Many people wonder if sprinkling baking soda on the carpet will ruin their vacuum. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is often used to treat minor carpet stains. It can also be used to deodorize the vacuum once it’s clean.
Will baking soda damage my vacuum cleaner?
The vacuum will not be damaged in any way by baking soda.
However, many people believe this myth because they have seen the baking soda melt or dissolve the wax in a candle. This is because wax is made of long hydrocarbon chains with a high melting point, which are soluble in sodium bicarbonate.
There are many benefits to using baking soda on stains in carpets. Baking soda is an alkaline product that neutralizes acids. It is also very absorbent, which means it pulls liquid into the carpet fibers.
Those with allergies will find that baking soda can help, as it has anti-allergy properties. Vacuum up the baking soda and then vacuum again using plain water to remove any remaining baking soda from the carpet. Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet before vacuuming to neutralize odors and help with stains.
Can you vacuum wet baking soda?
Yes. Just let the baking soda dry before vacuuming it up to avoid clogging your vacuum.
One important thing to remember is not to vacuum up any chemicals with your baking soda. Some cleaners will eat away at the rubber in the vacuum so only use baking soda to clean up after yourself.
If you do use other chemicals on your carpet, simply let the chemical dry first then vacuum it up with baking soda to neutralize the odors.
How to clean baking soda out of vacuum cleaners?
If baking soda does get into the vacuum, you can clean it out with a dry towel.
You can also remove any wet baking soda by using a vacuum cleaner brush attachment to gently pull the crumbs out of the vacuum.
Baking soda residue will almost always be left inside your vacuum cleaner though. It is very tough to remove baking soda particles that are in-between gaps.
How to pick up baking soda without vacuum cleaner?
You can easily pick up baking soda with a broom or dustpan. Just sweep it off your carpet and into the trashcan!
So, now that you know the facts, you can clean your carpets with baking soda and use it as a deodorizer without any fear of damaging your vacuum.
Can baking soda particles damage my vacuum cleaner’s motor?
Baking soda powder can interact badly with your electric motor inside your vacuum causing minor issues.
Baking soda’s micro particles can get into any crevice and it’s very difficult to remove the tiny particles once they are inside your vacuum.
Electric motors can withstand a lot, but as it can erode over time, it is one of the few baking soda bad points.
Whilst it’s a great mild disinfectant and is fantastic as a filtration system for the surrounding air, baking soda can potentially ruin your canister vacuum, by eroding your vacuum’s motor.
Will baking soda pass through my HEPA filter?
Most modern vacuum cleaners come with HEPA filters which filter out any micro particles and allergens.
The small particles are not able to pass through the filter.
Large quantities can cause issues a clogged filter and make you replace your HEPA filter more often.
Will baking soda remove stains?
One of the best properties is that you can use baking soda stain remover on your carpets.
It’s a very cheap chemical and operates as a great carpet cleaner.
Most carpet cleaners are very expensive, but if you combine baking soda inside a spray bottle as a cleaning solution, you’ll be able to get rid of most pet stains or wine stains.