How to Make Homemade Natural Febreze
We all want our homes to smell good, but air fresheners like Febreze can hide some seriously dangerous chemicals. Learn how to make homemade natural Febreze so you can enjoy a fresh scent around your house without harming your health or the health of your family.
Is Febreze Toxic?
Febreze is a very popular air freshener. Yet it’s loaded with toxic chemicals that can cause real harm when you breathe them in. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) grades Febreze products anywhere from a C to an F.
The main concern with Febreze is its ingredients. Here are just some of the dangerous ingredients that might be in a bottle of Febreze:
- Cyclodextrin– Can cause damage to vision.
- Benzisothiazolinone– Moderate concern for aquatic toxicity and some concern for skin allergies and irritation and developmental or reproductive effects.
- Dialkyl sulfosuccinates– Some concern for developmental and reproductive effects, can cause damage to vision, and can irritate skin and allergies.
- Deodorizing agent– This is a non-specified ingredient that could hide other ingredients known to cause damage to the skin, reproductive system, and other organs.
- Fragrance– Just like deodorizing agent, putting the word “fragrance” on a label could hide hundreds of other ingredients that can cause serious harm to your health.
Related: The Scary Secret Hiding in Common Cleaning Products
Making Your Own Homemade Natural Febreze
Now that you know about the dangers of air fresheners like Febreze, it’s easy to understand why you should make your own. Just follow these simple steps and ingredients to make your own homemade natural Febreze.
Ingredients
- 16-ounce glass spray bottle
- 2 cups of distilled water
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- 10 drops of your choice of essential oils
Directions
- Put the baking soda in a bowl, put the drops of essential oils on top, and use a fork to mix them together.
- Use a funnel to pour the baking soda mixture into the glass spray bottle, then add the distilled water.
- Gently shake to combine the ingredients.
- Spray anywhere you want to freshen the air.
Essential Oil Blends
The great thing about this homemade natural Febreze is that you can customize the scent by using essential oil blends. Here are some of my favorite combinations:
Clean Home
Odor Buster
- 5 drops of lemon
- 3 drops of lime
- 3 drops of lavender
- 2 drops of peppermint
Walk in the Woods
- 5 drops of lemon
- 3 drops of frankincense
- 2 drop of clove
Spring Clean
- 4 drops of lemon
- 4 drops of sweet orange
- 2 drops of geranium
Homemade Natural Febreze Without Fabric Softener
You’ll notice that some recipes for homemade natural Febreze use fabric softener, but this one doesn’t. That’s because fabric softener has some of the same health concerns as air fresheners.
Fabric softeners can contain phthalates, quaternary ammonium compounds, and other chemicals that can trigger asthma, cause harm to our reproductive systems, and damage our kidneys, liver, and lungs.
If you’re interested in completely removing fabric softeners from your life, check out these tips for how to make an eco-friendly laundry room.
Related: The Best Non-Toxic Mattress for Healthy Sleep
Homemade Natural Febreze
You don’t have to worry about unpleasant odors in your home. Thanks to this homemade natural Febreze, you can banish those odors and breathe safely.
More Eco-Friendly Tips
Now that you see how easy it is to make homemade natural Febreze, are you interested in even more eco-friendly living tips? Then be sure to check out some of our other popular posts:
- Homemade Tile Floor Cleaner
- Reusable Disinfecting Wipes
- Homemade Dusting Spray
- Homemade Furniture Polish
Can you use this recipe on soft furnishings like sofas and cushions?
You should have no issues using this on soft furnishings. I would test it in an inconspicuous spot on your furniture first, just to make sure it doesn’t stain the fabric.