Homemade Carpet Powder
This homemade carpet powder is cheap & it has not met an odor that it doesn’t take care of.
All you need is baking soda &Â orange essential oil
. Â You can use other essential oils if you like, but I like the orange because of the great clean smell that it gives off. Â Some readers have also suggested using cloves instead of the essential oil, and while I haven’t tried that personally – I’ve heard some great stuff about it!
It is also nice to have an empty Parmesan cheese container, or some other shaker.
Mix the baking soda & several drops of the orange essential oil (or other essential oil of your choice) together in a bowl using a whisk.  Then, spoon the mixture into your shaker.  OR… you can do this the lazy way like me and just put it all into your container & do the hokey pokey & shake all around… 😉
You can also add a couple tablespoons of borax (found with the laundry detergent) or food grade D.E. to repel fleas. Â The food grade d.e. is great for repelling bed bugs too!
Sprinkle onto your carpets – let it sit for about 15 minutes, then vacuum up.
Simple & thrifty – and works like a charm.Â
Some vacuums are not made for powder though – the motors just can’t handle it! I actually have an older thrift store vacuum that I use just for this purpose. Shop vacs are also great! This recipe is for those of you that buy carpet powder & already have a vacuum that they use to suck up the powder with 🙂
My aunt will mix in a small amount of ground cloves with the soda. It smells divine!
Baking soda is a great carpet deodorizer!
Thanks for sharing – some great idea
can you buy this at Walmart, if so what area of the store would it be in.? Thanks
You can buy the large boxes of baking soda at walmart, but not the essential oils. (Or at least I couldn’t find it there) I found it at a health food store in town, it is a little pricey ($4-6 for a small bottle, varying depending on the scent you choose) but it lasts a long time, as it doesn’t take much!!! As for the ground cloves, spice aisle!!!
Love this! I just made my own laundry detergent and am in love with it! can’t wait to mix this up!
Pinned it!!!
This is awesome. I have two big dogs inside and while our only carpet is an area rug, they love to lounge on it. Can’t wait to give this a try!
Great idea! We have 3 dogs and go through a lot of Carpet Fresh 🙂
Not to mention that regular carpet powder has toxic chemicals that can aggravate thyroid and trigger parkinson’s disease. I am thrilled to find a more natural alternative because I love carpet powder! Thank you!
What a marvelous point!
Does that include carpet shampoo also?
I am not sure about shampoo – I just use this as refresher.
Great idea! Thank you for posting. We have 2 cats and WHITE German Shepherd so our house is covered in white hair and cat fur. I used to buy the Arm & Hammer carpet deodorizer but the smell is terrible and fake. I can’t wait to try this. I have doTerra essential oils and they are the best. You can order them online.
We have 4 dogs and 3 cats in the house so I’m right behind you on this bandwagon!!! I also use the carpet powder in the washing machine when we launder the throw rugs, so I’m really excited to try this!!!
Not to be a downer. I learnt form experience that baking soda and my vacuum’s hepa filter do not get along well. After every baking soda carpet cleaning, i have to fully clean the hepa filer or it will cause problems long term.
I use nutmeg or clove ground with baking soda, and everyone can’t find why my house smells so inviting and homey
I have a Dyson vacuum and rather than using baking soda I use cornmeal and borax and ground up dehydrated citrus zest and some essential oils. I spoke to a vacuum repair person and he said that vacuums with the hepa need granulated carpet freshener rather than powdered…cornmeal was the only think i could think of that was granulated.
I do like the idea stated below of using DE also but not sure if its to refined
So cornmeal removes odors then also?
Whats the Ratio between nutmeg/ground clove to baking soda? I cant wait to try this.
I use epsom salts and Essential oils–solves the problem of the filters getting clogged.
What’s the nutmeg or clover and baking soda ratio??
Can’t wait to try this. I have 4 cats, 2 litter boxes and 1 dog in my house. The cost of essential oil ( $4 to $6 per small bottle ) in no way adds up to how much I normally spend on container upon container of store bought rug fresheners in just a month.
