Is Baking Soda Actually Good for Carpet Cleaning?
(Spoiler: Not always — and your wool carpet might be silently judging you.)
Baking soda has a sparkling reputation in the DIY cleaning world and that DIY advice has reached auckland home owners too. It’s natural, cheap, sitting right there in your pantry, and TikTokers seem to sprinkle it on everything from couches to their dogs (please don’t).
And yes, it can help with certain things. If you’re just trying to lift a mild odour, a light dusting followed by vacuuming might do the trick.
But when it comes to properly cleaning your carpet — especially removing stains or tackling deep smells — baking soda might be doing more harm than good. And in some cases, it can actually make your carpet worse over time.
Let’s break down the common myths and why it’s probably best to leave the bicarb in the baking drawer.
1. It Doesn’t Really Clean — It Just Masks Smells
Baking soda is a deodoriser, not a cleaner. It doesn’t lift dirt, it doesn’t kill bacteria, and it definitely doesn’t remove stains. What it can do is absorb mild odours temporarily — which is why it’s popular in fridges and gym shoes.
But when sprinkled on a carpet and vacuumed up, the result is mostly superficial. The smells might seem reduced, but the actual cause (spilled milk, pet accidents, built-up oils) is still living rent-free in your carpet fibres.
It’s kind of like spraying deodorant instead of having a shower. Works for a bit… but eventually, things get funky again.
2. Vacuum Damage Is a Real Risk
Baking soda is made of incredibly fine particles — almost like dust. These tiny grains are smaller than what your average vacuum filter is designed to catch. Over time, they can slip through filters, clog motors, and even damage vacuum components, especially in older or bagless models.
We’ve had customers call us after noticing a sudden drop in their vacuum’s performance… only to find out it was basically choking on the leftover powder.
So while you think you’re freshening up your carpet, you might actually be sending your vacuum to an early grave. RIP Dyson, gone too soon.
3. It’s Harder to Remove Than You Think
One of the biggest issues with baking soda is that it rarely vacuums out completely — especially in medium to high-pile carpets. It tends to settle deep into the fibres, clinging like an unwanted guest that just won’t leave.
And once it’s embedded, it starts building up. Over time, this can cause:
- A gritty, crunchy feeling underfoot
- Dullness or discolouration
- Compacted fibres that are harder to clean properly later
In fact, when we deep-clean carpets that have been treated with baking soda, it often takes multiple rinse passes with professional-grade machines just to flush it out.
So while it’s easy to sprinkle in — it’s a lot harder to get back out.
4. It’s Too Alkaline for Some Carpets (Especially Wool)
Here’s a big one most people don’t realise: baking soda is highly alkaline, sitting at a pH of around 9.
That’s fine on some synthetic carpets — but it’s definitely not ideal for wool, which is more sensitive and naturally acidic. Using high-pH products on wool can lead to:
- Colour fading or distortion
- Fibre weakening
- Uneven texture or “fuzzing” over time
Think of it like using a harsh face scrub on delicate skin. Sure, it might feel like you’re doing something productive, but over time, you’re stripping away what makes it soft and beautiful.
Wool is a premium fibre — it deserves better than pantry-grade chemistry experiments.
5. Baking Soda + Moisture = Crusty Disaster
Many online “hacks” take things a step further and tell you to