Spills and stains are common in households with pets and children, and this leads your carpet to emit terrible odor. A handy and cheap quick fix for homeowners to get rid of carpet odors is carpet powders.
However, there are burning questions surrounding the use of carpet powder. Is carpet powder bad? Does it even work? Etc.
So in this guide, we have broken down all that you need to know about carpet powder and using them.
What Is Carpet Powder?
Carpet powder is basically carpet deodorizer that helps in dealing with nasty carpet smells caused due to pet urine, spills, daily use, etc.
Carpet powders, be it natural or chemical, do help to some extent. They do not permanently remove odor from a carpet but rather suppress it until its effect ward off.
To use it, you simply need to sprinkle the powder on your carpet, leave it on for some time, and then vacuum afterward. But the burning question is, is carpet powder bad?
Also, If you live in a rented apartment, then using carpet powders is a better option than replacing the entire carpet.
Is It Safe To Use Carpet Powder?
Most Carpet powders contain chemicals that are not good for health. Even when a carpet powder is labeled as “Chemical-free,” it does not mean it wouldn’t harm in other ways.
The biggest concern when it comes to using carpet powder is that it is composed of very fine powder.
So unless you are using an industrial-power vacuum cleaner, chances are you won’t be able to remove the powder from your carpet completely.
And if the powder residue comes in contact with water or pet urine, then it will literally form into a paste, causing a terrible stench.
Is Carpet Powder Safe For Pets & Kids?
As mentioned before, carpet powder is very fine, and it gets trapped in the carpet fibers even after vacuuming.
Pets and kids love playing on the floor, and most carpet powders are toxic and contain chemicals.
So when your kids and pets are exposed to such toxic chemicals, it can lead to allergies, skin and eye irritation, and other health problems.
Also, carpet powder can be dangerous for people with chronic respiratory conditions or other allergies.
Is Carpet Powder Safe For Carpets?
As mentioned before, until and unless you are using an industrial-power vacuum, your carpet will be left with powder residue.
This residue can sink deep towards the base of the carpet, fray its ends and reduce the lifeline of the carpet. If you have delicate carpets or silk rugs, carpet powder can also make them lose their luster.
Also, the powder residue can lead to the growth of bacteria and ruin your house’s air quality. So we suggest you avoid using it.
Is Carpet Powder Safe For Vacuum Cleaners?
As you clean away the sprinkled powder from the carpet, you might not see its negative effect right away.
However, the tiny particles of carpet powder get trapped in the vacuum cleaner and clog the filter and bags. This can cause the vacuum to heat up and can impact its performance.
So definitely, carpet powder is not safe for vacuum cleaners as well.
Also, a regular vacuum cleaner is not good enough to suck away the tiny particles of carpet powder.
Does Carpet Powder Even Work?
To save money, homeowners tend to use carpet powder to deal with terrible odor. With all its potential dangers, carpet powder is not a permanent solution.
Carpet deodorizers simply mask odors and do not remove the odor source. So in a few days and sometimes in just a few hours, the smell returns, and you end up ruining your carpet, putting your kids and pets at risk, among other things.
Instead of using this powder, you should get help from professional carpet cleaners who will help you in dealing with the odor source.
Hiring professional carpet cleaners can surely cost more, but at least that is a safe and effective way to clean and remove odors from your carpets completely.
How To Clean Carpet Without Using Carpet Powder?
Not using carpet powder is a good decision, but then how can you remove odors from your rugs? Here are a few tips on how you can keep your carpets clean and odor-free.
- Vacuum your carpets weekly to get rid of regular dirt and dust.
- Train your pet so that they do not pee or poop on your carpets.
- Get your carpets cleaned professionally every 12-18 months.
- Avoid eating in your living room and eat on the dining table instead; this will help in reducing carpet spills and stains.
- If you have stained your carpet, then treat it immediately by following the right procedure. This will prevent any odors from setting in.
Dangers Of Using Baking Soda To Deodorize Carpets
Professional Carpet Cleaning
Be it carpet odors, stains, or years of dirt; professional carpet cleaners can help you deal with all the issues, that too, without damaging your carpets.
Steam cleaning is an effective way to get rid of carpet odors so instead of using harmful carpet deodorizers, hire a professional.
If your carpets are extremely soiled, then you can go for carpet shampooing. Hiring a professional carpet cleaner can cost you between $80-$400.
We understand carpet cleaning can be a costly affair, so follow the above-mentioned tips to keep your carpets cleaned. And to increase the lifeline of your carpets, try to get them cleaned every 12-18 months.
Wrapping Up
So is carpet powder bad? by now, you would have understood that it is very bad. It is bad not only for your carpets but also for your pets, kids, vacuum cleaners, etc.
We hope this guide helped you and answered all the queries that you may have had about carpet powders.
FAQ’s
Can I replace carpet powder with baking soda to remove carpet odor?
Baking soda works in a very similar way to carpet powder and can help in removing odor temporarily.
However, baking soda also contains tiny particles which are impossible to remove altogether using a regular vacuum cleaner. So we do not recommend using baking soda to clean carpets.
What will happen if I inhale carpet powder?
Inhalation of carpet powder can lead to irritation in the eyes, skin allergies, itchy throat, shortness of breath, coughing, etc.
Can carpet powder affect your health?
Many carpet powders and other cleaning agents contain a toxic chemical called perchloroethylene.
This chemical causes dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. In extreme cases, it has been found to damage of kidneys and liver.
Daleyza knows a lot about carpets! She has worked with carpets for over 7 years and can help with things like putting them in, keeping them clean, and replacing them. She really likes carpets and spends most of her time learning about new ways to work with them. When she’s not learning about carpets, she enjoys reading books. She’s really good at helping people choose the right carpet for their homes and making sure they’re happy with it. If you want to know more about carpets, Daleyza is the person to talk to!