Cats are sensitive to citrus smells, so if you use it in a litter box, I would recommend using a non citrus essential oil. Otherwise, it might make them want to avoid their litter box.
According to a friend, if you add a cup of borax to this mixture it will kill any bugs that may be in your carpet! (fleas, etc!)
You can also use diatomaceous earth to kill the bugs.
Love DE…use it in my chicken coop too.
where does one find diatomaceous earth? I am having a hard time with fleas this sumer?
You can get it on Amazon, or at your local feed store too.
We used diatomaceous earth in our pool filter. If you have a local pool store they should carry it
Pool grade should *not* be used around pets or kids. You need food grade Diatomaceous Earth, which I’ve also seen referred to as Fossil Flour. I got mine on eBay.
Keep treating carpet so you can get the eggs as they hatch, but beware: it will dry out your feet if you walk barefoot.
if you’re using it in the home, you want FOOD grade DE, not POOL grade. This is safe around people and pets
We found the best price to be at the local farmer’s supply store. Huge bag for $10! Still food grade and perfectly safe.
regular pinesol and water ..spray it on everything. best flea killer ever! and makes your house smell like you did a deep clean.
Whats the pinesol to water ratio?
we are having a problem with fleas too. is this mixture with the borax safe for babies too. we have grandbabies 6 months old alot at our house and are crawling alot. I want to make sure its safe first.
We had luck getting rid of fleas using salt. Allow to sit in carpet overnight and for best results, treat a couple times. Seems much safer than borax!
Borax is completely safe. It is actually safe to use on your skin and is great for washing baby clothes.
Borax is not completely safe! Though it is natural and a better alternative, you still need to use it in well ventilated areas, and don’t let it sit on your skin. Make sure to vacuum it up very well, and don’t sprinkle it or use it while babies are in the room.
I just finished a commercial product and thought of this idea too!
Try Vitacost for the Essential Oils. Sign up to get a $10 voucher.
http://t.co/KpmVaa2J I like Aura Cacia brand.
Don’t use too much EO’s They are harmful to pets (they lick everything). Also Orange/citrus is suggested to deter spraying. I would try another scent.
thank you so much for the coupon! lavender oil on the way!!
Where would I find the orange essential oil?
There is a link to where I got mine in the post, but you can also find it at any health food store.
I got mine at whole foods.
You can also add a couple tablespoons of diatomaceous earth to this if you have a problem with fleas or any other bugs. This is a great bug killer and is safe for children and animals..
I just made my own laundry detergent as well and I absolutely love it!!!!! I don’t normally use carpet powders but I love this idea… Especially the ideas for using cloves and nutmeg 🙂
i tried making this and the essential oil is kind of clumping together. i dont know if i did something wrong or if maybe i just need to stir it more. did this happen to you?
No, it didn’t happen to me – maybe try shaking it a bunch. That’s what I do.
After it dries, I press it through a fine wire mesh sieve, that gets all the clumps out. It helps to whisk the whole time you’re putting in the oil, and you really only need a drop or two … I’ve also just used dried lavender blossoms ground up a bit and that works wonderfully!
I add eucalyptus oil to mine. Since our pets give me a bit of allergy trouble, the eucalyptus oil really helps me breathe. I also like the way it smells.
I’m considering making this to use directly on my litterbox. I bought some litterbox deodorizing powder when we recently got a new kitten but reading the ingredients it appears to be essential oils, borax, and “odor eliminators.” It’s basically a white powder and claims to be all natural, so I’m just going to mix in some borax with my baking soda and see how it works.
when you add EO’s to baking soda, you need to let it sit for a few days, than shake it up good, before using it, although it doesn’t hurt anything to use it as soon as made, but the order dispurses throughout the baking soda better if allowed to settle
can this be made without the essential oil?
Yes, it can be – it will freshen, but it just won’t have the nice scent that the essential oil leaves.
