Home » How to Make Homemade Carpet Freshener Easily at Home?

How to Make Homemade Carpet Freshener Easily at Home?

If you’ve ever walked into your home and noticed lingering carpet odors, you know how important fresh floors are for a clean, welcoming space.

Instead of relying on store-bought products filled with harsh chemicals, you can easily make a homemade carpet freshener that’s safe, affordable, and effective.

With just a few common ingredients, I’ll show you how to mix your own DIY carpet freshener in minutes.

This simple recipe creates a powerful DIY carpet powder that tackles odors while letting you choose your favorite scents, giving your carpets lasting freshness without spending extra at the store.

Why Choose DIY Carpet Freshener Over Store-Bought?

Making your own DIY carpet freshener is simple, affordable, and healthier for your home environment. Here are the key reasons to choose DIY over commercial products.

DIY carpet fresheners are a cost-effective, natural alternative to store-bought options, saving families $50–$100 annually.

Made with simple ingredients like baking soda, essential oils, and cornstarch, they avoid synthetic chemicals that can trigger allergies or respiratory issues.

Safe for children and pets, DIY blends eliminate toxins like phthalates and VOCs. Plus, they reduce plastic waste and environmental impact, keeping homes fresh and eco-friendly.

Choosing a DIY carpet freshener means saving money, protecting your family and pets, and reducing environmental impact, all while keeping your carpets fresh and clean.

Materials & Tools Required

Making a homemade carpet freshener only takes a few simple ingredients that are easy to find and safe to use. Each one plays a role in naturally freshening your carpets.

MATERIALS	TOOLS
Baking soda(63%)	Scale or Measuring Cups
Borax(36%)	Mixing Bowl
Fragrance/Essential Oil(1%)	Spatula or Spoon
Storage Container with Lid	Vacuum Cleaner

Simple ratio: 1 cup baking soda + 10–15 drops essential oils.

These three ingredients combine to create a powerful yet simple homemade carpet freshener that’s both effective and budget-friendly.

Step-by-Step Recipe for Making Homemade Carpet Freshener

Creating a homemade DIY carpet freshener is quick and easy, taking just minutes from start to finish. Follow these clear steps for a fresh, natural carpet treatment that keeps your home smelling clean and inviting.

Step1: Get the Carpet Ready

Before making the freshener, start with clean carpets. Vacuum thoroughly to remove loose dirt, dust, and debris.

This step is important because odors often cling to particles already trapped in the fibers. Clearing them first ensures the DIY carpet powder can reach deep into the carpet and work effectively.

Step 2: Measure the Baking Soda

Using a scale, measure the baking soda accurately. If you don’t have a scale, don’t worry, simply use a measuring cup and keep the amounts balanced with the borax later.

Carefully pour the baking soda into a clean mixing bowl, ensuring everything stays tidy and organized.

Step 3: Add the Fragrance Oil

Next, add a few drops of fragrance oil or your favorite essential oil directly into the baking soda. Popular choices include lavender for relaxation, lemon for freshness, or peppermint for energy.

Gently mix everything together with a spatula or spoon, carefully chopping and folding the powder as you stir to make sure everything blends well.

Step 4: Incorporate the Borax

Now add the borax to the bowl. This ingredient boosts cleaning power and helps tackle stronger, long-lasting odors.

Once added, mix thoroughly with the spatula, lifting from the bottom of the bowl to the top. This ensures the borax blends evenly with the scented baking soda.

Step 5: Package the Mixture

When the ingredients are well combined, you can add your favorite non-toxic color, if desired, then transfer the mixture to a storage container with a secure lid.

Shaker jars work especially well since they make sprinkling the powder easier, but any sealed jar will keep the mixture dry and ready to use.

Step 6: Apply and Refresh the Carpets

When ready to use, sprinkle the powder evenly across your carpet. For best results, gently shake the container before sprinkling.

Use a broom to gently sweep the powder into the carpet fibers, helping it absorb odors more deeply.

Fun Variations of Homemade Carpet Freshener

Many people enjoy switching up scents depending on the season or mood, and readers can do the same with their own blends.

With just a few drops of different oils, a homemade carpet freshener can evoke a calming, energizing, or even festive scent, making every room smell exactly as desired.

