Nobody likes a smelly carpet but also doesn’t want to waste money on ineffective and harmful chemical products, but then what to do? What to use instead of carpet powder?
Carpets tend to absorb everything and anything, and of course, you don’t want your carpet to trap harmful chemicals of carpet powder. This is where the need to understand carpet powder and its alternatives comes into play.
We have collected some effective alternatives that you can use without trapping any harmful substance in your carpet.
What Is A Carpet Powder?
A carpet powder is a type of dry deodorizer that helps to eliminate the odor trapped within your carpet.
It works more like a carpet refresher than a carpet cleaner. To put it in simple terms, carpet powder is like dry shampoo, which gives hair a quick refresh but doesn’t clean the roots.
Similarly, a carpet shampoo also works to untrap the foul odors from the carpet and clean the dirt and grime to some extent. It also cleans grease spots but is not designed to remove tough stains.
What To Use Instead Of Carpet Powder?
Pick a box of carpet powder and read the contents it is made from. You can easily point out the harmful chemicals in it. These dangerous chemicals might irritate the sensitive or more vulnerable members of your house, especially a person with allergies.
Even if it’s labeled natural or environmentally safe, it can still cause you damage in other ways.
For instance, unless you have an industrial-strength vacuum, your machine is unlikely to remove 100% of the loose grit. This grit then remains trapped in the carpet, creating a base for bacteria growth.
This bacteria can cause allergies, degradation in your home’s indoor air quality, and eye and skin irritation. This can have a huge impact if you have toddlers or pets who like to linger on the soft, plushy carpet.
But then, if not carpet powder, how can you clean the carpet? The Carpet And Rug Institute recommends to follow these steps to keep the carpet clean without carpet powder:
- Establish a routine to keep your carpet well-maintained and stick to it.
- Vacuum the carpet weekly or more frequently in high-foot-traffic areas.
- Clean the spots and spills as soon as possible before the stains get a chance to set on your carpet.
- Get your carpet professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months.
Other than following these methods, you can also use some DIY methods that work just like carpet powder but are a safer option for cleaning the carpet.
How To Make Carpet Powder?
There are 5 methods to make the natural carpet cleaner. Let’s start:
1. Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is the simplest and easiest method you can use to eliminate the odor. It requires no chemical products or any other product. It just uses water to thoroughly clean the carpet.
Other than cleaning the carpet, it also deodorize and sanitize it. Along the way, it also relaxes the carpet fibers to help them regain their softness and kills dust mites or any other bacteria, such as coccidia, which are invisible to bare eyes.
2. Water, Vinegar And Salt
Plain white vinegar is very useful in cleaning the carpet. It has some natural antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties that kill mold and mildew and also kills bacteria from the carpet.
How To Use It:
1. Start by mixing one part of vinegar and two parts of water in a large spray bottle.
2. Mix the water and vinegar solution and then add one tablespoon of salt per cup of water.
3. Add 10 drops of essential oil. Make sure you choose a clear oil rather than one with any color added to it.
4. Shake the mixture and generously spray it on the stained or all over the carpet.
5. Wait for the solution to dry, and then vacuum the whole carpet or the spot you have treated.
3. Baking Soda, Vinegar And Water
The classic baking soda and vinegar mixture is also a good substitute of carpet powders.
How To Use It:
1. First, sprinkle only baking soda over the stained area (you can also mix a few drops of essential oil to give it extra deodorizing power).
2. Allow the baking soda to sit on the stained area for at least an hour or overnight if possible.
3. Next, make a solution of vinegar and water and spray it on the baking soda. This should make fizz on the spot.
4. After the fizzing stop, pat the area with a clean rag or clean white towel to blot the mixture.
4. Salt, Borax And Vinegar
Borax is best known for boosting laundry detergent power. It’s a great natural carpet cleaner, which takes out the toughest stains and oldest stains from the carpet. When using borax, remember to wear gloves to minimize the spread of bacteria and any kind of skin allergy.
How To Use It:
1. In a small bowl, mix equal parts of borax, salt and vinegar. This should made a paste.
2. Apply the paste to the carpet.
3. After you have gently rubbed the paste onto the carpet, let it sit for a few minutes until it’s dried.
4. After the paste is gone, vacuum the carpet.
5. If the stain is still visible, scrub with a wet rag until the water is gone.
5. Baking Soda, Cornstarch, Cornmean And Borax
This mix is a dry natural carpet or rug cleaner.
