Keeping our homes clean, fresh and odor-free requires constant work, but it doesn't have to be backbreaking if you focus your efforts on the right cleaning tricks.
Professional cleaners spend years honing their skills, learning the quickest and most effective methods to get jobs done properly. Here, they revel three top tricks for freshening up carpets, hard floors and even your vacuum cleaner, without damaging them.
Their brilliant cleaning tips, using items you’ll likely already have at home will leave your home smelling fresher than ever.
1. Baking soda (and alternatives) for carpets
Cleaning with baking soda is a tried-and-tested cleaning hack used by professionals and homeowners, for good reason. Baking soda is a natural substance that's able to fight odors, clean surfaces, and is a common, inexpensive household item with many uses.
'This is one of the safest yet most effective products in deodorizing carpets and floors,' explains Josh Miller, professional cleaner and CEO of Clean Carpets.
'Since it is all-natural, it absorbs odors without leaving any residue in its place. I recommend sprinkling it into carpets, letting it sit for 15 minutes, then vacuuming.'
This simple trick can leave your floors much fresher than regular vacuuming, and will help absorb the odors from the residue within your vacuum's dustbin or bag when emptying.
But as it's such a fine powder, can you actually vacuum baking soda? There are concerns that it can clog up vacuum's filters and internal parts and, if your vacuum is old (and doesn't have a HEPA filter), it might be smart to proceed with caution as relying on baking soda too often could lessen your vacuum's suction power over time.
'Powders like baking soda and commercially available carpet deodorizers are normally safe in small measures. Larger usage begins to create the potential for clogging in vacuums, especially those without bags. The fine particles may cause motor damage if not wholly filtered out,' Josh highlights.
If your vacuum has a HEPA filter, you'll likely be ok. Even if it doesn't, you can avoid the potential damage caused by baking soda by cleaning your vacuum regularly, particularly how to clean your vacuum filter.
Alternatively, if you're looking for something stronger and more dedicated to your floors, Josh also recommends the Arm & Hammer Carpet Odor Eliminator (available at Walmart). It's a 'great commercial product for carpets, formulated to effectively neutralize both pet and household odors, adding a light and pleasant scent,' he shares.
John Wilson, home services expert and owner of Wilson Plumbing and Heating also recommends it, saying he's found the cleaner 'effective in neutralizing odors.'
Another alternative carpet freshener is Borax powder (available at Target), Josh explains, 'It is excellent for carpet freshening and in incidents of mold or mildew; however, one should use it with caution since too much can lead to a build-up.'
You can stock up on 12 ounces of baking soda for as little as $2.99 at Amazon, with Clabber Girl's multi-purpose tub for cleaning and baking, which has an easy-to-reseal tub.
Level up your cleaning from baking soda to this extra-strong solution from Arm & Hammer, designed to eliminate odors from all types of carpet flooring and area rugs, leaving your home smelling fresher and cleaner.
This 65 ounce box of borax powder can be used to freshen up your carpets and floors, as well as cleaning countertops, windows, dishes, pots, pans and even your toilet.
2. Charcoal for your vacuum
To keep the vacuum itself free from bad odors, some cleaners recommend keeping charcoal inside the dustbin. It's able to eliminate odors without relying on any heavy scents or chemicals that could damage the appliance.
'Activated charcoal is also excellent for odor elimination,' says Colin Matei, owner of Clean Air Cooling & Heating. 'Place charcoal bags or pouches in the hose, bag or filter compartments of the vacuum. The porous charcoal absorbs and traps odors. Replace the charcoal every few months to keep it effective.'
Sarib Rehman, CEO of Flipcost, has tested many products to improve the performance and longevity of their industrial vacuums, and he swears by charcoal. 'For stubborn smells in the vacuums, we use activated charcoal packets that neutralize odors without heavy fragrances. We simply place a few packets in the hose or bag compartment and the charcoal naturally absorbs unwanted smells.'
These 10 activated charcoal bags are compact, making them ideal for placing inside your vacuum cleaner, and they can also be used to eliminate odors around the house as a natural air purifier.
3. Vinegar and water for hard floors
For hard floors like wood, tile and laminate, you can use a simple solution of vinegar and water for brilliant results you might not expect. We've already found it works excellently as a homemade glass cleaner and to remove soda stains.
'This natural solution can freshen up hardwood or tile floors without resorting to harsh chemicals,' says Josh. 'Add a few drops of essential oils for an extra kick in fragrance, such as lavender or lemon. It will further enhance the scent.'
Or, for something more specially-designed, he also recommends the Bon Ami Powder Cleanser (available at Amazon). 'Amazing for those floors in need of a soft scrubbing, Bon Ami does a great job on tiles and leaves it fresh and clean.'
Combine with water for a simple (but super effective) hard floor cleaner. Distilled white vinegar is a handy item to stock up on thanks to its various cleaning uses around the house. This 128 Fl Oz bottle should last you a while.
If using a vinegar and water solution to tackle your hard floors, consider a few drops of an essential oil to add a strong, pleasant, and all-natural smell to your home.
If your hard floors are in need of a more thorough scrubbing, the Bon Ami Powder Cleanser is a powerful and scratch-free solution that avoids using harsh, floor-damaging chemicals.
Before you start freshening up your floors and your vacuum cleaner, just remember to never use anything too heavily-scented. The artificial scents in the oils and powders can damage your floor's surface, your vacuum's parts, and even irritate the skin if touched.
Now, try these quick ways to make your home smell nice, or these cleaning steps for a better night's sleep.