I’ve used just plain borax on carpet before ( *#@! Fleas), I think i’ll give this a try sans EOs. For those thinking of using this for the litter box – per my vet some cats don’t like baking soda in their litter (the acid/baking soda reaction bothers some cats), so keep an eye out for litter box avoidence when making the change.
Not sure if any of you knew this, but Arm&Hammer tests their products on Animals. I found out off another post on how to make your own laundry detergent and fabric softener within the comments.
FYI, not all animal testing is the same, despite what PITA says. When they’re 99.9999% sure, Arm & Hammer invites their people to take it home with them to use in litter boxes, refrierators, and (surprise!) as carpet cleaner. They ask their employees to report on the affect, including on household pets. Which by law means “they test on animals”. They’re just trying to get good reviews, make sure every “version” is as effective as the lab says it is and see if people can come up with creative uses. Not animal abusers at all.
Yep, I have switched to a cruelty free brand 🙂
Thank you!! We also have 8 furbabies (and twin 8 y/o boys) in our house…4 & 4!! 🙂
Just an FYI for all — there is concern of essential oils and toxicity in kitties! Many people use citrus EOs to keep cats away from their homes so if you are going to risk using them, I would definitely not recommend doing so in the litter box 🙂
I’d be careful with the borax too. It causes a reaction in a lot of kitties. Makes them scratch and their hair fall out. Be SURE you get it ALL vacuumed up.
It also causes exzema in one of my children, so some people need to be careful with it for that reason. If it isn’t the cause of the exzema it at least inflames it.
Hobby Lobby has essential oils. If not on sale that week, use the 40% off coupon online (can just show the coupon on your smartphone).
do you use a whole box of baking soda with a few drops of EO?
I usually fill up a Parmesan cheese shaker container with baking soda, and then add a couple drops of essential oil to that.
I can’t wait to try this! I also have 8 furbabies (and also 4 and 4) inside my home. I really thought I was the only one insane enough to have a zoo like this! Glad to know I’m not alone!
To the person who said they use
Eucalyptus oil, be very careful, it is toxic to cats BUT if you put a few drops on your dog’s collar, it deters fleas.
I love this idea, but did you know that essential oils are very harmful to cats??? Be careful!
You could completely omit the essential oils if you have cats, and this concerns you – or you could use something like cloves to scent the powder.
I used to be a fan of borax until I found out that it can cause problems for humans and animals. You might want to read about it before you start pouring it on your carpet.
http://www.enviroblog.org/2011/02/borax-not-the-green-alternative-its-cracked-up-to-be.html
There is no borax in this recipe. It’s baking soda.
Can u use fragrance oil instead of EO?
I’m sure you can.
Where do you buy essential oils? I cant seem to find any
You told the ingriedients.How much of each one?
No exact measurements…just enough baking soda to fill the container & a few drops of essential oil. Just enough to wear you like the scent. Some people like stronger scents than others. Also, once the comments pop up in my new server (I just switched servers, everything isn’t yet converted over) you can see all the other comments and reader tips. This post has over 200.
Well cinnamon work too?
the whole box o bakingsoda?
Just as much as will fit into the container that you are using. The container I used was 8oz, so I used about a cup.
How many drops of essential oil to 1 cup of baking soda?
I am thinking its the whole box by the looks of the container, but not totally sure 🙂
add some tea tree oil…will also get rid of fleas,etc. and completely safe for pets, babies whatever!
Aaaagh! Tea tree oil stinks like hell! The odor of that stuff alone makes me want to gag! Why would anyone want their house to smell like tea tree oil? Ugh!
Tea tree oil can be toxic to cats and dogs if they lick the essential oil.
Tea Tree(Melaleuca) Oil is not safe for Cats!! It will poison them!
Not true I’ve used it. Yes it was true Melaleuca oil,actually from the company.
I have used true Melaleuca oil on my cats and they’re still alive.
vacuum cleaner company will not back a warranty if you use powder either. it messes up the motor.
