Pine-Sol is a famous multi-surface cleaning agent commonly used to clean, deodorize, and disinfect various porous and non-porous surfaces in and around the home. The cleaner is particularly effective for getting rid of stains and spots and is commonly used to clean areas in the house that get stained easily.
You can use Pine-Sol on your carpet. Pine-Sol doesn’t produce any harmful gases and can successfully remove persistent spot stains and disinfect the carpet by destroying disease-carrying germs and viruses. However, you must take great care while using the industrial cleaner to clean the carpet.
Although it’s an effective carpet cleaning agent and can get rid of the smell of urine, vomit, and alcohol from carpets, the smell of Pine-Sol in carpets may be uncomfortable to many people. The rest of this article highlights the proper steps to clean your carpet using the cleaner effectively and how to deal with the smell after.
How to Clean a Carpet Using Pine-Sol
The Clorox Company’s Pine-Sol is one of the most widely used multi-purpose home cleansers and disinfecting agents in the United States. It contains Pine Oil, Isopropyl alcohol, alkyl alcohol ethoxylates, cleaners, and sulphonic acid. Pine-Sol is particularly effective in cleaning carpets.
Below are the steps on how to clean a carpet using Pine-Sol. It’s crucial to carefully follow these steps to remove all the carpet’s grease, dirt, stains, and germs altogether.
1. Gather All the Things You Will Need to Clean the Carpet
Place all of your necessary cleaning materials in their proper locations. You’ll need towels or microfiber cloth and water, as well as undiluted pine sol. Some of these items, such as water and cleaning towels, may be readily available in your house.
You can also get the necessary cleaning materials online if you don’t have them at home. For example, you can shop for a set of microfiber cloths such as the ultra soft and non-abrasive Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths and the multi-surface cleaner Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner (both available on Amazon).
2. Put On the Appropriate Protective Gear
Pine-Sol doesn’t generate any harmful fumes and poses no danger to humans. However, prolonged contact with the cleaning agent can cause skin and eye irritation. Be sure you wear the necessary safety clothing when using Pine-Sol to clean your carpet.
Using latex or neoprene gloves such as the Uxglove Latex Gloves will protect your hands from drying out. Its textured design helps your grip. Furthermore, safety goggles such as the scratch resistant Safeyear Anti Fog Safety Goggle work well as eye protective equipment.
3. Perform a Spot Test on the Carpet
Check to see if your carpet is colorfast before applying Pine-Sol on it. Colorfast materials don’t fade when chemical cleaning agents are used to clean them. You can check if your carpet is colorfast by performing a spot test on it.
To perform a spot test, dab some Pine-Sol on a small, inconspicuous patch of your carpet and wait for a few minutes. If there’s no discoloration, you can clean the rest of the carpet using Pine-Sol. However, you may need to heavily dilute the PIne-Sol cleaner if discoloration occurs at the end of the spot test.
4. Clean the Carpet Using Pine-Sol
Follow the steps below to clean your carpet effectively:
- Soak a portion of the cleaning towel with Pine-Sol and rub it on the spot.
- Continue to rub the stain until it disappears.
- Using a clean, moist towel, remove the Pine-Sol.
- Allow the carpet to dry completely.
How to Get Pine-Sol Smell Out of a Carpet
Although Pine-Sol is safe for use in human spaces and pet-friendly, the lasting aroma of the solution may be uncomfortable to some individuals. Pine-sol products may trigger allergic responses in certain people, especially if they’re sensitive to strong odors and substances like limonene.
Water and washcloth can get the Pine-Sol smell out of your carpet. Wipe the affected area and ventilate thoroughly to clear up the smell. Activated charcoal powder and cat litter can also absorb powerful smells in a carpet. You can also get rid of Pine-Sol odors using baking soda.
Here are the details on how you can get Pine-Sol smell out of a carpet:
Use a Washcloth
You may readily remove Pine-Sol scents with water and soap. Hose down the carpeted area. Then, wipe away the water and any remaining Pine-Sol using a washcloth.
