Natural Carpet Powder Deodorizer

One of the mistakes I made back when I lived in a carpeted home [shudder] was purchasing carpet powder deodorizer, all because I liked the idea of the house "smelling clean". Really, I was just paying for chemically scented baking soda. You can just make your own carpet powder using this formula:

1/2 cup of borax
1/2 cup of baking soda
1 teaspoon of cloves and/or cinnamon (cloves help keep our closets moth-free too)

Or, if you've got pets, instead of the spices, use about 20-25 drops of sweet orange oil, which is a natural flea repellent; be sure to mix in the oil into powder mixture thoroughly and never use directly onto your pets.

posted originally from: AT:LA

Sprinkle on carpets using a cheese-shaker or empty baby powder container, and leave for 15-20 minutes before vacuuming. Now you've neutralized musty odours, added a pleasant naturally derived scent, and also possibly rid some unwelcome pests without chemicals or pesticides.

Related link: Natural closet moth-repellent mixture

Comments (4)

Can this be applied to laundry too? In the summer our towels seem to get musty/mildewy smelling because of the lack of air circulation in the bathroom. Can baking soda be used in the wash?

apointe,

The best article I've ever read on baking soda is here at Curbly.

If you scroll down, you'll see this:
In the laundryroom: Soak smelly clothes in a baking soda/water solution to remove odors. Or, apply baking soda directly to affected areas to remove mildewy smells. Then, make a paste of bi-carb and water to scrub the inside of your machine, and to encourage stuck-on leftovers - such as candy or gum - to release themselves..

Is there some safe/pleasant-smelling DIY air freshener that's similar? I'm not one to burn smelly candles or spray odors around, but the laundry basket in our bedroom is making our bedroom smell musty. Washing the clothes will help, but the real problem is that the room isn't getting aired out. (AC in the window and we keep the door closed to keep the cat out during the day.)

Thanks so much StephanieK! Just the info I was looking for :-)