Homemade carpet deodorizer
CostFree to Low
Includes: baking soda, optional essential oils or herbs, jar or shaker Example: using pantry ingredients = free; adding oils ~€5-20
What it is
A 500g box of bicarbonate of soda costs under €1 and deodorises a whole room of carpet several times over. The branded carpet powder it replaces is around €4 for a similar amount and is mostly the same bicarb with added fragrance.
Homemade carpet deodoriser is bicarbonate of soda, sometimes mixed with a few drops of essential oil and left to sit. You sprinkle it over the carpet, leave it for at least fifteen minutes (overnight for stubborn pet or smoke smells), then vacuum it up. The bicarb works by neutralising odour molecules rather than masking them, which is why it actually removes a smell instead of layering a stronger one on top.
The essential oil is optional and easy to overdo. Five to ten drops stirred thoroughly through a cup of bicarb is plenty. Add the oil unevenly and you get clumps that can leave faint marks on pale carpet, so mixing it well in a jar first and shaking is the trick. Lavender and tea tree are popular, the latter useful in homes with pets because it carries a mild fresh note rather than a perfumed one.
How it works
Most shop deodorisers just mask smells with fragrance, while bicarbonate of soda actually absorbs them, which is the whole reason the homemade version outperforms the can. The base is plain bicarb, and everything else is optional scent.
Mix 200g of bicarbonate of soda with 15 to 20 drops of essential oil in a jar, breaking up clumps with a fork until the oil is evenly distributed and no wet lumps remain. Lavender, tea tree, and sweet orange all work well, and tea tree adds a mild antibacterial edge useful where pets sleep. For a stronger version, mix in a few tablespoons of dried crushed herbs or a little cornflour, which helps with damp-smelling carpets.
Application is straightforward but the timing is not. Sprinkle it across a dry carpet, then leave it. Fifteen minutes does very little. Bicarb works by slowly drawing odour molecules into its porous structure, and that takes time, so the experienced approach is to sprinkle in the morning, leave it the whole day, and vacuum thoroughly in the evening. Overnight is better still for stubborn pet or smoke smells.
Benefits
What you need
Here's what to gather before you start. The essentials are marked.
Some links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, trylii.com earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
FAQs
At least 15 minutes, but overnight is far better for odours that have settled in. Bicarbonate of soda absorbs smells rather than masking them, and that takes time. Sprinkle it evenly, leave it as long as you can, then vacuum thoroughly. For pet or smoke smells, a full night sitting in the carpet makes a real difference.
Plain bicarb is safe on most carpets and around pets once vacuumed up. The caution is essential oils, since some (tea tree especially) are toxic to cats and dogs. If you have pets, either skip the oils or use a pet-safe scent very sparingly. Test a hidden corner first on wool or very pale carpet, as a heavy dose can occasionally leave a faint residue.
It is the same thing for a fraction of the price. A 500g box of bicarbonate of soda costs under €1 and freshens a whole room several times over. The branded powder is around €4 for a similar amount, and it is mostly the same bicarb with fragrance added. You are paying for the scent and the packaging.
You might also like
HOME
Upcycled lamp projects
HOME
Turning old t-shirts into rags or tote bags
HOME
DIY home decor
HOME
Natural Pest Repellents for the Home
HOME
Denim scrap upcycling
HOME
Wooden pallet furniture
HOME
Building a family command centre
HOME
Air plant displays
HOME
Upcycled fashion
HOME
DIY wall art
TOGETHER
Family radio play / audio drama
MIND
Pattern block puzzles
See all in Made at Home