It’s PETA, btw
online is where i purchased mine
Some people commented on putting stuff in kitty litter boxes to cover ordors. I have had Siamese kitties for 20 years and I always use Rabbit feed which is alfalfa pressed into pellets for my kitty litter. If kitties try to eat it, will not harm them; I have never had allergy problems with it, when dirty litter is in a bag and put into garbage can, covers up the ordors of rotting garbage, and I do not have smelly litter boxes.
Great idea…I’m def gonna try this. Now, where do I get orange essential oil. Google time. 🙂
There’s a link in the post to where I get mine 🙂
i don’t have dogs or cats in the house but i do have me my husband a 9yr old and 4 teenagers in the house I”M TRYING THIS!!!!!! LOL
might try some other EO or spice in it though i’m not much on citrus scents
Yes, borax actually sucks the moisture out of any bugs, fleas, crickets etc. in your house. It’s natural & non-toxic to children & pets. The only time you have to reapply it is after a shampooing of your carpets.
Could this be used for an area of carpet that smelled horrible after it was steam cleaned?
It is not safe for children & pets…can be harmful by breathing in the dust, you can have skin irritation…It is a natural product but not safe if you have children & pets on your carpet daily.
Please be careful.
When using any kind of powder in your home it is not safe for anyone to inhale it. Always wear a mask when applying it to your carpet or if you put D.E. on your pets and be careful not to get it near their face.
Carpet shakes have precautions just like any other cleaner.
Will it take out the yellow stain on light grey carpet?
thx. Jeannine
clarification, dog pee.
I put a sprayer on a bottle of peroxide it instantly removes doggy pee, and all stains from my carpet. I literally spray and walk away.
Oh and by the way the lid on the shaker is from a Parmesan cheese container they will fit any mason jar I save all of mine for stuff I make at home and sprinkle like my dry stain pretreater, carpet powder and bathtub cleaner.
I sprinkle this in my kitty litter! Love it!
Be careful with epsom salt if you have animals- cats can get paralyzed if they eat or lick epsom salt.
I’m off topic but I’d like to add Tea Tree Oil is HIGHLY toxic to dogs
Untrue have used it for years on mine.
So since you have 8 pets, I’m assuming this mixture is pet-friendly? My dog rolls all over my carpets after I clean them & I’d hate to think I’d use anything that could hurt him.
Yes, I certainly believe so – my vet doesn’t see any issues with it either. Some people have concerns over essential oils with cats – but orange essential oil is considered the safer of them, especially with the very small amount used in the recipe. However, if you have cats – and are concerned about the essential oil, you can always omit it and still freshen your carpet without the added scent.
What is the ratio for baking soda and ground cloves in the parmesan container? This will be great for the holidays!
Pingback: Homemade Carpet Powder | Cheap and Classy
Vet says never, EVER use essential oils where cats will be exposed to them. Cats do not break down absorbed oils well, and do not show signs of toxicity until it’s nearly too late. The orange oil is ok for dogs, not cats.
I did try the baking soda with the ground cloves and it smelled WONDERFUL!!! I used about 1/4 cup of baking soda and about a tablespoon of ground cloves and sprinkled it all over my carpets. That was about an hour ago and it STILL smells really good!! Thanks for the tip!
how long before you vaccume
FYI,,,,,Food grade DE works Great for BEDBUGS! After $1200 in professional extermination cost , and throwing half my furniture out I finally got rid of them with DE.
Only certain essential oils are harmful. There are certain ones that are perfectly fine. The biggest thing is making sure you have quality essential oils that you’re using. Some use fillers and whatnot. The FDA only requires that 3% of the EO be all natural in order for it to be called “organic.”
I am trying baking soda and borax and ground cloves right now!!!!
Diatomaceous earth can be found at tractor supply.
Just love that idea…it’s make me so happy and now it would be a easy task to clean my rooms carpet with that homemade carpet powder.
Ok, not sure but how much of baking soda you use, I don’t see the recipe?
It’s not a set recipe, so no exact recipes. Just add enough essential oils to the baking soda to where you are happy with the scent.
It’s a 14oz can by weight, I believe.
You can use plain white vinegar mixed with water instead of shampoo.
