Green Cleaner Recipe: DIY Carpet Deodorizer Powder (2024)

This DIY carpet deodorizer helps eliminate odors and diffuses scent while you vacuum. It’s is one of my all-time favorite cleaners because it’s easy to make, uses simple ingredients you already have on hand, and has multiple applications around the house.

That’s right… you can use it for a rug refresh or add a bit of water and use it to gently scrub soiled surface. Try making a batch with baking soda, cornstarch, and essential oils today.

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Eliminating Household Odors

Have you ever had an unpleasant odor permeating your house? I dislike the smell of my house after I give the dog a bath; it smells like a damp dog… not my favorite scent!

To eliminate unpleasant odors or make the house smell good, I make a quick batch of this homemade carpet deodorizer. It takes less than a minute, it’s non-toxic, and does a great job freshening the room as I vacuum

(If you want to refresh a room but are not vacuuming, try this homemade air freshener spray.)

How to Make Natural Carpet Deodorizer

Are you tired of harsh cleaners filled with dangerous ingredients? Cornstarch and baking soda are the game-changing duo you’ve been looking for!

Ingredients

• Cornstarch
• Baking soda
• Essential oil (optional)

See recipe card below for quantities

Cornstarch

Cornstarch (often called corn flour outside the United States) is affordable and readily available, it’s also a versatile cleaning ingredient that’s effective and gentle on surfaces. Here’s why:

• It’s naturally absorbent. Cornstarch can soak up odors and stains on carpets and upholstery. Simply sprinkle it on, let it sit for a few minutes, and vacuum it up.
  
• It can polish surfaces. Mix cornstarch with water to form a paste and use it to shine up silverware, stainless steel appliances, and other metal surfaces.
  
• It can clean windows. Combine cornstarch with vinegar and water for anall-natural window cleanerthat cuts through dirt and grime.
  
• It’s non-toxic. Cornstarch is biodegradable and safe to use around kids and pets.

Check out our favoritecornstarch cleaning hacks in this article.

Baking Soda

Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) is an affordable, non-toxic abrasive with deodorizing properties that you may already have in the kitchen cupboard! Here are some reasons to try this cleaning ingredient:

• It deodorizes. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that can eliminate unpleasant smells from your refrigerator, carpets, mattresses, and even your sneakers!
  
• It can whiten. Mixed with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda can be used to remove stubborn stains from sinks, grout, and cutting boards.
  
• It’s a gentle abrasive. Baking soda can effectively clean surfaces without scratching them, making it perfect for delicate areas like glass stovetops or bathtub finishes.
  
• It’s versatile. Baking soda can be used to clean everything from greasy stovetops to dirty grout, making it a true all-purpose cleaning ingredient.

Learn more baking soda cleaning tips and tricks.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts derived from plants that can be used to add scent to homemade cleaners. Here are some reasons to consider adding this ingredient:

• They add a light, pleasant scent to cleaners. The unique aromas of essential oils can make cleaning more pleasant and create an inviting atmosphere.
  
• They can help remove odors. Natural compounds found in essential oils can help to remove unpleasant odors from the home instead of masking odors with artificial fragrance.
  
• They can aid in cleaning. Some essential oils such as tea tree, lemon, and eucalyptus have been scientifically shown to have antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Discover the best essential oil brands for cleaning your home.

Equipment

• Glass measuring cup or bowl
• Container with a shaker top
• Labels

Instructions

This homemade carpet refresher is a versatile, natural solution for many of your cleaning woes. It’s easy to make, just measure, stir, store and enjoy!

1. Measureall ingredients into a small glass bowl or glass measuring cup.

2. Stiruntil there are no lumps to distribute the cleaning ingredient evenly.

3. Spoon powder into a shaker container for easy application.

4. Label the container. (Download free printable label here.)

Hint: Use caution when cleaning with essential oils. Overuse can lead to adverse reactions, especially in pets and children. Check these safety guidelines.

