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I use this two ingredient homemade carpet freshener recipe all the time and realized I have never shared it with you!
One of the most popular posts ever on Chemistry Cachet is our 3 ingredient carpet cleaner. Readers love it because it is easy and it works! Plus, there is actually science going on behind the scenes showing why it works so well.
I don’t always need to clean my carpet though, so I use this homemade carpet refresher all the time to keep everything smelling clean!
Although this is such a simple post, I still want to share with you the chemistry behind a simple DIY like this. Also, be sure to read the important chemist tips at the bottom on ideas for substitutions too.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram for more fun tips and videos like this everyday!
Is This DIY Carpet Deodorizer Safe for Kids and Pets?
Before we start, I want to let you know this cleaning hack is safe for babies and pets! This is our number one asked questions from readers when it comes to cleaning and carpets. By utilizing the natural ingredients, you are making something that won’t impact them at all. I made this when my daughter was still crawling 🙂 I love making solutions like this because they are so safe AND simple!
So, how do you make a carpet refresher?
Carpet refreshers are great because they are a dry solution you sprinkle on carpets. You don’t have to wait for anything to dry like a carpet cleaning solution, so it is really a fast! You just need to gather some supplies which we have listed below for you. Then, follow the simple directions. That’s it!
What You Need for an All Natural Carpet Freshener:
- 1 cup baking soda
- 3 or 4 lavender based tea bags (herbal or black tea)
- Jar with lid (I like to use ones with this type of lid)
- Shaker (Optional, make sure it has large holes like this one)
Directions for DIY Carpet Freshener:
- Cut open the lavender tea bags and set aside.
- Add 1 cup of baking soda to your jar, then top with the loose tea inside of the tea bags.
- Stir it around until everything is evenly distributed.
- Store in the jar with a lid to keep everything fresh.
To Apply to Carpet:
- If you want to add in a few tablespoons to a shaker jar, like this one, feel free to do so. Or just take a spoon and dust over carpeted area you want to freshen up. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and it’s okay if you don’t get an even coat 🙂
- Let it sit just a few minutes to soak up odors.
- Vacuum up like you normally would any carpet powder.
P.S- This also freshens the vacuum cleaner, eliminating odors. It doesn’t harm vacuum at all, I have been using it for many years.
Chemist Tips on Creating a DIY Carpet Deodorizing Powder That Actually Works!
This deodorizing powder not only freshens your carpet, but it can help eliminate odors too. There is a good reason why this simple two ingredient combinations work. All based on science! I know readers love to hear WHY we use the items we use in each homemade solution like this. So, I will share the fun chemistry behind the scenes.
Baking Soda
Sodium Bicarbonate, baking soda, is such a versatile tool for the home. If you own our eBook, then you have read the neat history behind baking soda and it’s uses.
When it comes to odor elimination, baking soda is one of the best household options. Since it is a salt, it has the power to absorb odor, dirt, liquid, and anything else that may linger in things like carpet fibers. One of the neatest things is seeing how well it works in this homemade carpet cleaner. It soaks up stains along with the vinegar which releases carbon dioxide and breaks up the stain further.
For this recipe, the baking soda neutralizes the odors that sit deep into carpet fibers. If you have bought carpet powder from the store, most brands contain sodium bicarbonate.
Can You Use Baking Soda With a Vacuum Cleaner?
Yes you can! I have used this solution for many years with this vacuum cleaner, and it is great. The only thing to be mindful of when vacuuming is wet solutions. This is why our DIY carpet cleaner recipe found here states to let the solution dry before vacuuming.
Tea Bags
Tea bags are a great way to make a homemade carpet freshener without essential oils. It is also one of the cheapest ways to get a group of herbs and dried flowers in one place is a tea bag. It would be expensive to buy all the ingredients for such a small amount, so tea bags are a great option. Things like rose petals, lemon peel, and lavender have a wonderful scent, but also help combat odors too.
These herbs also absorb dirt and grease that may be sitting in carpet fibers.
Tea Bag Options For Homemade Carpet Fresheners
There are a few different options you can use for this recipe.
- Black tea bags with lavender flowers and other dried herbs
- Herbal tea with a variety of additions like lavender, rose, lemon, etc
I have used both. For these photos, I used one of my favorite herbal teas that has a combination of my favorite elements.
If you use black tea bags, you will also get the benefit of the actual tea leaves (which are found in black, green, or white teas). Tea leaves have a neat chemistry too, be sure to read those details on this post! The tea leaf will also work to absorb odors and dirt along with the herbs it contains
Things to Keep in Mind For Application For This Homemade Solution
If you choose to use a shaker jar for application, choose one with large holes like this one! That way everything can be applied evenly.
When you apply the powder, don’t worry about accidentally adding too much. Just vacuum and repeat if necessary.
Remember this doesn’t CLEAN stains, it just refreshes smelly carpet! For cleaning stains, please check this one!
Enjoy!
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