Have you ever looked at a carpet and wondered what lived in it? If so, were you grossed out by the thought of miniscule creatures prancing, leaping, and galloping through it? Have you ever wanted to thoroughly disinfect a carpet, but were worried about the effects of harsh, toxic detergents that are formulated for cleaning carpets? The fact is, all carpets need regular deep cleaning- especially during cold and flu season. It is possible to do so without harming your health- and this article is here to show you how to do just that!
A week ago, I moved into a new place, and it was clear that the previous resident did not have my hygiene standards. On top of that, I am a germophobe! Nonetheless, I was afraid of the potential health effects of typical carpet cleaners. So, I purchased some handy Loose Leaf Tea Market essential oils and got to work. Not only did they do the job, but the previously musty-smelling bedroom now smelled divine.
Why essential oils? Basically, plants make certain compounds that are toxic to parasites. Plants do this to protect themselves from decomposing or being eaten, and many of these compounds are found in high concentrations in essential oils. They are extremely effective at killing off parasitic bacteria, molds, many insects, and other parasites. In addition, many essential oils have properties that are very beneficial for human health.
To start, I used:
- 2 bottles of Four Thieves Oil
- 2 bottles of Breathe Oil
- 1 bottle of Oregano Essential Oil
- 1 bottle of Tea Tree Oil
- 32 oz. bottle of Castille Soap
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda
I used Four Thieves because it is an extremely potent anti-microbial essential oil blend. As a famous legend goes, Four Thieves oil was used to protect robbers during the Black Plague of the infamous disease. Whether or not these claims were true, I figured that if Four Thieves was good enough to gain such a reputation against such a virulent bacterium, it would probably be good enough for me! Four Thieves oil has been shown in numerous studies to eradicate large amounts of mold spores in under 24 hours.
In addition, I used Breathe Oil because it is effective against parasites that cause common colds. It also smells heavenly in conjunction with Four Thieves oil, and these two are a perfect blend for winter. Lastly, I used Oregano and Tea Tree essential oils because they are some of the most effective anti-microbial oils around. Together, these four essential oils made a powerhouse team.
I also rented a Rug Doctor machine, which you can find at many grocery stores. I rented mine from Safeway for $30.
I felt that this carpet needed extra help, so I did five rounds of cleaning. For most carpets, two rounds would be more than enough, so that is what I will describe here. If you are using a Rug Doctor machine, you will need to dump out the dirty water and refill the cleaning solution several times for each round. Be sure to vacuum your carpet beforehand!
Round 1
Mix 4 cups of water and 8 cups of white vinegar, adding 10 drops of oregano oil and 15 drops of tea tree oil. Generously sprinkle your entire carpet with baking soda. Run the machine over the carpet at a very slow speed. The vinegar will react with the baking soda, and this will cause a chemical reaction that kills bacteria and molds. The essential oils further promote sanitation. Refill the solution as many times as necessary, and repeat as desired. Allow this to sit for 30 minutes before moving onto Round 2.
Round 2
Your carpet will smell like vinegar for a while, but this smell will fade. Nonetheless, I like to use multiple approaches, and this second round will help to get rid of any remaining odors. Your carpet will smell wonderful after this treatment.
Mix 6 cups each of water and castile soap in a 1:1 ratio, adding 10 drops each of Four Thieves oil and Breathe oil. Run the machine over your carpet very slowly, and refill the solution as often as needed. You can repeat this process several times to get a deeper clean and better aroma. Allow your carpet to dry, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the lovely aroma.
Let us know if you try this! If you do and would like to share your results, you can post a picture on Instagram with the hashtags, #looseleafteamarket and #looseleaflifestyle and tag us (@looseleafteamarket) for an extra 10% off your next purchase! We hope you enjoy a healthy and happy winter season.