Pingback: Homemade Carpet Powder | Pintester
I have burgundy rugs, took me 3 times as long to vacuum and there still was baking soda on the rug
You may want to have your vacuum cleaner serviced. Baking powder and diatomaceous earth are very fine and can clog your vacuum filter and burn out your motor. I am thinking of buying a vacuum cleaner second hand to use for this purpose.
is this to get rid of fleas also.. i dont know if i saw that..
Others have suggested adding food grade d.e. to get rid of fleas 🙂
Pingback: The War on Stink! | The Involuntary Housewife
For those that have pets: Pinesol is toxic to cats.
Pingback: simple homekeeping part 2: diy non-toxic air fresheners «
I loved it when you said you had 4 cats and 4 dogs. I have 3 cats , 5 ferrets and 2 birds. So I so understand. And I have to be careful with what I use to clean in the house. This is good.
Thank you so much!! I have two adorable kitties, one of which had gotten quite sick when I have tried different powders on the carpet in the past! I’m so happy to see this natural alternative!! Also saw the conversation on diatomaceous earth and wondered how long that is good for … I’ve had some for over 10 years now … still sealed in the bag.
P.S. I love your site! 🙂
Baking soda on some darkcarpets can cause discoloration, and if you use a shampoo machine it can cause excess foaming.
A Little Sage and You can also Clear and Bless your home at the same time 🙂
I like this. I’m going to try it. You are right about the hepa filter thing. I learned the hard way. I never thought of nutmeg or ground clove.
Could salt work?
I used salt to control fleas , it actually works…just sprinkle right from the box…leave 1-2 days according to how bad the flea infestation is, then vaccum or sweep.
My answer right under my question…doh!
Pingback: Getting Ready for Spring | Quartz Drive Self Storage
Could not agree more. Smells like vomit. Hate it.
Borax is great for killing bugs, but can be harmful to children. Just a teaspoon can kill a small child if ingested. Why take that risk by putting it on your carpet where children play? It can also be irritating to the skin, which is why you’re supposed to wear gloves while cleaning with it…another reason why not to put it on your carpet, even if you are vacuuming it up, there always going to be some residue left
Pingback: 'Mrs Happy Homemaker' Segments on Fox 8 News featuring the Top 3!
I don’t see a recipe. I only see ingredients??????? How much of each
Because it’s not a traditional recipe. Just fill up your empty Parmesan cheese container with baking soda & then shake in a few drops of essential oil. Shake it up, & smell it. Add more essential oil if you would like & repeat.
Pingback: Do It Yourself: 50 Household Items You Can Make Homemade « Cozy Little Houses
I make mine with baking soda and a dryer sheet, works great!
if you use a mint essential oil (peppermint is great) it will repel rodents, just be sure not to use mint if you have hampsters, guinea pigs, etc.
Thank you so much! This is so easy…I can’t wait to try it!
My hubby and I recently quit smoking and used soda to remove odors in carpet.
But won’t borax harm the pets that walk around then lick theirselves including paws? Just wondering
I’ve always seen that some people’s cats have died after using borax for fleas, via licking their paws. I was under the impression that you should never use borax on your carpet if your cat will be walking on it.
Pingback: Producto casero para desodorizar las alfombras - GuÃa de MANUALIDADES
Will arm and hammer WASHING SODA work as well?
Just out of curiousity…How much do you end up saving?
Wonderful! Should have thought of this myself, but that’s why I come to you:)
I use the same combination for cleaning the bathroom!! Nontoxic – safe for my son to use – cheap and smells great!
Love this — Thank you– very natural very safe…
Pretty impressed with this idea. I have 5 cats and 1 dog inside. Thanks
Pingback: Homemade Carpet Powder | Energy's Soul Mission
Do not use this if you have cats around the house. They are very sensitive with essential oils!
Thank you for your info~ 🙂
Pingback: The Cheap, Easy & Safe Way to Clean your Home |
awesome idea
Pingback: Homemade Carpet Powder « Live More Daily | Live More Daily
can u use lemon juice too?
