Glade Shake n Vac / Carpet Freshener Powder - Your Opinions?

[dysonman1]

Powder Carpet Fresheners are essentially "dirt" to both the rug and the vacuum. You pay three times for the powder, once to buy it, once for the vacuum bag that it clogs prematurely, and once when the agitator bearing grease gets filled with it and you need new bearings. I tell everyone NOT to use it.

 

[spiraclean]

Never liked it myself. Some of them smell OK in the container, but get way too overpowering once sprinkled over the carpet. And even with a clean dust bag, once it's been sat in the cleaner for a few days, the scent seems to alter and becomes rather unpleasant to my nose.

Having only tried it on a few occasions, I couldn't say for sure either way whether or not it damages vacuum cleaners over time, so will trust the judgement of the experts on this one. What I do know is that the brushroll, air paths and bag compartment all get covered in a white, powdery film. Any time I receive a used vacuum in this condition, it gets stripped down fully and scrubbed inside and out to get rid of the mess.

A little scent is OK by me, so I do sometimes use drop-in bag fresheners. Oreck original Fresh Air tabs are my current favourite, and have a pleasant rose scent. Sebo citrus capsules are good if you want something a little stronger. What I really miss though are the little green fragrance capsules Vorwerk used to sell. Smelled fantastic, but I've never been able to find anything even remotely similar since they were discontinued and replaced by the square Dovina chips.

 

[ultimatevacman]

I don't use a powder type carpet freshener, but I do use a granulated type one, it doesn't do much, but the carpet smells fresh for a few hours after vacuuming. I think it's called "Neutradol", I could be wrong though.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

Someone reviewed Shake n Vac on a review site (either Ciao or dooyoo) & they described using Shake n Vac as 'sprinkling money onto the floor'

Before I washed all the carpets / rugs in the house if you went over all the carpeted areas in the house with a bagless upright you could have sucked a bin full of it out the carpets. My sister was literally OBSESSED with using it until I persuaded her to stop.

 

[floor-a-matic]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Years ago, I used to use Love My Carpet for deodorising problem carpets.  Now I just rub softener sheets onto the carpet & pick up the sheet with the vacuum (using just the hose & wands)  This way the softener sheet cleans the inside of the hose & gets out any remaining dirt stuck inside.</span>

 

[tjhooverman]

I was told by my D2D Salesman who sold me my Filter Queen Majestic never to use carpet powders. It damages the machine. voids your warranty, it hinders vacuum performance. I saw on Kenmore C canister vacuum bags that dust, or fine powders will hinder performance. I don't believe in using powders. I hate them with a vengeance. I'll put air refresher pellets in the bag or dust bin or I can spray liquid scents on a Filter Queen's felt pad. I agree with you all. carpet powders are bad for your lungs, overpowering, and are bad for pets.

 

[mark40511]

This stuff isn't good

for carpets, vacuums, or your health.

I agree all you need are good cleaning habits.

I do like the good smells but essential oils are great for that instead of the nasty chemicals.

I remember seeing a commercial when Fabreeze(S?) first came out and the first thing that went through my mind after seeing them spray it on pillows, dog beds, mattresses, etc - is what kind of chemicals are you introducing to you and your pets? I've NEVER felt comfortable using any of that stuff.

 

[sebo_fan]

One has to bear in mind that when this powder was released on the market, carpet washers were largely unheard of - so at the time one can only imagine that people were using it to freshen up their fibres. Quite how and why it took so long for someone to invent Febreeze for fabrics like curtains and cushions is beyond me, but fits the similar vein of usage.

Granted though, those furnishings can be washed, but if you have ever used Febreeze spray as it is known for, it can leave materials harder to the touch after a period of time. Thus, both carpet freshening powder and fabric refresher spray isn't always suitable for all general fabrics in the home.[this post was last edited: 6/9/2013-07:04]

 

[suckolux]

I think we just sprinkled baking soda? Back in the 60s we had Host carpet cleaner available, that had a lovely smell.

