DIY Carpet Deodorizer (Two Ingredients & It Works!)

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.

Skills Required: None. You can make this homemade carpet deodorizer even if you’ve never made anything before. You’re mixing a powder with essential oils – that’s it!

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!

Steve recently purchased a name brand carpet odor eliminator (basically a carpet powder) and used it, but it gives me a big headache. I hate the smell. That’s why I love to make my own homemade cleaners. I just don’t like those fake smells.

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.

Are you ready for the recipe?

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!

Part of that depends on the essential oil you pick, but I’ll leave that up to you! I’m partial to lemongrass, peppermint, and lavender – customize this recipe with your favorite. I also love lavender essential oil.

Gather These Supplies

• Pure baking soda
• 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. If you don’t get all of the powder up the first time, run over the area again and again until it’s gone. Your vacuum will smell great too.

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.

This powder will soak up moisture and absorb, but it’s not going to remove something that has changed the color of the carpet. I suggest cleaning the carpet first and then using this. Get the printable recipe below.

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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