I am so grateful for this post! For carpet cleaning, I just make a mixture of 3-4 TBL baking soda, 1/4 tsp blue Dawn dish-washing liquid and 2-3 TBL hydrogen peroxide. I put it in my spot bot carpet cleaner and filled it up with water. Worked GREAT! No smells on the carpet!
….. Tea tree smells amazing. I don’t know why you wouldn’t want it smelling like tea tree.
Oh, the clove & nutmeg sound like ingredients to add.
This is what I add to mine (see above post) along with the lavender & rose geranium eo’s & with all of our critters it really does help with the flea problem. Think I will try the nutmeg or cloves or maybe do my apple pie spice blend & see how that scents 🙂
On my mix I leave it on the carpet about 15 mins then vacuum up, I use it everytime I vacuum & it works great.
Got you beat – we have 9, all rescues (people dropped them off at the end of the dirt road we use to live on). I add one more ingredient that is suppose to help with fleas. I use lavender & rose geranium eo’s next batch I will try adding the orange eo also – citrus eo’s really perk up the lavender – thanks for sharing the recipe.
Could I substitute actual juice from an orange or a lemon or something? Or will it not work as well as the essential oils?
Nope, the essential oil is pressed from the peel itself. If you used lemon juice, you could end up discoloring the carpet
I’ve seen scented oils on the candle aisles at Super Walmarts, though I don’t know if they’re true organic essential oils or not; it was a while back that I was looking at them.
The big box of Baking Soda is on a lower shelf on the laundry detergent aisle, and they sell scented oils on the candle aisle, at Super Walmarts anyway.
Thanks for this. We just moved into a rental where my walk-in closet looked kindof gross from the last tenants; and I ran out of carpet powder (though I don’t know if that stuff even helps to actually clean it, or just scent it). So I was excited to stumble on this, as an alterntaive! (does baking soda do anything to kill germs, I wonder)
Anyway, while I’m slowly working on going all natural, I didn’t have any essential oils, and I did have some leftover anti-microbial Febreeze from before I knew better about chemicals…and since we have no kids or pets, I wanted to disinfect my carpets as best I could, and was in a pinch, I decided to spray the carpet all over with the Febreeze, then sprinkle the baking soda on top, let sit for awhile, then vacuumed up! They actually looked super clean afterwards, and I felt a little better about any potential icky germs that might have been in them.
Thanks again!
Making tomorrow, I have you beat we have nine, and all I do is clean, sweep, brush, bathe, burn candles, and now sprinkle thanks for sharing.
I would not use essential oil if you have cats. There liver is unable to detoxify itself of the oil. If you just used the baking soda and let it sit in the carpet for a longer period of time, it would work just as well.
Cinnamon gets rid of spiders!! and it smells yummy!
How much backing soda
Wondering if this might be good to get rid of ants in carpet too?
Only use food grade. The kind you use in pool filters is toxic to pets & kids.
Love the idea, I have a cat at home and my carpets are old. I struggle to keep them looking clean and smell fresh. Just a note here, there are some essential oils that are harmful to cats. I know that it may seem if they come from fruit it shouldn’t be harmful but they are.
Cats are particularly sensitive to a group of oxygenated compounds called ketones and phenols, and some monoterpenes. It is the thujone content in ketones and carvacal in phenols that seem to create most of the problems when not used with enzymes. Carvacrol is a byproduct of d-limonene which is found in all citrus fruits and in many tree oils. Examples of essential oils for Cats that should should be used with caution meaning highly diluted are:
Examples of Phenols – Wintergreen, Anise, Birch, Clove,
Basil, Tarragon, Fennel, Oregano, Thyme, Mountain Savory, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Calamus, Cinnamon Bark, Citronella, Marjoram, Nutmeg, Eucalyptus citriodora, Parsley, Ylang Ylang. These all contain greater than 8% phenols.
