Imagine stepping into your home after a long day and being greeted by the fresh, uplifting scent of your favourite fragrance. While candles, wax melts, diffusers and room sprays all play a part in creating that perfect ambiance, sometimes carpets - yes, carpets! - are an overlooked source of lingering smells.
But don’t worry - we’re here to change that!
With just two simple ingredients, you can craft your own carpet freshener that not only eliminates odours but also leaves your space smelling absolutely divine.
In this blog, we’ll show you how to make a quick, easy, and natural carpet freshener using two household staples: sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and fragrance oil.
Whether you're battling pet odours, food spills or just a stuffy atmosphere, this DIY carpet freshener is a must-have for keeping your home smelling fresh.
Why Use Carpet Freshener?
Carpet fresheners are the unsung heroes of home maintenance. Over time, carpets naturally trap dirt, dust and odours from the air and the people walking over them. These trapped particles can cause your carpet - and by extension, your whole house - to smell less than fresh. From pet accidents to everyday spills, odours can linger in carpet fibres, making even the cleanest home smell a little off.
That’s where carpet freshener comes to the rescue. By sprinkling a little bit of this magic powder onto your carpets and letting it sit for a few minutes, you can neutralise odours while adding a burst of freshness with your favourite scent. The best part? It’s incredibly easy to make with just two ingredients that you likely already have at home!
The Two Key Ingredients
Let’s dive into the stars of this DIY project: sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and fragrance oil. These ingredients are the foundation for a powerful, non-toxic carpet freshener.
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, is a natural odour neutraliser. It works by absorbing odours rather than just masking them, which is why it’s commonly used in refrigerators, laundry and other household applications. When sprinkled on carpets, it penetrates deep into the fibres to soak up any lingering smells—whether from pets, food or general household wear and tear.
Baking soda is also mildly abrasive, meaning that as you vacuum it up, it can help loosen dirt and grime from the carpet fibres. It’s non-toxic, safe for children and pets, and gentle enough for most carpet types.
Fragrance Oil
Fragrance oils are essential for adding that personal touch to your carpet freshener. With an almost limitless variety of scents available, from fresh and floral to cosy and spicy, fragrance oils allow you to create a custom scent experience in your home. Choose a fragrance that matches your mood or the season—think lavender for relaxation, lemon for a zesty clean, or cinnamon for a cozy autumnal vibe.
Just a few drops of fragrance oil are enough to infuse your carpet freshener with a lasting aroma. It’s a great way to boost your home’s ambiance without overpowering it with chemical-based air fresheners.
What You’ll Need
Now that we’ve covered the benefits of each ingredient, let’s gather our supplies. To make your own carpet freshener, you’ll need the following:
1. 490g of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
2. 10g of fragrance oil
Optional:
A jar or 500g container with a shaker lid (or you can repurpose an old spice jar)
A spoon for mixing
That’s it! Two ingredients, no fuss, and you’re ready to make your home smell amazing.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Carpet Freshener
Ready to get started? Follow these simple steps to whip up a batch of your own DIY carpet freshener in minutes.
Measure Your Baking Soda - Start by measuring out your 490g of baking soda. Baking soda is incredibly affordable, so feel free to scale up if you have a larger space.
Add Fragrance Oil - Now it’s time to add your fragrance oil. Choose a scent that you love and that complements the overall vibe of your home. Add 10g of fragrance oil (IFRA Permitting) to the baking soda, depending on how strong you want the scent to be. If you prefer a subtler fragrance, start with less and add more as needed.
Stir the mixture well with a spoon to ensure that the fragrance oil is evenly distributed throughout the baking soda. You don’t want clumps of oil in one area; you want a balanced scent experience across the entire room.
Store Your Carpet Freshener - Once your baking soda and fragrance oil are well mixed, transfer the powder to a jar or container. If you have an old spice jar with a shaker top, that’s perfect! You can also use a mason jar with holes punched in the lid for easy sprinkling.
Be sure to label your container so that you remember what scent is inside, especially if you plan on making multiple batches with different fragrance oils.
Sprinkle It On - Now for the fun part—sprinkling your carpet freshener! Lightly dust your carpets with the mixture, paying special attention to high-traffic areas and places where odours tend to linger (such as near pet beds or entryways). You don’t need to use a lot; a thin layer is enough to do the job.
Let It Sit - For best results, let the carpet freshener sit for at least 15-30 minutes. This gives the baking soda time to absorb odours and the fragrance oil to infuse the room with its delightful scent.
If your carpets are particularly smelly, you can leave the freshener on for longer - up to a couple of hours. Just be sure to keep pets and kids out of the room during this time, especially if they’re prone to playing on the floor.
Vacuum It Up - Once the freshener has had time to work its magic, grab your vacuum cleaner and go over the carpets as usual. The baking soda will help lift dirt and grime while eliminating odours, and the fragrance oil will leave a subtle, lasting scent.
As you vacuum, you’ll notice the room smells instantly fresher and cleaner. It’s that easy!
Tips for Customising Your Carpet Freshener
One of the best things about making your own carpet freshener is that it’s completely customisable. Here are a few fun ideas to mix things up:
Use It on Upholstery - This mixture isn’t just for carpets! Sprinkle it on upholstered furniture, mattresses or even pet beds to freshen up other areas of your home.
Experiment with Scents by Season - Try floral or citrusy scents in the spring and summer, and switch to woodsy or spiced fragrances in the fall and winter.
The Benefits of DIY Carpet Freshener
Why should you make your own carpet freshener instead of buying one from the store? Here are a few reasons why this DIY approach is a game-changer:
It’s cost-effective - With just two simple ingredients, you can make a large batch of carpet freshener for a fraction of the cost of store-bought alternatives.
It’s all-natural - You’ll know exactly what’s in your carpet freshener—no harmful chemicals or synthetic fragrances.
It’s customisable - You get to choose the exact scent you want in your home, and you can adjust the strength of the fragrance to your liking.
It’s eco-friendly - By reusing containers and using simple ingredients, you’re reducing plastic waste and your overall environmental footprint.
Conclusion
Making your own carpet freshener with just sodium bicarbonate and fragrance oil is an easy, affordable, and fun way to keep your home smelling fresh. It’s a quick project that delivers long-lasting results, and it’s a great way to personalize the scent of your home. So grab your favourite fragrance oil, mix up a batch, and enjoy the satisfying scent of a clean, fresh carpets!