1. Relaxing Blend

Mix baking soda with a few drops each of lavender and chamomile essential oils. Stir well and let it sit for 24 hours in an airtight container before sprinkling on carpets.

Key Ingredients: Baking soda, lavender essential oil, chamomile essential oil
Benefits: Creates a calming, soothing atmosphere and helps neutralize odors naturally
Best Suited For: Bedrooms, living rooms, or any area where relaxation is desired

2. Citrus Burst

Mix baking soda with a few drops each of lemon and orange essential oils. Stir thoroughly and store in a sealed container for at least 24 hours before using.

Key Ingredients: Baking soda, lemon essential oil, orange essential oil
Benefits: Brings a bright, energizing scent and helps refresh high-traffic areas
Best Suited For: Kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, and busy halls

3. Holiday Mix

Blend baking soda with a few drops of cinnamon and clove essential oils. Allow the mixture to rest in an airtight jar for a day before sprinkling.

Key Ingredients: Baking soda, cinnamon essential oil, clove essential oil
Benefits: Creates a warm, festive aroma that feels cozy and inviting
Best Suited For: Living rooms, dining rooms, and gatherings during holidays or special occasions

4. Herbal Fresh Mix

Combine baking soda with rosemary and thyme essential oils, mixing until the mixture is evenly blended. Store in a closed container for at least 24 hours before applying.

Key Ingredients: Baking soda, rosemary essential oil, thyme essential oil
Benefits: Provides a crisp, garden-inspired freshness and naturally neutralizes odors
Best Suited For: Entryways, living rooms, and common family areas

5. Floral Breeze

Mix baking soda with a few drops each of rose and jasmine essential oils. Stir and let it rest in an airtight container for at least 24 hours before use.

Key Ingredients: Baking soda, rose essential oil, jasmine essential oil
Benefits: Delivers a sweet, uplifting floral aroma that brightens spaces
Best Suited For: Bedrooms, guest rooms, or cozy sitting areas

6. Minty Cool

Blend baking soda with peppermint and spearmint essential oils, stirring until well combined. Keep in a sealed container for 24 hours to allow the scent to settle.

Key Ingredients: Baking soda, peppermint essential oil, spearmint essential oil
Benefits: Offers a refreshing, clean fragrance that feels energizing
Best Suited For: Offices, hallways, and high-traffic living areas

7. Tropical Escape

Combine baking soda with coconut fragrance oil and lime essential oil. Mix until blended and store for 24 hours before sprinkling.

Key Ingredients: Baking soda, coconut fragrance oil, lime essential oil
Benefits: Creates a breezy, vacation-like scent that feels light and cheerful
Best Suited For: Living rooms, patios, or summer-inspired spaces

Certain Tips for Best Results

For the best outcome, a few simple practices help make a homemade carpet freshener more effective and longer-lasting.

The container should be shaken before use so the essential oils mix evenly and provide a consistent scent.
Application once a week or before guests arrive helps maintain fresh-smelling carpets.
Oil amounts can be adjusted to suit preference. About 10 drops per cup of baking soda is a good starting point.
Pet safety must be considered; oils such as tea tree, clove, eucalyptus, and citrus should be avoided around cats and dogs.
Proper storage in a sealed jar, kept cool and dry, maintains the powder’s effectiveness.
Large rooms are best treated in sections to allow each area enough time for odor absorption.

With these practices, a homemade carpet freshener delivers consistent freshness and reliable results.

The Bottom Line

Making a homemade carpet freshener proves that keeping carpets clean and fresh doesn’t have to be costly or complicated.

With just baking soda and essential oils, you can create a natural blend that works as well as store-bought products.

A DIY carpet freshener is the easiest, safest, and most affordable way to enjoy cleaner, fresher carpets.

In just a few minutes, you’ll have a long-lasting solution that saves money, avoids harsh chemicals, and keeps your home smelling fresh and inviting.

How to Make Homemade Carpet Freshener Easily at Home?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daniel Foster

Weekend projects with his grandfather sparked Daniel Foster’s passion for turning plain rooms into places people love. Today he writes about home décor in a way that’s more about feeling than trends; it's the simple touches, small changes, and natural elements that make spaces feel alive. Trained in Interior Design, he draws from real homes rather than showrooms. In his spare time he experiments with ceramic making, shaping clay pieces that often inspire the textures and tones in his décor ideas.