Carpet Deodorizer Recipes
As the owner of five dogs, I have regularly used baking soda on my carpets before vacuuming for a long time now. I just let it sit on the carpet for at least ten minutes — read: “as long as I can keep the dogs off of it”…found out they like to eat it…nothing like looking like they’re foaming at the mouth…the goopy stuff sure isn’t fun to get out of the carpet though…
A nice and more fragrant carpet freshener recipe involving baking soda is as follows:
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup dried peppermint or lavender flowers
For some added fragrance, I’ll sometimes add 5 drops of the corresponding essential oil as well. Mix ingredients and put in shaker. Sprinkle over carpet, letting sit overnight. Vacuum in the morning.
Some additional ideas include:
From one of my favorite sites…Aromatic Carpet Freshener (Adapted from The Essential Oils Book : Creating Personal Blends for Mind & Body by Colleen K. Dodt), add 25 drops of pure essential oil to 2 cups borax. Mix well. Shake on carpet or rug. (Bonus–the borax helps with fleas as well!)
Can also make vacuuming more enjoyable by putting a drop or two of essential oil in your vacuum cleaner bag. Lemon is a great one to use to put you in the cleaning mood.
The use of essential oils is not recommended for the very young or aged, or pregnant/nursing women. It is the belief of this site that essential oils should not be used internally, only externally and topically. A skin test should always be done before using an essential oil, especially important for those more sensitive or vulnerable. Consult a reputable and experienced aromatherapist for guidance. If you are under the care of a physician, it is recommended that you contact them before using essential oils.