Scent Variations

Create your own custom scent for natural cleaning products by mixing and matching essential oils. These are a few of my favorite scent combinations:

• Zen Spa Blend– 10 drops eucalyptus, 5 drops lavender – This calming scent is reminiscent of a spa perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation.
  
• Clean Citrus Blend– 7 drops orange, 8 drops lemon – This crisp, refreshing scent is perfect for kitchens and bathrooms.
  
• Energizing Refreshment Blend– 5 drops peppermint, 10 drops lemon – This invigorating aroma energizes the senses.
  
• Fresh and Invigorating Blend– 6 drops tea tree, 6 drops peppermint, 3 drops Eucalyptus – This fresh, clean blend feels cooling due to the menthol in the peppermint oil, use it for a great shoe deodorizer.
  
• Orange Creamsicle Blend- 10 drops orange, 5 drops vanilla – This refreshing, nostalgic scent is soothing and comforting.

How DIY Carpet Deodorizer Works

This multi-purpose powder can be used as both a deodorizer and an abrasive. Here’s why:

As a Freshener

Bacteria contribute to common household odors such as stinky shoes, over-rip trash, and smelly laundry. Bacteria feed on the organic matter (such as food particles, sweat, or body oils) found on these items and release gases that create a not-so-pleasant smell.

The natural ingredients in the carpet freshener work together to eliminate the stink. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) creates an alkaline environment that is not conducive to the growth and survival of bacteria, corn starch absorbs moisture while it binds and traps odor-causing molecules, and essential oils add a deodorizing scent.

As a Scrub

Smooth surfaces such as glass and porcelain have microscopic pits and cracks that can trap dirt and grime over time, making them look dull and dirty.

Baking soda and cornstarch are gentle abrasives that can help remove those pesky stains without scratching delicate surfaces.

How to Use

To Deodorize

Carpet Freshener – Sprinkle lightly on rugs, carpet, or upholstery, let stand for 15 minutes then vacuum thoroughly. Keep pets and children away while cleaning and off the cleaned area for 30 minutes after product use.

Mattress Freshener – Sprinkle lightly on the mattress, let stand for 15 minutes then vacuum thoroughly. Leave the bed unmade for 30 minutes after use.

Garbage Can Freshener – Sprinkle into the bottom of a clean garbage can or diaper pail. Let stand for 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Sprinkle over smelly garbage for a temporary refresh until the garbage can be emptied.

Vacuum Freshener – Sprinkle lightly on the floor when you start to vacuum, the powder in the vacuum canister will lightly scent the air as it passes through the vacuum and out the exhaust.

To Scour

Pot, Pan, and Cutting Board Scrub – Sprinkle the citrus or non-scented powder onto a sponge to aid in cleaning stainless steel pots and cutting boards. Follow with a dish detergent wash and thorough rinse.

Sink Scrub – Sprinkle in a damp kitchen sink and add a small squirt of dish soap. Scrub and rinse clean.

Bathroom Scrub – Sprinkle in damp sinks, bathtubs, and toilets. Add a squirt of dish soap or a spritz of homemade multi-purpose cleaner. Scrub and rinse clean. Sprinkle on a damp sponge to clean tile and vertical surfaces.

Storage

Storethe powder in a container with a shaker top for easy application. (Use an upcycled spice shaker, cheese shaker, or mason jar with holes punched in the top.) Keep in a cool, dry place out of sunlight for best quality. Carpet powder will last several months.

Top Tip

DIY carpet freshener will help mask bad smells coming from the vaccum, it will not eliminate the source of the odor. If you find a bad or musty odor coming from the vacuum, you must clean it to eliminate the smell completely. This method fromAsk Annaworks well. Clean the machine after vacuuming, the filters take a day to dry.

FAQ

Cleaning Safety

This DIY carpet deodorizer powder is a natural, easy-to-use cleaning and freshening solution for your home.

• EYE IRRITANT: In case of eye contact, flush with water.
• KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS
• Use caution when cleaning with essential oils. Overuse can lead to adverse reactions.