During Spring Cleaning, one of the things I make sure to do (once I’m done with the hardcore dusting and wiping) is to deodorize the carpets and rugs. Deodorizing floors is something people have been doing for centuries. One of the most common ways was to sprinkle fresh herbs and rushes (straw) on clean floors to help absorb odors as well as to absorb spills and other liquids (a problem when people used to allow farm animals into their home). Anyway since Sarah Munro has updated this recipe for her collection of updated 17th and 18th century herbal remedies and recipes, I’m including it this month. Just in time for Spring Cleaning! (Sarah, a PhD historian, is the heroine in book 2 of the Deadly Force series, ONE DARK WISH.)
Pure baking soda is safe for all types of rugs and carpets and won’t cause any discoloration or other weirdness. While the essential oil adds a fresh fragrance, there’s not enough oil in the mixture to cause any problems either. And you don’t have to use a brand name. I buy it in a large generic bag from Costco. The lemon scent doesn’t just linger after you vacuum, it also deodorizes your vacuum bag (an extra plus!). Once you pick up the floor, move the pets and small children away. You need about 30 minutes to do this, start to finish, and you don’t want kids or pets to get in the way. I just make it in a bowl and walk around the room throwing spoonfuls. But if you have a shaker bottle, that will work well too.
Safety Note
Pure baking soda is a leavening agent and safe for pets and children in small amounts. But if a pet eats a large amount, and it mixes with the heat in their stomach, it can cause dangerous gasses in the gut that can cause health problems and even heart failure.
Sarah Munro’s Lemon Carpet Deodorizer
Ingredients:
Directions:
In a medium sized bowl, mix together 2 cups of baking soda and 20 drops of lemon essential oil. This makes enough for approximate a 10′ x 10′ room or area rug. Make more as you need it.
Mix together with a spoon.
Starting in a far corner of a carpeted room (or on an area rug), use the spoon to sprinkle the baking soda mixture on the carpet. Walk backwards and side-to-side, until the entire carpet/rug is covered with the white powder.
Let the powder sit for fifteen minutes. Then vacuum up. If you have pets or babies/toddlers, vacuum twice before you allow them back into the room.
If a carpet is really smelly, leave the powder on for 24 hours. If it smells after you vacuum it up, you may need to do reapply the powder for another 24 hours. If that doesn’t work, you may need to replace the carpeting.
Important Disclaimer: Herbal Remedies, Wild Plants, and Foraging
The information shared in my Romance Herbalist posts is intended for educational, historical, and entertainment purposes only. I am not a physician, licensed herbalist, or other medical professional. Nothing on this website should be considered medical advice or a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.
Herbs, flowers, spices, and other plants have been used for centuries in cooking, traditional remedies, and folk medicine. However, natural does not always mean safe. Some plants can be toxic, cause allergic reactions, interact with medications, or be unsuitable for certain medical conditions.
Before preparing, consuming, or using any herbal product, please keep the following precautions in mind:
- Medications and medical conditions: Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using herbs medicinally, particularly if you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, have an existing medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are preparing something for children.
- Allergies: Research potential allergic reactions and cross-reactivity, especially if you have known allergies to plants, herbs, or spices.
- Plant identification: Never harvest or consume a wild plant unless you can positively identify it and confirm that it is safe for its intended use. Some poisonous plants closely resemble edible or medicinal varieties.
- Harvesting and foraging: Avoid collecting plants from roadsides, chemically treated areas, contaminated soil, or locations where pesticides, herbicides, or other pollutants may be present. Always follow local foraging laws and respect private property.
- Preparation and consumption: Research appropriate preparation methods, potential side effects, and safe quantities before using any plant. Certain plants may be safe in food but dangerous when concentrated or prepared incorrectly.
- Food safety: Use clean equipment, properly stored ingredients, and appropriate food-handling practices when preparing herbal teas, infusions, syrups, or other homemade products.
A note about traditional remedies: References to historical or folkloric uses of plants do not establish that those uses are medically effective or safe. Any discussion of potential health benefits is provided for general information and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
By choosing to forage, prepare, or consume any plant or herbal product discussed on this website, you accept responsibility for your own research, decisions, and safety. The author makes no guarantees regarding the safety, effectiveness, or suitability of any plant, recipe, or preparation described.
When in doubt, consult a qualified professional before using any herb or wild plant.
