9 Non-Toxic Ways to Freshen Up Your Carpet
Posted on 24/07/2024
Freshen up your carpet can come in handy if you are expecting guests, if your carpet smells a bit musty, or if you just want to give it a new lease of life. But when tackling any job around the home, safety is of the utmost importance, and that includes freshening up your carpets. That is why it is best to opt for non-toxic ways of freshen up your carpets. Here are nine ideas to get you started.
1. Vacuum Regularly
Vacuuming is an essential part of keeping your carpets looking fresh. Not only does vacuuming remove dust and dirt, but it helps to reduce germs and bacteria too. It is recommended to vacuum high-traffic areas at least once a week, although more often may be necessary. Vacuuming ensures all the dust and debris accumulating over time is eliminated to refresh your home.
2. Spot Clean Spills As Soon As Possible
Spills occur, but they don't always equal disaster! When dealing with spills on your carpets, act quickly to avoid staining. Start by gently blotting up as much liquid as possible with a dry cloth - do not rub! If it is a sticky spill like fruit juice or wine, you can use a mixture of hot water (not boiling) and white vinegar to loosen it up before trying to blot out the liquid. Once you have saturated the area with this solution, use a cloth or sponge to scoop out as much of remaining liquid as possible before blotting again with a dry cloth until all the liquid is gone. When dealing with food spills on your carpet, use baking soda or cornstarch to soak up any residual grease before vacuuming and removing it from the area.
3. Mix Baking Soda and Essential Oils
Baking soda and essential oils can go hand-in-hand when it comes to freshening up carpets naturally. Start by sprinkling baking soda directly onto your carpets - it will help absorb any odours lingering in the fibres as well as neutralize mildew or mould smells in damp areas where pets may lay down often or, which may prevent the moisture build up. After allowing the baking soda to sit on your carpet for 15 minutes or more (the longer it sits, the better), use a vacuum cleaner or broom to lightly brush it into the fibres of the carpet deep down before removing it from the area. Once complete this step, you can add several drops of essential oil into a bowl with baking soda before sprinkling it onto your carpet. Essential oils like lemon, tea tree oil, cardamom, lavender, peppermint and even lemongrass are great options depending on the scent preferred. This will provide an aroma therapeutic effect while naturally deodorizing your carpets.
4 Use a Carpet Cleaner Machine
Carpet cleaner machines are available for purchase to make deep cleaning carpets easier than ever. Similar to how upright vacuums are used, carpet cleaners allow homeowners to clean their carpets deeply without having to hire professional services. Most models require users to fill up tanks with water or other homemade cleaning solutions, or specific store bought carpet cleaning solutions, then slowly spread over each section of carpet while pressing down firmly onto its surface before vacuuming away dirt particles, debris and grime buildup. This method allows home owners to safely deep clean their carpets without having to worry about potentially harsh chemical based cleaners who whould damage their fibres or leave behind an unpleasant odour. Regularly using this machine on high-traffic areas of your carpet will also help preserve its overall appearance longer, which extends its durability in return.
5 Make DIY Carpet Powder
DIY rug powder is a fantastic way for homeowners who don't have access to carpet cleaning machines but still desire the same spotless result from deep cleaning their carpets. Start by combining one cup of cornstarch mixed with one cup of baking soda and several drops of essential oils for fragrance. Mix all ingredients until blended, then sprinkle across surface of the carpets using either hands or a fine sifter. Allow powder mix to sit on the carpets for fifteen minutes, then vacuum the entire area several times until all powder has been removed. The cornstarch helps break down dirt particles while lifting away surface grime, and deodorizing with pleasant essential oils. That helps enhance the overall scent throughout the air inside the home. Do this DIY method twice monthly for maximum results, especially if lasting odours are lingering within home interiors.
6 Use Plenty of Fresh Air and Sunlight
If weather outside permits of doing so comfortably, aim to move heavy furniture pieces such as couches to the sun area, then open all windows within the room facing the direction of the sunlight. It will help bring plenty fresh air into the room (if unavailable to this, you cold use fans instead). As helping aide, place floor fan near opened window, directing flow across the room creating circulation movement throughout entire area. While sun rays are antibacterial, nitrogen dioxide levels should be closely monitored during the process. If beginning feels any adverse influence from sunlight exposure, such as throat dryness, rapid heart rate or skin irritation caused by high toxin levels in the air, then stop immediately -fresh air and sunlight can be a clean comfort solution, but safety should be a priority above all else!
7 Place Activated Charcoal on Key Locations
Activated charcoal, which can be purchased through hardware stores or over the internet, has a dual purpose effect. First as inhaled comfort essence, it helps purify against harmful toxins; second - it is physical decor; and another plus - it is eco-friendly! Simply take charcoal stack the trays by size, arrange them across shelves and closet entryways, while keeping away from pets. Alternatively, try scattering several coal pieces across rugs quick natural solution, both refreshing and aromatically looks designed wisely. For active charcoal, enthusiasts create lovely scent bursts by arranging a few handfuls in decorative glass jars hung around room mirror frames, bursts with pleasant fragrance common contact activated charcoal make great refreshing addition in high-traffic areas!
8 Clear Your Ventilation System Filters
Your ventilation system filters trap dust particles that accumulate over time, which reduces ventilation flow and contributes heavily towards allergies in weak individuals like children and elderly folk who live under roof - clearing these filters every few months helps ensure good air flow circulation while filtering out harmful debris like pollen before they reach respiratory systems. You can easily track filter status through the manufacturer's instructions and obtaining proper replacements. Doing so allows for maintaining a healthier environment at home, reducing the likelihood of prevalence of airborne disease, especially important for those high-risk susceptible groups!
9 Freshen Up With Cotton Balls and Essential Oils
Cotton balls extracted with essential oil address two main issues associated with stale air - they replace bad smells with pleasant scents while still providing an affordable eco-friendly solution. Simply add a few drops of your favourite essential oil ( lavender, eucalyptus, citrus, etc. ) to wash cloths dip partially into distilled water, dab into a bowl of cotton balls and place the trays around key locations rooms inside the house, such desks, shelves, window sills, etc. In fact, it is advisable to change the scent combinations every few days to keep a circular cycle of fragrances constantly flowing around!
Conclusion: Freshen up your carpets needn't involve toxic chemicals. There are plenty of non-toxic ways available that will yield excellent results whilst preserving both human health and environmental balance at the same time! Whether it is regular vacuuming, cleaning stains promptly, using DIY methods ( such as baking soda and essential oils ) or investing in carpet cleaners, using any combination from the list above will ensure long-lasting freshness that won't harm anyone or anything around!