 

[sebo_fan]

I don't think many Brits did that to be honest. I don't think many gave a second thought about carpet stains unless they had one of those manual Bissell shampooer machines (my gran had two of them - they did an okay job to be honest but if you've had them you'll know they have foam rollers, not bristles) or the canisters of foam cleaning with the plastic static bristle heads on them.

 

[suckolux]

I think our carpets then, damn I remember the big excitement getting wall to wall Dupont 501 Sculpted Antique Gold, I think were a bit tougher to clean. And we only had the Compact straight suction canister.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Those powders are what helped put the end on Connies.

When the cleaner "floats on air", it sends a duststorm all over. I never use it. I know people who put the little cork pellets in their vacuums. It smells nice and doesn't harm anything or anyone.

 

[suckolux]

Now that does sound messy, I admit.

 

[anthony]

shake and vac

cant belive its still around its evil stuff and it dont work it just masks smells the only way to get rid of smells is to clean the dirt away not cover it up sometime in the early 70s i remember my mum and dad taking up the lounge [fitted] carpet taking it outside laying it on the patio my mum then scrubbed it with a hoover polisher fitted with the scrubbing brushes she used ordinary washing powder somthing like Ariel it was then draped over the garden wall where my dad hosed it down with fresh water you could actually see the dirt being flushed out it looked like new after spending all day in the hot sun and all night they brought it back in the house and put it back down it looked great and smelled fresh two years later after 6 kids and a dog had trampled all over it the whole operation was repeated

 

[myles_v]

I've read that carpet freshener powders are full of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). I use Oreck Fresh Air tabs, not sure if they release VOCs or not. My mom uses a little bit of carpet freshener powder on the rugs in her room, and she uses my Hoover T Series to clean it up. It does really does coat the foam pre-motor filter. I've thought about buying a canister of the Oreck carpet freshener crystals and asking her to try that instead of the carpet powder she uses. I really dislike the scent of those freshener powders.

 

[kirbysthebest]

I don't use it. Even in fan first machines, like Kirby, it can damage the motor. The air intake for cooling air is gliding very close to the carpet and is able to suck in the particles that can stick to bearings and motor winding.

 

[richardc1983]

What about bicarbonate of soda?

 

[alexhoovers94]

I have used Glade Shake n' Vac NUMOROUS times and I have to say I have never had an issue with it getting through the bags and filters, not any more than just normal dust would, anyway.

I usually use it when the bag needs to be changed, vacuum it up and then put in a fresh bag and just give it another go over with the machine at maximum efficiency, I do like the novelty of using the stuff and I personally think it smells great, especially the "Magnolia & Vanilla" or "Citrus".

I have found Shake n' Vac to be more of a salt type consistency, than a powder...Using these products once in a while will not hurt your cleaner, they are deffinately more economical to use in a bagless, multi cyclonic cleaner as there is no clogging or wasting bags.

 

[jfalberti]

I remember when I sold Kirby

That Kirby marketed a powdered carpet freshener that was similar to Love My Carpet.  I checked their web site and they still do.  Gotta get those machines in for service somehow!

 

[human]

I've personally never used that crap and have no intention of ever doing so. That shit will absolutely kill a vacuum cleaner and it does stink. My next door neighbor, who is a heavy smoker, uses it and I can smell it outside her front door, even when the door is closed. Ironically, what I smell inside my apartment is the damn smoke from her ciggies.

I've picked up a number of vacuum cleaners from beside the dumpster at my apartment over the years I've lived where I am. I've cleaned them up, used them, passed them on to others, donated them to charity and occasionally sold even one. Every one of them, with maybe one or two exceptions, has been absolutely caked with that stuff. Clearing the vacuum powder out and replacing the bag and the belt is usually all any of them need, although the damage is quite evident when compared to a machine that has never been exposed to it.