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Can you vacuum baking soda

Can You Vacuum Baking Soda? (Don’t Try Before Reading)

No, ideally, you cannot vacuum baking soda. This is because vacuuming baking soda can clog the pores of the HEPA filter of your vacuum and damage the electric motor with its minuscule size. 

But then, what’s the ideal way of cleaning baking soda? Read on for a detailed guide on how to clean baking soda without damaging your vacuum cleaner.

📌Why It’s Not Ok To Vacuum up Baking Soda?

Vacuuming baking soda is terrible because the baking soda’s minuscule size can get stuck in the filter of vacuums and potentially damage vacuum cleaners.

Also, vacuuming large quantities of baking soda can leak into your home environment. So let’s understand why we shouldn’t vacuum baking soda in detail. 

🔧Reason 1: Damage To Motor 

The suction area of modern vacuum cleaners is mostly sealed. Nevertheless, the minute particles of baking soda can always find a way to different parts of your vacuum, such as the filtration system, hose, and, particularly, the motor.

While vacuuming baking soda, fine particles of baking soda can get stuck between the motor’s gears or bearings and ruin it.

🪠Reason 2: Clogged Filter 

Your vacuum bag and HEPA filter pores can get clogged with tiny baking soda particles. It will downgrade the vacuum’s cleaning performance, damaging its filtration system. 

Note:

Never vacuum baking soda with your Dyson because its warranty doesn’t cover the damages caused by vacuuming fine powders. 

🪫Reason 3: Loss of Suction Power

Once you’ve vacuumed baking soda, the particles block the vacuum parts. As a result, the suction power of your regular Dyson or Shark vacuum cleaner deteriorates.

You can feel this in the sound of the vacuum cleaner, which changes after vacuuming baking soda, certainly not in a good way! 

And no matter how hard you try, you cannot suck up all the baking soda stuck in the carpet fibers. Since baking soda particles are so minute, they get almost absorbed under your rug. Thus, you can never thoroughly remove the baking soda from the carpet by vacuuming them

Also Read: Can You Vacuum Sawdust?

🧹How to Clean Up Baking Soda Without a Vacuum?

Thankfully, there are other ways to remove baking soda or baking powder more effectively than vacuuming and damaging your device. Keep reading! 

🫙#Method 1: Use White Vinegar

Things You Need:

  • White vinegar 
  • Warm water 
  • Spray bottle 
  • Clean sponge 
  • Clean, dry rag 

Steps to Follow:

  • Add one part of white vinegar to three parts of warm water. 
  • Grab a clean sponge, and soak it in the solution. 
  • Dab the sponge on the baking soda stain. 
  • Rub and wipe off the baking soda powder with a dry cloth. 
  • Repeat steps 1 to 4 until the stain is gone.
Also Read: How To Remove Gatorade From Carpet

♨️Method 2: Get a Steam Cleaner

Things You Need:

  • White vinegar
  • Spray bottle 
  • Clean, Damp cloth 
  • Steam cleaner 

Steps to Follow:

  • Dilute white vinegar in water—spray the mixture on the affected area of the carpet.  
  • Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. 
  • Wipe everything with the damp cotton cloth. 
  • Use a steam cleaner for a deeper clean. 
  • Let the rug dry in the air. 
Also Read: How To Clean Up Kinetic Sand From Carpet

💧Method 3: Wash Under Warm Water

Things You Need:

  • Clean, dry mop 
  • Running warm water 
  • A mild shampoo (optional)

Steps to Follow:

  • Remove fine dust from the carpet with the help of a dry mop. 
  • Wash the area of your carpet under running water, preferably warm. You can rub a mild soap or shampoo for maximum cleaning. Wash it off thoroughly. 
  • Allow your rug to dry in the air. 

🧹Method 4: Sweep and& Dab White Vinegar

Things You Need:

  • Fine broom 
  • Diluted white vinegar 
  • Dry towel

Steps to Follow:

  • Sweep off the baking soda particles with a fine broom. 
  • Spray a mixture of white vinegar and water on the baking soda stains. 
  • Dry it with a clean towel. 

⛑️#Method 5: Professional Help

Lastly, if none of the options were helpful, you can always seek a professional cleaning service for your carpets. 

The professionals have various pro-cleaning methods, such as dry cleaning, to remove the baking soda without affecting carpet fibers. Besides, your vacuum won’t be at stake.

🤔How Do You Deodorize Carpets Without Baking Soda?

Your carpets can be deodorized using multiple fresheners. While you may any day invest in a professional carpet cleaner, there are some all-natural alternatives too. Let’s review some most readily available ingredients that can absorb the bad smells of your carpets.

🍶#1: White Vinegar 

White vinegar as a carpet cleaner is efficient and affordable instead of harmful chemicals. If your carpet stinks musty, suspect mildew inside the carpet fibers. Focus on removing stains and mildew to get rid of the odor.

How To Use:

  • Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to warm water and shake well in a spray bottle. 
  • Spray the entire carpet and let it dry naturally. 
  • As the white vinegar neutralizes odors, the overpowering vinegar smell will fade.

🍷#2: Vodka

Vodka is a fantastic stain remover and refresher to clean carpets. Spraying vodka on the spot after treating it will help to remove the stain and smell further.

How To Use:

  • Apply vodka to the spilled or stained spot on the carpet. 
  • Let the vodka sit for 15 minutes.
  • Use paper towels to remove the remains, and vacuum the carpet gently gently.

🧪#3: Enzyme Cleaner

Using an enzyme cleaner is the most effective technique to remove tough odors and pet scents. Enzymes speed up the process of bacteria feeding on organic debris, such as blood, vomit, urine, and feces, when used in conjunction with these cleaners.

How to use:

  • Liberally sprinkle pre-diluted enzymes directly on the stinking carpet. 
  • The concentrated enzymes must be diluted with water in a spray bottle. 
  • Spray the cleaning solution and let it air dry to freshen the carpets.

💡Can You Vacuum Baking Soda FAQs

Why do people put baking soda before vacuuming?

People sprinkle baking soda on their carpets to remove stains and for absorbing odors from the carpets. They use baking soda as a natural refreshing agent for cleaning carpets. 

However, you must not let baking soda ruin your vacuum after knowing the consequences.

How long should you wait to vacuum baking soda?

It depends on the intensity of the stains. Usually, soaking a light stain in baking soda for 10 to 15 minutes gets it off the carpet.

If the carpet stains are more intense, leave baking soda on the carpet overnight and vacuum it in the morning. Leaving baking soda on the carpets for longer allows it to remove dirt effectively.

Can I use a Dyson to vacuum the baking soda?

Never use a Dyson vacuum to sweep up fine white granules or particles. The motor will be killed, and the warranty does not cover it. These include baking soda, baby powder, cornflour, and white powder carpet cleaners (Carpet Fresh, etc.).

Can you vacuum baking soda with a bagless vacuum cleaner?

The tiny particles of baking soda clog the HEPA filters of bagged vacuums. As a result, they can clog the post-motor HEPA filter and the cyclonic filters of a bagless vacuum.

In fact, it’s worse to vacuum baking soda with a bagless vacuum. With bagged ones, you can dispose of the bag after cleaning it. But you can’t do the same with bagless counterparts.

Is baking soda dust harmful?

Even though baking soda isn’t typically considered one of the most dangerous chemicals, prolonged contact can have negative health impacts, including coughing and sneezing if a good chunk of dust is inhaled. In addition to this, consuming significant amounts might also cause gastrointestinal irritation.

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