The Poo Incident That Sparked My DIY Carpet Freshener Quest
A few years ago, our family became owners of the sweetest puppy. And per usual, our newest family member came with a few “accidents.” One particular night, I woke up to an awful smell in our bedroom. I turned on the lights to discover a puddle of poo on the carpet. (I use the word puddle on purpose… you get the idea.) There was no way we were going to fall back to sleep with such a horrible odor permeating our room.
Plus, I wasn’t about to let that little poo puddle sit on the carpet all night. The problem was, even after removing the puppy poo, the smell remained… and it was horrible. I grabbed my DIY Carpet Freshener, sprinkled it on, let it sit for a few minutes and vacuumed it up (hoping not to wake our kids at 3:00 in the morning). This homemade carpet deodorizer is nothing short of a miracle. It completely eliminated the odor in the carpet.
The Power of Baking Soda and Essential Oils
This DIY Carpet Powder recipe makes 1 cup, however, you can certainly double the recipe to make more. Start by pouring 1 cup baking soda into a glass mixing bowl. Then add in 20-30 drops of essential oil. (If you desire a milder scent, feel free to use less essential oil.) Make sure to thoroughly mix the essential oil into the baking soda so the scent is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
If you’d like to add in a few dried herbs or flowers, add 1 Tablespoon and stir. I personally love the fresh, calming aroma of dried lavender buds. Transfer the DIY Carpet Freshener into a glass jar for storage. To avoid spills, you can use a funnel to help with this process.
To naturally freshen carpet, simply sprinkle the DIY carpet deodorizer onto any area emitting odor. (You can use a mesh top for the mason jar to help evenly distribute the carpet powder.) Allow the carpet freshener to sit for at least 15 minutes. This allows the baking soda time to absorb the odors. After allowing the carpet deodorizer to sit, just vacuum it up. If you are working in a larger area, use a regular vacuum cleaner; for smaller spots, a handheld vacuum works well.
Beyond the Carpet: Other Uses for DIY Carpet Freshener
This DIY Carpet Freshener can definitely be used in other ways as well. We all know pets tend to be a bit curious and will sniff around (and likely eat) anything they find. Therefore, you should keep pets out of the area while the carpet freshener is being applied (and sitting on) the carpet and/or upholstery. Certain essential oils can be toxic to pets (whether they inhale, touch, or consume it), so you should use caution if you have any furry friends at home; especially cats.
If you would rather forego the essential oil for the sake of your pets, that is perfectly fine. Simply use dried herbs and/or flowers in its place. If you choose to use the baking soda and herb/flower approach, still keep pets away until it’s been vacuumed up. As with pets, kids can get curious and put all sorts of things in their mouths, therefore, keep little ones away from this carpet freshener when you apply it, as well as while letting it sit.
This carpet freshener is made to freshen carpet, not clean it. So don’t expect dirt and grime to be eliminated with its use. It’s simply a natural way to keep your home smelling inviting and welcoming, even on those non-baking days when the aroma of rosemary olive oil bread or homemade spaghetti sauce isn’t wafting through the air.
Customizing Your Homemade Carpet Freshener
When it comes to the essential oils, you have plenty of options to choose from. Matching the herb to the oil will give you the most powerful scent. For example, combining dried lavender with lavender essential oils. You can also mix and match herbs and essential oils for fun, unique scents. Maybe citrus rind with peppermint essential oil? Or dried rosemary with lavender essential oil? Really, it’s up to you as to what you want your house to smell like and what essential oils you have on hand at the time. That’s the beauty of making it yourself!
If you own pets, be sure to check out this guide on essential oils and dogs or this one for essential oils and cats to ensure you’re using pet-safe ingredients. Bugs also tend to steer clear of lavender and cinnamon scents, so those could be great options if you’re looking to deter pests as well.
Overall, this DIY Carpet Freshener is a simple, cost-effective way to keep your home smelling fresh and inviting. And with the ability to customize the scent to your liking, it’s a win-win all around. So why not give it a try? Your nose (and your visitors) will thank you.
If you’re looking for a top-notch cleaning service in the Nottingham area to keep the rest of your home sparkling, be sure to check out Adam Cleaning. Their team of experienced professionals will have your place looking and smelling its best in no time.
