And Some DIY Natural Air Fresheners For Your Home
As spring (finally) sets in, it’s amazing what just opening a window can do for your home, health and happiness. Fresh air can not only help eliminate odors, help to clear out lingering germs and provides you with clean, oxygenated air. In fact, experts advise cracking a window in winter as well even if only for short periods of time. In effect you can significantly improve indoor air quality by reducing pollution from bacteria, mold, dust, mold and fumes from household chemicals.
A breath of fresh air goes a long way but sometimes — with pets, kids, cooking odors, trash and even cleaning chemicals to contend with — you just want a little extra freshening for your home. Rather than reach for that harsh aerosol spray, consider trying one of these DIY all natural air freshener recipes that effectively fight foul fumes just as well.
Do you like a natural and reusable approach to solve household problems? These blog posts are for you: Going Green and Recy-cleaning.
Air freshener recipes
Eucalyptus
Great for the bathroom, with a little wire and a branch or two you can make a wreath for the bathroom. The steam from your shower will release its refreshing scent. You can also try this air freshener with rosemary another herbal variation.
Pomander Balls
Pomander balls are another DIY freshener made of oranges and cloves that you might remember making back in your girl scouts days. But it really is a good old standby for freshening up your home from the kitchen to the closet. Simply stud an orange with cloves, fairly evenly spaced and tight. You can even make it fancy by threading a design around the cloves with a bit of colorful string. Pomander balls can also be hung in the pantry or closet to ward of household pests as the chemicals in cloves act as a natural deterrent.
Rose Water
Rose Water is readily available in many beauty aisles and natural health stores or you can purchase the makings of your own. Add rose petals for an aesthetic look but keep in mind they will need to be changed periodically as they wilt.
Fresh Flowers
Flowers not only brighten and beautify a room but add just a touch of freshening fragrance. That being said, all bouquets are not created equal. A more herbal blend with buds like geranium, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender, in tied bouquets or small bud vases might be most effective air freshener.
Simmer Down
Many common household items can be boiled down and simmered to delight your sense of smell. Try lemon slices and cloves, cinnamon sticks,, vanilla extracts or orange peels. Simply add 1-2 cups of water and boil your own creative combos until you find a signature scent for your home.
Vinegar
A small dish of vinegar can neutralize strong odors from cigarette smoke, cooking smells, mustiness and more. You can also freshen up dresser drawers by placing a deep dish (to prevent spills) with about a half inch of white vinegar and place inside until smells clear. Vinegar is also antibacterial and will disinfect the air naturally. You can also fill an empty spray bottle with one part white vinegar to four parts water and use it to spritz away odors.
Essential Oils
Diffusing essential oils is another popular method and many of these oils also have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. If you don’t have a store-bought diffuser you can boil a pot of water, take it off the heat, and add a few drops of essential oil, such as lemon, lavender or eucalyptus.
Java Juju
Coffee can satisfy more than just your morning caffeine craving. Stimulate your senses with these beautiful beans by setting out a few bowls of fresh ground coffee. You can also place coffee grounds in the bottom of a new garbage bag to help stop smells before they start. If you’re looking for a more decorative display, filling up a decorative bowl or two with the beans then tuck a small vanilla scented tea light into the center to have your house smelling like vanilla latte in no time.
Potpourri
Pot up some potpourri with a blend of dried flowers, herbs, and essential oils (follow instructions for simmering scents).
Purifying Plants
Several different plants are not only natural air fresheners, but purify the air by reducing indoor allergens and pollutants. Some options include the peace lily, spider plants or bamboo palm.
Charcoal
Stash satchels of charcoal around your home as the common cooking component also is known to absorb odors.
DIY Recycled Candle Freshener
Collect the wax from your favorite candles after the wick has burned itself down and place inside of a small mason jar. Using a hammer and nail, punch holes in the lid to allow the fragrance to diffuse. Place in your car or another small space to that needs freshening.
Which of these air freshener recipes will you try out? Do you have other recipes for air fresheners we can craft at home? Share them with us!
References:
www.thespruce.com
www.marthastewart.com
www.hgtv.com
www.pawsandpines.com
www.goodhousekeeping.com