Saturday, August 4, 2012

CARPET CLEANING HOMEMADE

I have pets. I love my pets. I hate pet hair, stains and odors. I struggle just like anyone else to come to a happy meeting place. Today I worked on one problem area by cleaning up a pet stain. My dog is elderly and having issues with occasional carpet accidents. I wanted a non-toxic carpet cleaner that I could clean a tough stain and not kill us all with the fumes or chemicals I cannot pronounce. I turned to Pinterest. Yes I admit I have turned here often to get ideas. I take their suggestions to heart and I either put my own spin on it or make up my own way based on their ideas. I have often slipped up and made things just the way they tell me to...LOL!
I played around with ingredients until I got what I wanted. I want to share it with you. I did use one chemical that I have to say does not bother my allergies or my pets. It is OdoBan. I think it is a fresh clean scent and I don't mind using it. I mixed up the following:

1c OdoBan
1/4c baking soda
1/2c Hydrogen peroxide
2 T Dawn  (If you use this, you will need to rinse well..it kills fleas)
5 drops Lavender essential oil or to your liking
1c Orange Vinegar (Orange peels soaked in Vinegar for at least 2 days drained and strained) Sometimes mine goes longer as I am forgetful. LOL

I mixed everything but the baking soda (Please follow your manufacturer's directions because I may have gunked mine up with the baking soda my first time out. My man may be coming home to a cleaning project. *shrug*) {*sad face*} and used the mixture in my electric carpet cleaner. You can place in a spray bottle, spray carpet, let soak for a bit and then blot dry with a clean cloth. You can mix in the vinegar if you want to but I rinsed my floors with the orange vinegar to hopefully help discourage pet potty habits. (We shall see)

My house smells nice, my carpet is clean and I am one happy camper. Now if I could just get my man to clean the boxes more often. O:((( One problem at a time folks...one problem at a time. 


*****NOTE: I did gunk up my cleaner but was able to get it cleaned up and working again. So put it in a spray bottle and spray it ahead of the cleaner as you go. It is too good to not freshen up the carpets this way.