Afterward, ventilate the area thoroughly. You may need to repeat this process numerous times to achieve the desired results.
Use Activated Charcoal
You can also get rid of the odors using activated charcoal powder. Fill a cardboard box halfway with activated charcoal powder and leave it on or around the affected area. Activated charcoal powder readily absorbs intense aromas and leaves a neutral odor in its place.
You may need to use many boxes if the scent is in multiple rooms in your home; else, one or two boxes are sufficient for an average-sized room.
Use Cat Litter
Fill the bottom of a cardboard box with approximately 1 inch (2.54 cm) of unscented cat litter and place it in the room that has the Pine-Sol odor. The cat litter neutralizes the pungent smell of the Pine-Sol cleaning agent quickly and effectively. If the odor is pervasive throughout your home, you may need to use more boxes of cat litter.
You can get cat litter that’s unscented such as the Fresh Step Cat Litter. It’s an excellent choice to use when getting rid of Pine-Sol smells. It has activated charcoal but you won’t smell any unnecessary added fragrance.
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is also an excellent deodorizing agent. Scoop a few spoons of baking soda into a bowl and place it in the area where the smell of Pine-Sol is present. The baking soda will remove the smell of the cleaning agent.
Use Carpet Cleaning Machine
Another viable approach is to use a carpet cleaning machine that doesn’t contain any cleaner. Pine-Sol may be removed from your carpet with only water and shampoo. This option is quick and easy, but you must take care not to damage the carpet.
The Hoover PowerDash Carpet Cleaner is an effective carpet cleaning machine that can help you deodorize your carpet with its antimicrobial brush roll.
Tips for Cleaning Using Pine-Sol
Here are a few tips for using Pine-Sol:
- Do a spot test before using the Pine-Sol on any surface, including carpets and rugs.
- Always use high-quality gloves, safety goggles, and a face mask when using Pine-Sol for extended cleaning sessions.
- Always store the Pine-Sol bottle in a dry place away from kids and pets.
- Be sure to cordon off the treated area until the cleaning is done.
- Never use Pine-Sol with other cleaners as it may cause the production of harmful gases.
- You can use Pine-Sol in carpet cleaners instead of the regular carpet cleaning shampoo.
- If Pine-Sol causes your eyes or skin to get irritated, flush with water and seek medical attention immediately
What Else Can You Use Pine-Sol As?
Besides being an excellent cleaning agent for rugs, carpets, tiles, and toilets, Pine-Sol can be used for many activities. However, some of these may require you to handle the cleaning agent in a concentrated form. Take care to wear the appropriate protective gear when handling Pine-Sol for extended periods.
Pine-Sol can also be used as:
- A fly repellant
- A deodorizer
- A pest repellant
- A car seat cleaner
- Disinfectant
- Mold killer
- All-purpose cleaner
- Paint remover
- Pet urine cleaner
What Surfaces Should You Not Use Pine-Sol On?
Pine-Sol is safe for a variety of surfaces and areas. You can use it on hard, non-porous surfaces and laundry, sinks, countertops, furniture, rugs, and wooden floors. However, Pine-Sol isn’t suitable for specific surfaces as it could cause it to fade or even damage the material.
Don’t use Pine-Sol on non-porous surfaces like copper, marble, or aluminum, as well as kitchenware and cars. It’ll be absorbed by these surfaces and may cause irreparable damage. Although Pine-Sol may be used on hardwood, please don’t use it on hardwood floors without a topcoat.
It’s a good idea to perform spot tests on a surface before you use Pine-Sol cleaner.
Key Takeaways
You can use Pine-Sol Multi-Surface cleaner to clean various surfaces, including carpets. However, you should perform a spot test to check if your carpet is colorfast so that the cleaner doesn’t cause it to fade. Remember to always use protective equipment like safety goggles, neoprene gloves, and face masks to work with Pine-Sol for extended periods.
Although Pine-Sol is generally safe for humans, the smell may be irritating or trigger allergic reactions in some people. However, you can get the scent of Pine-Sol out of carpets by washing with soap and water.
