You may have found the best carpet for your home, but just like any other household item with fibers, it also catches dirt, dust mites, pet hair and urine, bacteria, and many other types of allergens. In fact, believe it or not, your carpet can hold as much as four times their weight or more in dirt! That’s why it’s important to clean it regularly—not only to keep it from collecting allergens and bacteria from spreading but also to preserve it and maintain its “clean carpet smell,” especially if you have pets and children at home.
Carpet and rug owners are usually advised to hire professional carpet cleaning services but they can be pretty costly. But if you can’t afford to have your rug professionally cleaned at least twice every year, you can help maintain your carpet and prolong its lifespan by cleaning it yourself with organic solutions. From deodorizers to homemade solutions, we’ve gathered plenty of alternatives that you can resort to, to get rid of odors and bacteria in your carpet.
Homemade Carpet Cleaner
Unlike store-bought, chemical-based carpet cleaners, homemade carpet cleaners are both inexpensive and safe to use. They are also great at removing stains and bad odors from carpets. If you prefer the latter, these recipes for a powdered carpet cleaner can help you out.
What You’ll Need
- Baking powder
- Cornstarch
- Crumbled bay leaves
- Dry potpourri
- Covered container
Directions
- Mix equal parts of baking powder and cornstarch in the container.
- Add the bits of bay leaves and a few handfuls of potpourri.
- Close the lid and shake them really well.
- Sprinkle the powdered mixture on the carpet. Leave it to sit for two hours or longer.
- Vacuum the powdered mixture clean.
You can also get rid of bad carpet odour using this aromatic, non-toxic carpet cleaner:
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup or 235 ml of white vinegar
- 2 cups or 470 ml of water
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 15 droplets of lemon, lavender or pine essential oil
- Spray bottle
Directions
- Stir the ingredients together and put the mixture in a spray bottle.
- Spray the mixture on the affected parts of the carpet and let it soak the carpet for 10 minutes.
- Scrub the area with a carpet brush or any brush with stiff bristles.
- Let the mixture dry up on the carpet
- Vacuum your carpet clean.
Natural Carpet Deodorizer
When your carpet smells good, your house is likely to smell good, too. Keep both of them fresh and away from bad smells with this recipe with natural carpet deodorizing effects.
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup baking soda
- 30-40 drops of any essential oil (you can use lavender or cinnamon oils as bugs tend to steer clear of these scents)
- Complementary herbs (optional)
- Glass jar with a measuring spoon or lid
Directions
- Grind the herbs using an old coffee grinder or blender.
- Combine the ingredients in a container.
- Cover the container with a lid and shake to mix the ingredients well.
- Allow the mixture to sit overnight and the baking soda to absorb the essential oils
- Once ready, sprinkle the solution over the carpet using a measuring spoon or the container and let sit for 15 minutes.
- Vacuum the mixture off the carpet.
The next recipe works similarly and includes all-organic ingredients, except it has a fresh citrus scent to make your carpet smell even better.
What You’ll Need
- 2 cups baking soda
- 20 drops bergamot essential oil
- 30 drops lime essential oil
- 1 glass jar with metal lid and holes
- 1 metal with no holes
- Label or washi tape (optional)
Directions
- Pour the baking soda into the jar.
- Add the essential oils in and shake well. You can add more drops if you want a stronger smell.
- Sprinkle the mixture over your carpet and let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Vacuum the mixture off the carpet.
Pet Odor Neutralizer
If you’re a pet owner, you may have seen your furry companions slipping or urinating on the carpet. Aside from the minor risk of them damaging the carpet design with their nails, there’s the bigger danger of their waste sticking and ruining the smell of your carpet. Urine gives off a strong ammonia odour that can make your carpet and house smell bad, which can be embarrassing to visitors. The following method can help eliminate this problem.
What You’ll Need
- Vinegar cleaning solution (one part white vinegar, one part water)
- Baking soda
- Paper towels
Directions
- Slowly pour the vinegar solution directly on the carpet stain and allow the carpet to absorb the solution for about 10 minutes.
- Use paper towels to absorb as much of the solution as you can from the carpet.
- Sprinkle a thin layer little baking soda on top of the stained area to eliminate the odor and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- Vacuum the baking soda off the carpet.