Examples of Ketones – Western Red Cedar, Idaho Tansy,
Marigold, Spearmint, Thuja, Hyssop, Davana, Sage, Dill, Yarrow,
Peppermint. All these oils contain greater than 20% ketones.
Example of Oils containing D-Limonene – Grapefruit, Bitter
Orange, Orange, Tangerine, Mandarin, Lemon, Celery Seed, Lime,
Bergamot, Angelica, Dill, Neroli, Blue Tansy, Citronella and Nutmeg.
Examples of Oils containing Alpha-pinene – Cypress,
Cistus, Pine, Douglas fir, Juniper, Myrtle, Rosemary Verbenon, Silver
Fir, Angelica, Nutmeg, Eucalyptus, Dill, Spruce. These are all
monoterpenes that have alpha-pinene concentrations greater than 15%.
Here is a list of single oils NOT to use at all with cats in particular: Black Pepper, Cardamon, Carrot Seed, Celery Seed, Cinnamon Bark, Citronella, Clove, Galbanum, Ginger, Juniper, Melaleuca species (use with extreme caution and monitor cat), Palmarosa, Petitgrain and Western Red Cedar.
I did not give you that list to scare you, but to provide you with more information. When we have good information it is easier for us to make better choices for our self as well as our pet.
It Here is a list of SAFE essential oils to use around kitties.
Clary Sage, Elemi, Frankincense, Geranium, Helichrysum, Balsam Fir, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Rosemary, and Valerian.
Do you think I can use this on my sofa to get rid of odor?
Baking soda is great for odor removal, so definitely for that. If you used the essential oil, I’d try it on a small area first to be sure.
I am going to try this. We have 3 furry babies and have been battling fleas for a while now. We have done everything we can to make them go away. I really hope this works.
pine sol is fine for dogs, toxic to cats
Please help how do I kill dust mites/bugs?
Food Grade DE is the BEST for this!
Great idea, will try orange next time. So far ive been using coconut essential oil and it gives the room a musky coconut-y scent.
I have been in the carpet cleaning business for over 21 years and I’m telling you it is not a good idea to use any type of powder on your carpet. You will never be able to vacuum it all up and the residue falls down to the bottom of the fibers. The essential oil will be trapped in the bottom as well. This will lead to quicker soiling because it will attract dirt. That’s just my professional opinion.
Pingback: The War on Stink! (Homemade Carpet Powder) - The Involuntary Housewife
Can I sprinkle this powder on bed too to get rid of bed bugs? or what if I add water and spray a bit on bed and carpet?
Thanks
Jaz
The carpet powder won’t get rid of the bed bugs, but I’ll heard awesome things about using food grade d.e. (it’s sold on Amazon). Sprinkle it on the carpet & bed – let sit for an hour, then vacuum it back up. You can do a basic google search for bed bugs & d.e. and get some more info about it.
Just wondering, why do you want to put a bug killer into a chicken coop? Your chickens eat bugs.
I realize I’m replying years late but it bugs me that no one answered this. You do because you can get chicken mites and leg mites. Mites can weaken chickens that aren’t in their prime pretty fast, and some people have allergies to them. Bird mites can be carried by wild birds and/or close the distance from neighbouring coops if they’re nearby, so there isn’t much possible prevention, especially for free range flocks.
Not so fast! I understand that any carpet powder will clog up the bell housing. There goes your vacuum cleaner….
Pingback: How To Make Homemade Carpet Powder | Health & Natural Living
DE is not safe for people or animals to breathe in, so I would not recommend using it for a carpet powder unless everyone (furry and otherwise) is wearing a mask.
What is the Clove way? I just purchased a bag of whole cloves… I’m interested in this!
Saw this recently. Not sure what to do:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/essential-knowledge-for-cat-ow-58072
Pingback: DIY Homemade Carpet Powder - Thifty Sue
D.E. also kills dust mites! Which greatly reduces the amount of dust mites (which would SHOCK you) and therefore dust mite feces also! My son is allergic to these. Many people are but they cause a lot of issues for people who aren’t specifically allergic to them. I have a very expensive vacuum, a Kirby, and am naturally concerned about negative effects on it and the filter system so I think that I’m going to get one of those stick vacuum just for this.
