3 Tips to Remove Odors from Fabrics the DIY Way
You know those commercials where a family is sitting around their (apparently) smelly house, and then mom comes in and sprays some Febreze through the air or all over the furniture? And everyone takes a deep breath in to enjoy that fresh fragrance? Ahhh….chemical deodorizers!
With all of the unpronounceable ingredients on the average fabric refresher label, I’d rather not breathe it in. Or spray it anywhere near my kids and pets for that matter. Luckily, there are several inexpensive, all-natural ways to freshen up your fabric. And you can rest assured that you can safely take a deep breath around all of them!
Make Your Own Fabric Refresher Spray
If you’re interested in making your own version of those popular fabric sprays, give this recipe a try. Next to each ingredient, I’ve listed what its purpose is in this recipe.
- 1 cup of vinegar (deodorizer)
- 1 cup of water (carrier)
- ½ teaspoon of vegetable glycerin (helps emulsify the essential oils so they don’t just float on top of the mixture)
- ½ teaspoon of essential oil (use whichever scent you like best, or mix a couple of different oils to make your own custom blend)
Add all of the ingredients to a spray bottle, give it a shake to combine everything, then spray away. This works well as both a fabric refresher and as an all natural air freshener.
Use Baking Soda to Remove Odors
One of the simplest ways to remove odors from large fabric items, such as upholstered furniture or for an effective carpet deodorizer, is to simply shake baking soda liberally over the item. Then, let it sit for at least 30 minutes. The baking soda will absorb odors (it works just as well on your carpeting as it does in your refrigerator!), and you can just vacuum it up after the 30 minutes are up.
Tip: To add some scent to your baking soda deodorizer, simply add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the soda, and mix it well.
Make Sachets
This may be an old-fashioned tip, but it really works. A small sachet of lavender buds, tucked under the cushions of your sofa, will keep it smelling fresh. A few ideas for homemade sachets using dried herbs and flowers:
Tip: To make a really simple sachet, simply add your herbs or dried flowers to the center of a handkerchief or any other small piece of fabric, then draw up the corners and tie them together.
With these tips at your disposal, you can keep your home smelling fresh and clean, naturally.
Related on Organic Authority
Nix Pet Odors with These 9 Easy Home Remedies
4 Natural Home Fragrance Solutions to Remove Unwanted Odors, Fast
How to Make Homemade DIY Linen Spray