on their floor before scrubbing it away or blotting it, ultimately leading to a strong odor the next day.
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How Long Can The Smell Of Alcohol Stay On Carpet?
Although the timeline can vary, alcohol may linger on your carpet for weeks after a spill. Unfortunately, if the spill is big enough or the drink is strong enough, you could deal with eye-watering odors for the first few days.
It's a good idea to open a window once you notice a strong alcohol smell. The first day or two will be the easiest to tell where the alcohol is on your carpeting, so focus on finding and cleaning it.
With good ventilation and fast action, the alcohol smell should subside within a few hours if you catch the spill early on. The longer it sits and seeps into your carpet's fibers, the worse the smell will become.
Beer tends to have the most pungent smell on carpet, so it might be one you keep an eye out for during your next gathering.
Can I Use Baking Soda To Get Rid Of The Alcohol Smell?
Yes! If you have tried using white vinegar or other carpet cleaners but still notice traces of the alcohol smell, baking soda works wonders for carpet.
You may want to use baking soda alongside or after another deep-cleaning product. We recommend sprinkling baking soda over the affected area, letting it sit for 15+ minutes, and then vacuuming it.
The key here is allowing the baking soda to sit on the alcohol long enough to absorb the smell. Depending on how intense the smell is, this could mean a longer wait time for the baking soda.
Beer seems to get the most complaints when spilled on carpet, so you might need to leave the baking soda on for 30-60 minutes in those situations. Again, this is different for every spill and household, so don't be afraid to let your baking soda sit for a few hours.
The easiest way to clean the baking soda afterward is using a vacuum, which should pick up the tiny particles.
Does White Wine Leave A Smell On Carpet?
Yes. Even though white wine is typically light and soft-smelling, that doesn't mean it should be ignored if you spill it on the carpet. White wine can develop a strong afterscent if it sits on carpet for a few days, making a room smell funky.
Therefore, you need to blot the wine and use a special cleaner or white vinegar mix. You may even need to throw a bit of baking soda on the trouble spot, so this will take a few steps.
Just because you can't see the alcohol doesn't mean it won't smell!
Of course, you won't be dealing with odors anywhere near as strong with white wine as you would beer or even red wine, but it's not ideal.
Will Tequila Leave A Smell On My Carpet?
Another light alcoholic beverage that can leave a scent on carpet is tequila. As with white wine, you should use a carpet cleaner after spilling tequila, even if it's clear.
Tequila tends to have a strong alcohol scent, which can be exacerbated by heat or moisture. So again, try and blot the spill with a towel and use a cleaner and baking soda to get rid of any remaining odors.
To Wrap Things Up
Whether you or someone else spilled wine, beer, or liquor on your carpet, cleaning it up is essential. Generally, the best way to get rid of the alcohol smell on a carpet is to use a white vinegar and water mix.
You can also try using a specialty carpet cleaner that targets stains. The key to lifting smells from carpet is acting fast and ventilating the space.
Try sprinkling baking soda on any leftover alcohol odors, and finish the job with a thorough vacuuming. Good luck!
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