How To Use It:
1. Combine 2 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1/2 cup cornmeal, 1 tablespoon borax, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 2-3 dried bay leaves in a grinder.
2. Grind them together until the bay leaves turn into a fine powder. Then, transfer it to an airtight jar.
3. Sprinkle it all over the carpet and brush it using broom, or hand brush. Let it sit for as long as you can (overnight).
4. Then, simply vacuum the powder.
Pet-Friendly DIY Carpet Powder
Whether you own a dog or a cat, they both are super sensitive to some ingredients, even if they are natural. In this context, the most common question people often have is whether baking soda on the carpet is safe for dogs.
Well, this depends on quantity, but other than baking soda, there are also many ingredients which are irritants to your furry friend.
To ensure the safety of your furry friend, here’s what you need to know:
Dog-Safe Carpet Powder
First things first, all the above-mentioned DIY carpet powders are safe to use for dogs. However, there are certain essential oils that might cause irritation to your dog’s sensitive nose. To make it dog-safe, you need to prepare this dog-safe EO blend:
60 drops of rosemary + 25 drops lavender + 15 drops bergamot.
Cat-Safe Carpet Powder
The same thing is with your cats; they too, have sensitive noses, which leaves you with limited options in essential oil. To make it cat-safe, make the following blend:
50 drops of lemongrass + 25 drops rosemary + 10 drops of Texas Chedarwood
Advantages of Using Homemade Carpet Powder
1. Cost-Effective
Making your own DIY natural carpet powder is cheaper than spending $10-$15 on buying premade stuff. Your homemade carpet powder is more cost-effective, especially when you have to use it frequently.
2. Convenient
Yes, the homemade carpet cleaner can be made super quick and is very simple to make. You can also adjust the formula according to your needs and preferences.
3. Non-Toxic Ingredients
Natural carpet powder is made from natural ingredients that you use on a daily basis, even in your food. They are gentle and biodegradable, and most importantly, they are safe to use for your family and environment.
4. Great Carpet Refresher
It’s surprising how well these homemade natural carpet cleaner works. They penetrate deep into your carpet, capture unpleasant odors, and help to maintain a fresh-smelling carpet.
5. Natural Aromas
When you use essential oils like rosemary or lavender, it gives a pleasant fragrance to your carpet instead of the unpronounceable chemical smell.
How To Store DIY Carpet Powder?
To properly store the carpet powder for longer use, store it in a sealed, airtight glass jar or glass food container.
Also, keep the container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. If your homemade carpet powder is made from baking soda, then you must know that baking soda is prone to absorbing moisture from air and needs to be stored appropriately.
Tips For Cleaning Like A Pro
1. If you have a light-colored carpet, then avoid using ground cinnamon or cloves because it could cause discoloration.
2. If you are someone sensitive to smells, use plain baking soda to sprinkle on the carpet instead of mixing it with essential oils.
3. When cleaning the residue, remember to gently blot the area and do not put too much body pressure on it.
4. Make sure the pets are not present in the room in which you are deodorizing.
5. Most of the vacuums do not respond well to powder mixes because the filter can clog. So, make sure you clean the filters before and after you vacuum.
Conclusion
So, what to use instead of carpet powder?
Carpet powders are no doubt effective in getting rid of odors from the carpet and making it look new, but the fact that it is made from toxic chemicals is an offset for many people.
It’s very uncommon not to use chemical products on your carpet. Many people are switching to natural cleaners for carpets. However, these solution requires much time in the making process but give effective results.
We hope this guide has cleared all your doubts on what to use instead of chemically designed carpet powders to make carpet safe for your family and pets.
FAQs
How long does baking soda carpet freshener last?
The carpet deodorizer will last for 1 year, given the condition to store it correctly.
Can I use these DIY powder on upholstry?
Yes, all the above-mentioned DIY carpet powders are also safe to use on chairs, couches, bathmats, fabric seats, and car mats.
How long do I need to leave the carpet powder on?
Leaving the carpet powder for at least 30 minutes will do the job. But for better results, it is advised to leave the powder for overnight.
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!