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Housekeeping Supplies

ManiacalRed
Posts: 21 Forumite

So I was about to do my carpets and realised I've ran out of carpet deodoriser and air freshener.
I searched but couldn't find any posts on whether it's more economical to make my own, or buy from the shop.
I realise it's maybe a bit looking after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.
Does anyone have any experience? Hint or tips? For this or any other cleaning/housework related products.
I have lots of essential oils, about 5ltrs of white viniger, 500g of baking soda. I've done some googling, got some recipes.
Any and all suggestions welcome.
I searched but couldn't find any posts on whether it's more economical to make my own, or buy from the shop.
I realise it's maybe a bit looking after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.
Does anyone have any experience? Hint or tips? For this or any other cleaning/housework related products.
I have lots of essential oils, about 5ltrs of white viniger, 500g of baking soda. I've done some googling, got some recipes.
Any and all suggestions welcome.
1
Comments
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Do you actually need to use / have either of these products?
I'm not sure I've ever used a carpet deodoriser, and air fresheners (and scented candles) release particles which aren't great for the lungs. The healthy, environmentally friendly and MSE way is not to use this stuff.
Sorry, probably not the answer you wanted.6 -
If the carpets are that dirty, I would either hire a rug doctor / professional cleaner and then keep shoes off the carpets from that point forward.No man is worth crawling on this earth.
So much to read, so little time.2 -
Carpets should stay unsmelly with fairly frequent regular vacuuming. Air freshener only covers up smells with an artificial smell.
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face it people can be smelly, and add to that the smell of cooking, animals, etc and a bit of cleaning up can be required.
big fan here of bicarb. sprinkle it over the entire carpet, leave for a few hours, maybe overnight and then hoover it all up. Obviously the carpet should be completely dry before you begin.
bicarb is also great for cleaning stainless steel sinks, keeping the smell down in cat litter trays and also in your fridge. Put a small opened glass of bicarb in the fridge and every 3 weeks or so remove that and use it to clean the kitchen sink (double duty!) and help reduce the smell of the drain. I like to scrub the sink with a big chunk of lemon but if you are squeezing oranges or grapefruit you could use that instead. The acid in the fruit works with the bicarb and helps it fizz into all the nooks and crannies of your sink and drain.
should you have pets and they have developed a bad habit of p'ing in a particular spot that's because despite your cleaning they can still smell where they have marked. after giving the carpet or floor a good hoover to get rid of any dust and debris then you can give it a good dousing with tonic water. soak it back up with a towel and repeat using a clean towel each time. the rinsing will help pick up whatever has been left behind and then the quinine in the tonic will help mask the residual essence so the pet isn't attracted back there.
Nancy Birtwhistle seems to be the go-to for eco friendly home made cleaning.
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"Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.” Nellie McClung8 -
I'm another fan of using bicarb - I used it to get rid of smoke damage. and it brought the carpets up beautifully, However, I think you will need rather more than 500g.Sealed Pot Challenge no 035. Fashion on the Ration: 39/66 coupons spent.0
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I was going to recommend Nancy Birtwistle too. But carpet deodoriser and air freshener are two things I have never used. I do light a scented candle occasionally, I don’t think my house smells.Commercial air fresheners make me feel illLife is mainly froth and bubble: two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.1
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Hey thanks for the feedback,
I have 2 dogs and a cat. I also have a rug doctor professional carpet washer which I use on occasion, vacuum daily and never wear shoes in the house. However Dogs get wet, and drag in all manner of stuff on their paws, each to your own on how you want your house to smell I suppose but when I have friends over I really dont want their noses assaulted, anyone that has pets and doesnt use cleaning products and thinks there house doesnt smell is wrong.
Anyway my reason for asking for advice right now is my old dog has a dicky tummy, and has had a few accidents. It seems to be clearing up however I dont want to wash the carpets until he's all better at which time I will give him a good bath and once hes dry I will wash the carpets, in the mean time I know the house smells. Just thought for us that do use room deodoriser there might be a more cost effective option.
Thanks for the advice on the bicarb, I hear its great for cleaning I will give it a go. Will also give Nancy a good browse.1 -
anyone that has pets and doesnt use cleaning products and thinks there house doesnt smell is wrong
carpet deodoriser and air freshener are not cleaning products2 -
Much sympathy on the dog, I had a poor old dog with a similar problem and a rather naughty cat with no respect. Loved that cat and cried a river when she died but I do not miss cleaning up her dirty protests.
Essentially the sprinkle powders are based on bicarb with some scent and an anti caking agent. The hardest bit was not chucking clumps of bicarb everywhere, sprinkling works best. Sieve? Flour Shaker? Poke some holes in the lid of a clean empty plastic milk container. I just use plain bicarb, and only on dry carpet. I sometimes use peppermint oil drops as a spider repellant but also as a fairly neutral background smell. Cheap from Home Bargains I think.
Where they had done something horrid it needed to be neutralised. Weak solution of biological wash liquid is often suggested, something about neutralising enzymes. The 'pet' machine wash liquids didn't seem to help very much, but the care home liquid for incontinence worked very well, even if it made the room in question smell like a hospital. (commercial urine odour neutraliser).
Hope this helps, it is so frustrating to deal with.My mortgage free diary: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6498069/whoops-here-comes-the-cheese
GNU Mr Redo1 -
I feel your pain, we used to have dogs and a cat, and vacuumed every day to keep the hair down. Felt like a never-ending battle! Hope your dog is recovering now.
Could you put washable rugs down in the worst places to protect the carpet?
Would an old towel on hand as you go in the house help, to rub the dog/s down before they track the dirt in?
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