You have carpets in your home, and you have people and pets in your home, this translates into having dirty carpets, whether you can see the dirt or not it’s there. And when you have an Xbox all nighter there are spills, and messes that you really can’t identify.

Good News! You can easily keep your carpets clean and fresh with some natural products that you probably already have in your pantry.

The first step to a clean carpet is to vacuum regularly, meaning about two times a week. The type of vacuum you use is important, and the healthiest vacuum is a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) that contains a HEPA filter. When buying a HEPA vacuum it should come with the claim that it has a 99.97% efficiency level. They remove and trap dirt and potential allergens such as pollen, pet dander, and dust mites from your carpet and will not release them back into the air. HEPA vacuums are perfect for people with allergies, or for anyone who wants to remove all the gross stuff from their carpets.

Use area or throw rugs on high traffic places in your home to reduce the daily wear and tear of your carpet underneath. They will reduce the amount of dirt and other particles from the outside that get stuck in your carpets, and if you have rugs that can be washed in the washing machine it will be a cinch to keep clean.
The best carpet cleaning and freshening supplies are products that you probably have at home such as baking soda, white vinegar, salt, dishwashing detergent, and borax. Borax is one of the best products to use to get rid of stains, to keep your carpets smelling fresh, and it is great at keeping fleas away. It is a naturally occurring mineral that is 100% natural, and it isn’t harmful to the environment, to people or to pets.

To keep carpets smelling fresh make a mixture of 1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup borax, and 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil and sprinkle it on your carpets, let it sit for about 15 minutes than vacuum it up. When you spill something on your carpet or your pet has an accident make sure you blot the stain instead of rubbing it so the stain gets soaked up instead of getting rubbed into the carpet fibers. Mix 1 part vinegar and 2 parts warm water in a spray bottle and spray onto the stain then blot it with a clean rag. If the stain is stubborn and needs more work, use warm water and a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Or, you can make a paste of salt, borax and vinegar and let it stand on the stain for a few hours then vacuum it up.

If you have a steam cleaner at home you can add 1/2 cup borax to 1 gallon of hot water and clean away.

You should do a thorough steam clean by a professional company twice a year to keep your carpets clean which will make them last longer.