I HAVE FIVE LITTLE DOGS , PLUS I LIVE IN A FIFTH WHEEL,(VERY SMALL SPACE) I USED THIS POWDER THIS MORING, NOW IT SMELLS GREAT. I USED CINNAMON & BAKING POEDER. LEFT MY HOUSE SMELLING FRESH
Pingback: Delsey alliance luggage reviews
Pingback: glucosamine tablets
Essential Oils (E.O.) can be really expensive, especially if you’re like me and love to mix and match essences to create different moods (“sultry earth goddess”= patchouli, sandlewood, myhrr and balsom, or “easy clean breathing”= eucalyptus, tea tree, a few drops, almost unnoticeable amt of -cuz it’s expensive- oil of Oregano -origanum vulgare- and grapefruit). But for the DIY crowd, the cost can be significantly reduced by making your own! All you need is alcohol, like vodka, and the scent source, like zested grapefruit peel, and some of the juice. (And you Gerry to eat the grapefruit! Put a quarter cup of alcohol and at least 1 Tbsp of the scent source, in a clean, tinted glass jar- the darker the glass, the better– with a tight fitting lid. Shake well and store in a cool dark corner. Shake daily for at least 2 weeks to a month and voilá, an extract of your scent. Mix with a light flavored oil (safflower is best, IMHO) 1/4 extract to 3/4 oil and you’ve now made your own Essential Oil. Place in a small dark glass bottles, which you can buy on Amazon, with a dropper top. Shake really well before.
I wonder if you could use the zest from oranges. It might be less expensive and you can eat the oranges.
Pingback: Natural Household Cleaner Recipes | The Budget Decorator
Thanks so much for the tip. I mixed orange ,lemon and eucalyptus essential oils and man does my house smell AMAZING ! It’s been a few hours and I just love the smell. THANK YOU A WHOLE BUNCH FOR THIS TIP
Is this safe for kids?
i just made my first bucket of laundry soap love the way my clothes smell, on the carpet freshner how long do you leave it before vaccuming
Pingback: Homemade Carpet Powder – A Website For All The Ideas You Will Ever Need
I’m so looking forward to trying this. We don’t have animals inside, but my house always has a kinda dirty smell (to me anyway, my kids and husband think it’s fine go figure Lol). I’m going to move the furniture away from the walls and get everything
Pingback: Green Cleaning | The Lesser Known Animals
OMG, thank you! I have all the above. I’ve been wondering about cornstarch, but, maybe that is too powdered.
Pingback: 20 natural ways to make your home smell fresh - Nature Holds the Key
Pingback: 17 Diatomaceous Earth Uses For Health, Beauty & The Home
Pingback: Spring Cleaning: The Carpet – Current Future Living
Does this safe for my baby? I recently had my water damage repair dallas tx and looking for a new carpet to put on my living room.
Baking soda doesn’t dissolve in a liquid, so I would suggest not using it in a carpet cleaner, however I do sprinkle dry baking soda on my carpets and follow up with a vacuum in about an hour or so.
Great great idea! Do want to mention though that orange essential oil is toxic to cats over time. So is lemon and many others. Even the apple stuff you can buy at pet stores. The key is long term. They do not get rid of toxins in their bodies the same as other animals. That’s why people put orange peels around they’re Xmas tree. Cats know it’s no good for them.
Definitely trying this though with a good lavender oil!
Pingback: 22 Daily Used Products You Can Simply Make At Home
Pingback: Tierra de diatomeas 17 Usos para la Salud, Belleza y en el Hogar | ElUtil
Pingback: 12 Genius Hacks for Cleaning with Baking Soda - Mom's Got the Stuff
Thanks for a great recipe. I did manage to use ground cloves and nutmeg in my mixture, instead of the Essential oils and the smell is amazing. Smells like you’re walking into a home filled with fresh baked cookies or pie.
I simply want to say thank you for sharing this idea