How to Make Carpet Freshener From Baking Soda

Use baking soda to deodorize a carpet.

Nontoxic and inexpensive, versatile baking soda makes a usable carpet freshener. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, produced from soda ash, deodorizes carpets. It tends to eliminate cooking, smoking and pet odors in the carpet rather than covering them up. Baking soda freshens a room-size carpet after a spill or a pet accident. It works for carpets inside the house as well as in the car. Baking soda combines readily with fragrant substances to produce scented carpet freshener.

Things You'll Need

• Dry sponge mop or broom
• Vacuum
• Spray bottle or carpet shampooer
• Cloves, cinnamon, rosemary, lavender or other scented products

Instructions

1. Test the baking soda on a small, inconspicuous area of carpet. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on the carpet, allow to sit for about 15 minutes and vacuum. If the baking soda freshens the carpet without damage, use the baking soda in a larger area.

2. Sprinkle baking soda uniformly over a dry carpet. One cup of baking soda freshens a medium-size room. Wait at least 15 minutes before vacuuming. If the carpet odor is especially strong, use a dry sponge mop or broom to work the baking soda into the carpet. Allow the baking soda to sit overnight. Vacuum the floor twice, moving in a different direction each time.

3. Soak up a pet accident or spill as much as possible. Follow the carpet manufacturer’s directions to clean the stain. When dry, sprinkle the spot with baking soda, let sit for at least 15 minutes and vacuum.

4. Fill a carpet shampooer with warm water and scrub the carpet. Sprinkle the damp carpet liberally with baking soda and let it dry. Vacuum thoroughly to remove the baking soda. For smaller areas, spray warm water onto the carpet. Sprinkle with baking soda, let it dry and vacuum.

5. Mix baking soda with cinnamon, cloves or other spices to add a specific scent to the carpet. Start by mixing 1 cup of baking soda with 1 tsp. of cloves or cinnamon. Increase the amount of spice to 1 tbsp. for a stronger scent. Combine equal parts of baking soda, crushed lavender buds and rosemary for a floral scent.

Tips & Warnings

• To save money, purchase baking soda in economy-size boxes.

References

• Michigan State University Extension; Homemade Cleaners; June 2003
• North Dakota State University; Cleaning Flood-Damaged Carpets and Rugs; Ann Braaten; April 2009
• University of Wisconsin Extension; Baking Soda – The Everyday Miracle
• West Virginia University; Home Products: Environmentally Safe or Toxic?; Winthrop Merriam Jr., et al.; 1993
• North Carolina Cooperative Extension; Home Solutions: Spring Cleaning – Rugs and Carpets; March 2009
• Food.com; Homemade Carpet Freshener; December 2002