I love having an easy way to freshen my linens, upholstery, curtains, etc. in between regular washings. But I don’t like using products with questionable ingredients that might negatively affect my family’s health. So I made my own homemade Febreze ®! It’s cheap, easy, and effective.
Homemade Febreze: Multi-purpose freshener
When I was in college, Febreze® was as much a staple in our dorm room as soap. Truth be told, we probably depended on Febreze a little more than we should have. Why go to all the trouble of actually washing your sheets when you can just spray them in 5 seconds?
Now that I am a certifiable adult (37 counts as an adult, right?), I’ve learned there are actually legitimate uses of Febreze—it’s not just for lazy college students (and yes, I do wash my sheets on a regular basis now too).
Febreze and other fabric fresheners can help to eliminate odors and allergens on rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, pillows, shower curtains, bath mats, car seats, sports pads, and stuffed animals.
And best of all, you can make your own homemade Febreze for very cheap.
You just need a few ingredients…
Vodka?
Believe it or not, vodka isn’t just for Bloody Marys and Cosmopolitans. Diluted vodka is great for removing odors, removing sticky residue, and even acting as a window cleaner.
Sure, a pantry full of Popov vodka is a little more difficult to explain than some Windex or Febreze, but what a great conversation starter.
Witch hazel?
Witch hazel is a liquid distilled from the leaves, bark, and twigs of the witch hazel plant and has many uses. Because of its antibacterial properties, it can help to eliminate odors and keep odors from returning.
Essential oils?
Essential oils (also called volatile oils) are can have many different properties depending on the oil you choose. In this recipe, we recommend using lemon. It not only will give your fabric a lemony scent, it is great for general detoxing and is a natural mood booster.
Homemade Febreze
Ingredients
- 1½ cups distilled water
- ¼ cup vodka or witch hazel
- 30 drops lemon essential oil
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a glass spray bottle and shake well.
- Shake well before each use.
- Store in a cool, dry place.
Free Download: Mom’s Essential Oil Cheat Sheet
Would you like a resource to help you learn to use essential oils with your family? Download this free 3-page printable:
- Basic guidelines for using essential oils around kids
- A list of safe, kid-friendly oils essential oils
- Helpful essential oil recipes
Click the link or image below to download the 3-page Mom’s Essential Oil Cheat Sheet. I’ll follow it up with more resources and free printables to help you on your essential oil journey. Grab your copy now!
Your homemade recipe is much better than the commercial chemical one. Will be sharing. Thanks for sharing on Let’s Get Real Friday Link Party.
Trying this on the beastly smell in our car.
Let me know how it works 🙂
Do you have a recipe for DIY laundry detergent and fabric softener using essential oils? Currently I just add EO to the spin cycle and a few drops on a wet sock or cloth for the dryer. But It doesn’t smell as strong as I would like.
Thank you
I don’t. I personally use doTERRAs onGuard infused laundry detergent and just use vinegar for for my fabric softener. Fabric softener has TONS of chemicals in it and isn’t all that great for your washing machine. I usually add several drops of essential oils to each of my dryer balls and I get a nice scent on my clothes. While for most things I use high quality oils, for this I use the cheapest oils I can find because the heat breaks down the integrity of the oils and they’re not being used therapeutically, just for the scent.
I’m not really a fan of lemon as a scent. Is there anything else I could use that has similar properties?