Taking care of your carpet can get expensive with all the products
everyone wants you to buy. Add to that the increasing sensitivity that
so many people have to chemicals and fragrances and you can have a real
problem. What do you do to keep your carpet clean and fresh? Make your
own of course — and you can do it with materials you find in your
kitchen already or in your grocery store aisles.
DIY Carpet Cleaner (Image via PopSugar)
All you need for this powdered cleaner is: 2 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 4 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon whole cloves, and 1 tablespoon borax (optional). Put all of the ingredients in a blender and pulse on low speed until the mixture has an even consistency. Then place the mixture into a sprinkle-top container and it is ready to use.
The baking soda helps refresh and deodorize the carpet, and break up the accumulated dirt. The bay leaves and cloves give a pleasant, but not overwhelming, scent and add a bit of antibacterial cleaning to the powder. The borax, should you choose to use it, adds a bit of extra power to the mix.
To use, sprinkle generously over the carpet and leave it for two to eight hours and then vacuum as usual. Since all of the ingredients are natural, people with chemical sensitivities won’t be bothered.
DIY Carpet Stain Cleaner (Image via PopSugar)
Naturally, this won’t cover all of your carpet cleaning needs. For cleaning those pesky stains you can assemble this formula in a small spray bottle: 1 teaspoon dish washing liquid, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 cup warm water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, a clean absorbent towel, and a clean sponge.
It is recommended that you mix this one over the sink to help deal with any spills. Place the vinegar and dish liquid in the bottle and top with the warm water. Have the top of the spray bottle standing by and be ready to really move. Add the baking soda and put the lid on the bottle as quickly as possible. The acid of the vinegar and the base of the baking soda are going to mix and create a great deal of foamy carbon dioxide. This is the power of the solution being unleashed.
Make sure that the area with the stain is well vacuumed first and wipe gently with the abrasive side of the sponge. Spray the stained area liberally with the solution and then start to dab and rub gently with the towel. You should start to see a change immediately. Continue dabbing and wiping to remove the stain completely.
Once again, as with the powder, this should not bother people with chemical sensitivity. If the clean is too much for you, let the dog back in the house.
Sources: PopSugar
