I don’t like cleaning. At all. Some day, when I can afford it, I will hire someone to clean for me. And I won’t be the person who cleans in advance because I’m embarrassed by how messy my house is. Nope. I will apologize profusely and give them a huge tip. 🙂 Now some people find cleaning to be very zen and relaxing. Not me. I spend hours making my place sparkle to turn around seconds later to find it a disaster. Did I mention I live alone? Well, I live with my cat, Max, but to be completely fair, he’s less of a slob than I am. Even though I may not enjoy cleaning, I do enjoy a clean home, especially a nice-smelling home.
We Are Nose-Blind to How Our Home Smells
Those Febreze commercials make me laugh, but there is also a lot of truth in them too. We do grow accustom (or nose-blind) to our own scent, if we’re being polite and stench, if we’re not. 😀 I don’t think I’m nose-blind to Max’s litter box odors, but other smells, like food, don’t always register until I leave my apartment for a long enough period to really get a good sniff when I come back. It’s one of the bad things about apartments, in particular. Odors just really seem to linger in the air.
Thus, I’ve become a big fan of Febreze. Overall, it does a good job of freshening up my place, but it seems like I go through a ton, because I do. Sometimes I might get a little giddy and spray like my Mama is coming to visit. 🙂 Seriously, though, I do go through an awful lot of Febreze. While I don’t have a problem spending money on a quality product, I’m always open to finding a cheaper alternative too.
I ain’t to proud to DIY, people.
Especially when it saves money for things that matter more to me and only takes 2 minutes to make. I can make this faster than I can drive to Target in LA traffic. Time is money too. And I’m also just really lazy.
Two DIY Febreze Recipes to Suit Your Needs
These recipes are so simple and effective. Both are very affordable with one being extremely low-cost but is not all-natural. If the reason you’re choosing to go DIY is to control the ingredients, then you’ll want to go with the second recipe.
DIY Febreze, Version 1
3 simple ingredients to make your own homemade Febreze for just a fraction of the cost.
Ingredients
- 1/8 cup fabric softener
- 2 Tablespoons baking soda
- Water
- Empty spray bottle (approximately 32 oz)
Directions
Insert a funnel into the top of your spray bottle. Pour fabric softener into the spray bottle, then add baking soda and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Put the cap back on and shake the bottle well.
DIY Febreze, Version 2
An all-natural homemade Febreze that will leave your home smelling great.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of vodka
- 10 drops of your favorite essential oil
Directions
Insert a funnel into a small spray bottle, then pour in the water, vodka and essential oil. Put the cap or lid back on and shake the bottle well.
Special Notes
Febreze does not score high ratings in the Environmental Working Group’s Guide. Most of their products received a D or F. If that is a concern for you, then I would strongly recommend the vodka option because most fabric softeners do not score highly either, unless you use a high-rated natural fabric softener. Also don’t use top-shelf vodka, please. There is no need. The cheap stuff works just fine.
Just like Febreze, test first on an fabrics you are concerned about it leaving a stain. Do not use it on leather, suede or silk or fabrics that may water spot.
Clean-Smelling Home, Money Saved = Win-Win
I love that my home still smells fresh and clean, but I’m not forking out a small fortune every month to buy Febreze. Plus, when I use the vodka version (my preferred) I can also pick the scent. I like lavender, especially for the bedroom but jasmine (my favorite, overall scent) and citrus scents work great too.
Are you nose-blind to how your home smells? What do you do to deodorize it? Febreze, something DIY or something else entirely?
Tanya
those commercials always make me laugh as well, and then make me scared because i am always so paranoid when people come over that my house stinks like cats and i just can’t smell it. thankfully my friends are honest and would tell me. the vodka one is super interesting, i might give it a go (guess i have to buy some vodka! wonder what i will do with the rest, lol).
I hear you, Kristen! I sometimes worry about Max’s litter box but I’m pretty sensitive to that … I think. For me, it’s the stale scent of past meals that seem to linger, forever. What I really like about the vodka recipe is that I control the scent with the essential oil I use. Sometimes, I’m not overly fond of the scent choices in the pre-made air fresheners. And I haven’t the faintest idea what you would do with the leftover vodka! I’m sure you’d find some good use for it. LOL!
I made my own for about 2 years (using the first method). I used to make my own counter spray too. I got tired of it and I switched to Mrs. Meyers and Method products.
Mrs Meyers and Method are two good brands. I still use commercial products on occasion too, because while I ain’t too proud to DIY, I don’t pass up a good bargain on a ready-made freshener either! It’s whatever works the best at the moment.
You had me at vodka, ha! 🙂
What a great idea! I use a spray that is made by J.R. Watkins. It’s a tiny bottle but it does the trick with one or two sprays and it doesn’t give me a headache or a stuffy nose 😉
I’m not familiar with that brand and will have to look for it the next time I’m at Target. It’s nice that it is so effective. It feels like with Febreze, I have to use a ton. It’s also possible that I overspray too. 🙂 And yes – I hate it when cleaners or fresheners or whatever gives me a headache. Frankly, it scares me because that shouldn’t happen!
I wish I had enough money for a maid! That would be the life! My house is always messy, no matter what I do! The litter box is the only smell I really ever notice in my house. It always seems to be so stinky! I too, love Febreeze, but if this homemade version works I may as well do this instead! The first concoction is easily less expensive than buying Febreeze all of the time!
You and me both, Emma. It’s one of my biggest dreams and hopes that some day I will be able to afford a cleaning service. Happy days, indeed! Yeah, the litter box can be so stinky. I love Max and how easy cats are to potty train but litter boxes are still smelly. Yes, the first option is dirt cheap and what I used for many years until I got fussy about the scent. Give it a try and let me know if works for you!