How to Make Your Own Air Fresheners

There are many ways to improve household odors without resorting to using commercial air fresheners. Commercial air fresheners often only mask odors by using harsh chemicals, such as formaldehyde and naphthalene. Here are some ideas for reducing household odors and improving air quality without chemically harming yourself and your family.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Absorb odors in rooms such as the bathroom by placing an open box of baking soda in the room. Placing an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator or freezer also serves an odor neutralizer there.

2. Another simple odor neutralizer option is to place clay cat litter in a cotton bag that has drawstrings or place the litter in a old sock and tie it off. Place the contained litter where you would like odors absorbed, such as the bathroom, closets, drawers, in shoes, etc.

3. Make your own non-toxic air freshener spray by combining a teaspoon of baking soda and the juice of one lemon (about 3 tablespoons or 1.5 fluid ounces of juice) with two cups hot water into a spray bottle that produces a fine mist. This air deodorizer is ready for use when the baking soda has dissolved.

4. The best way to reduce odors in any room of the home, especially the bathroom, is by improving air circulation by opening windows, doors or using ventilation fans to quickly dissipate odors.

5. Burn soy-based candles for a continuous fragrance or use oil diffusers made from essential oils to rid a space of odors. Look for air fresheners that are plant-based.

6. Make your own scented air freshener spray by combining five drops of any essential oils of your choice to one cup of water in a small spray bottle and use as air fresheners.

7. Place a few drops of essential oils onto a regularly used light bulb. The heat from the light bulb will warm the oil releasing its aroma into the air; serving as an air deodorizer.

8. Sprinkle baking soda into trash cans as an odor neutralizer to reduce stale trash odors.

9. Use live plants to improve air quality in your home. People and plants work together as we release carbon dioxide that plants absorb and the plants in turn produce oxygen that improves our air quality to help naturally control odors.
   
   Plants such as the Spider Plant, Peacelily, Chinese Evergreen, Hedera, Arrowhead Vine, Dracaena and Scindapsus are especially beneficial for removing harmful chemicals from the air to serve as a natural air deodorizer.

[lynsuz12]

on 11/22/2009 Going to start making my own air fresheners. Thanks for sharing.5*

[wesellforu]

on 11/17/2009 Great tips for making my own air fresheners. 5*

[kristara]

on 11/17/2009 Great tips for making your own air fresheners 5*

[ccard123]

on 11/10/2009 These are great tips because they allow people to have fresh air in their homes without using harsh chemicals to get it. 5* and recommended.

[sonni57]

on 11/2/2009 Thanks for the good info on making air fresheners.