This DIY carpet deodorizer REALLY WORKS! You don’t need to buy anything with chemicals – this carpet freshener uses just two ingredients. Great for homes with children and pets.
We have a brand new home and brand new carpet – yet we still use carpet deodorizer. Why? Because we have three pets. Pets that love to go outside.
And while we wash them regularly, it rains here a lot in the Pacific Northwest, and that sometimes causes a doggy smell to occur. When we get pet odors in the carpet fibers, we bust out the homemade carpet freshener.
I’ve found that vacuuming alone doesn’t always work, even with a fabulous vacuum that cleans well. Sometimes you need a little something extra to battle those odors!
I decided it was time to make my own freshener for my carpet with natural ingredients. I totally support having a room that smells good and not like wet dog, but I needed something that didn’t give me a headache.
This was the happy medium. Not only that, but I got my baking soda (the main ingredient!) at Costco for just under $7 for a 13.5 pound bag. Score!
Is Homemade Carpet Freshener Safe for Kids and Pets?
Your kids are going to be fine. The ingredients are pure baking soda but also essential oils.
For pets, certain essential oils are not safe. See the list here. Lavender is a favorite of mine that is safe for cats and dogs. If you have any concerns or your pet is sensitive, ask your vet.
You also need to remember that baking soda is a leavening agent. When it’s combined with heat in your pet’s stomach in large amounts, it will release dangerous gasses and can cause problems and even heart failure.
If you apply this to your carpet and leave it, section off the area so that your pet can’t access the mixture. My pets had no interest in this, but that doesn’t mean yours won’t.
Not only is this recipe all natural (so no toxic chemicals), but it’s very effective. You are going to love the smell it disperses throughout your home!
Gather These Supplies
- Pure baking soda – i’m partial to lemongrass, peppermint, or lavender
- Essential oil
- Dredge shaker – or old plastic parmesan cheese container, or mason jar
Tips on Usage
To use, sprinkle on the carpet or rug and let sit for 15 minutes. Then vacuum up immediately.
For tougher odors, you can leave this mixture on the carpet up to 24 hours. This powder is especially great for picking up wet spills or grease that you haven’t had a chance to get rid of. It leaves them smelling oh-so-fresh.
Will This Remove Stains?
No – this is a freshener – not a stain remover. Check out this homemade stain remover or how to remove pet stains from carpet.
DIY Carpet Deodorizer
Equipment
Materials
Instructions
- Fill the shaker about halfway full of pure baking soda.
- Add about 20-30 drops of essential oil to the container.
- Shake the container, then repeat step one and two so that the container is full to the top with baking soda. Let the mixture sit for a day or two so the oils have a chance to spread out.
- To use your natural carpet deodorizer, sprinkle on the carpet or rug and let sit for about 10 minutes. Vacuum up immediately.
Video
Have you tried this? How do you keep your carpets fresh? Let me know if it worked great in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out the following household posts:
All Purpose Cleaner • Cleaning Tips • DIY Soft Scrub • Granite Cleaner • Liquid Laundry Detergent • Window Cleaner
Susan
Wednesday 1st of May 2024
I have made this a couple times and even made up a few jars for friends. I love being able to sprinkle some on the carpet before running our “Sharknado”/roomba. I am probably heavy handed with the essential oils but, it really helps now that we have indoor dogs!
Jessica
Sunday 4th of June 2023
Essential oils can be toxic to dogs. A quick google search will show you this.
Amy
Sunday 4th of June 2023
Yep. And there's a list of ones that are safe too: https://pupford.com/essential-oils-and-dogs/ Found it with a quick Google search.
Michael
Tuesday 23rd of May 2023
Great recipe. I’m allergic to chemical smells so I have a reaction to store bought deodorizer. The lemongrass smells amazing. I moved into a rental house with terrible pet odor. They previously had 6 cats and 2 dog’s living in it.
After (2) 24 hour extra strong treatments, the house smells amazing. I can’t thank you enough!
Mimi
Saturday 29th of October 2022
Hello, Love the recipe but really interested in your recipe! Please share. I've never used lemongrass before...
Leslie
Monday 14th of March 2022
Thank you for this recipe. Despite one disclaimer from an earlier commenter, some essential oils can be toxic for pets, particularly cats. There are many that you can't safely use with cats, but citrus oils can be a particular problem. (There's a reason that citrus oils are often used in cat repellants.) There are some that are not safe for dogs. Check with your own vet or visit a legitimate veterinary web site, like the ones from Tufts or Cornell. A caution notice to this post would be helpful. Thanks again!