Baking soda on cat hairballs on the carpet.. does this really work?

I once heard that if you sprinkle baking soda on a hairball that a cat (or dog) left on your carpet, and let it sit, that it will be easy to just come back around with a vacuum cleaner and it will take it right up, leaving just a slight stain on the carpet. Is this true, or just a myth?Baking soda on cat hairballs on the carpet.. does this really work?
Sounds like it works pretty well. I use club soda on those kind of stains. It must be the same principle - the soda neutralizes the acid in the upchuck which is acidic from the cat's stomach acids.





So the powder might be even better as it dries the stuff out and makes it easier to vacuum up.