Carpet deodorising powders are marketed as a fast and effective way to eliminate odours lurking in carpets. However, the reality is that as fresh as these fragrances smell, they can actually damage your carpet. In this article, we’ll explore how they do this.
The instructions for using carpet powder deodorisers are really straightforward.
i) Sprinkle the powder over the area that the odour is emanating from.
ii) After a few minutes vacuum the carpet to remove the powder.
iii) Enjoy your fresh smelling carpet.
The problem here is that your typical household vacuum cleaner will not be able to remove all of the carpet powder particles, and they will remain in your carpet. Whenever you walk on the carpet these powder particles will rub against the carpet fibres, wearing them down over time. So it’s a short term gain vs long-term pain situation for your carpet fibres (well, that’s what they would say if they could talk!).
Unfortunately, the damage doesn’t stop there. If you suffer from allergies or breathing problems you need to be extra careful when using these powders. The reason being they can trigger allergic reactions, such as sneezing, teary eyes, coughing and even rashes if they come into contact with skin. They have been known to cause asthma attacks in asthma sufferers, so if you are one you’ll need to be extra careful if you decide to purchase one of these products.
As I mentioned earlier, your typical household vacuum cleaner will not be able to pick up all of the powder sprinkled over the carpet. As a result, pets may come into contact with the powder and ingest it, which could lead to them getting sick. There are a number of stories where this has happened littered all over the internet.
Carpet deodorising powder only masks any smells it’s been used to treat, so you’ll have to sprinkle it down when the smell returns, constantly exposing yourself, loved ones and pets to the powder. It’s a temporary solution.
Hiring the services of a professional carpet cleaner in Milton Keynes is more expensive, but a much safer bet.
If your carpet has started to smell as a result of a spill or something else, give us a call, we may be able to help. Let our professionals do the job so you don’t inadvertently cause more problems, such as carpet shrinkage from overwetting it. We’re waiting for your call!