Make All Natural Air Fresheners

1. 1
   Lemons

   .

   Lemon is arguably the most versatile of all fruits.  

   1. Use it to remove seafood smells off your hands; just rub them briskly with lemons.
   2. When your garbage bin starts to stink, simply throw some lemon slices (or peels) into the bin and close it. The citrus smell of lemon will drown the stinky smell in no time.
   3. For cheap home deodorizing action, simply dissolve one-eighth cup of baking soda in two cups of hot water and a full cap of lemon juice for a wonderful air freshener.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   Vinegar

   .

   Vinegar is absolutely one of the most utilized inexpensive air fresheners we as homeowners can use.  

   1. Pour distilled white vinegar in your spray bottle and use in problematic areas. The vinegar's scent may be overpowering at first, although as it evaporates, it will take the nasty odors with it.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   Potpourri

   .

   You can use potpourri in many ways, especially for an all-natural freshener.  

   1. Prepare a brown bag, premium-dried flowers (hibiscus, passion), orange peel, orris root, juniper berries, sandalwood, and orange scented essential oil. The great news is, you can find all of these organic ingredients in a natural herb/health food store.
   2. Note: Orris Root Powder is great for holding all the rest of the scents and keeping them active longer.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   Ground Coffee

   .

    

   1. To utilize coffee grounds for an air freshener, just let them dry out (this important step avoids mold) before putting it in a bowl or wrapping in an old stocking.
   2. You can now place it in an area that you want to freshen.
   3. If you're not a coffee drinker, however, just visit a nearby coffee joint and ask if you can have some of their used coffee grounds. That being said, if you aren't a coffee drinker, you probably won't savour the scent the way coffee drinkers will.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   Vodka

   .

   The reason why vodka makes such a great air freshener is because it contains ethyl alcohol, which is the main ingredient in store bought, chemical/synthetic fresheners. When it dries, it leaves no trace of smell. You can also enhance the smell of a vodka air freshener with an essential oil try about 25 drops. In theatrical productions, wardrobe workers will spray vodka and water on costumes to remove the scent of body odor, when the costumed cannot be cleaned daily.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
6. 6
   Citrus and Spices

   .

    

   1. For this freshener, bring a pot of orange or lemon rinds and peels to a brisk boil.
   2. Add few cinnamon sticks or cloves, and you will instantly enjoy the fresh, festive fall-like smell it sends throughout your home.
   3. This freshener begins to work immediately, even while you're boiling it, and it can last for a long while as you can boil it up to three times.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
7. 7
   Essential Oils

   .

   Essential oils are the most important part of several natural air fresheners, as it gives the base a more pleasant smell. Besides vodka and potpourri, you can also add essential oils to anything like homemade candles, for example. -

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

While these natural air-fresheners are all well and good, they are temporary solutions to a much bigger issue. These recipes only "mask" the nasty smell. The source of the smell is still there. If you really want your home to smell fresh (virtually smell like "nothing"), then you need a house that is clean and fresh. Here are a few suggestions that might help:

• Empty your garbage bins often, especially meat that will rot and putrefy food items.
• Compostable foods should go in the compost bin in the yard as soon as possible.
• Deodorize your carpets and upholstery by cleaning them regularly.
• Vacuum daily to remove dirt and odor from carpets.
• Don't wear shoes in the house.
• Don't smoke inside your house.
• Always open windows to let fresh air in. Do this as often as you can when the weather permits.
• Use bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to get rid of odors and moisture from the home.
• Manage your pets properly. Empty litter boxes and clean pets' paws after they've been outdoors.

There arguably are hundreds of chemicals found in commercial air fresheners that can negatively affect a person's health. Just recently, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit American health group that promotes health protection, found 87 chemicals in Febreze Air Effects - need we say more?

• Ethyl acetate: A neurotoxin (affects the brain), this can be also linked to developmental and reproductive issues.
• Benzaldehyde: A neurotoxin as well, this affects the hair, skin, lung, and eyes.
• 1,3-Dichloro-2-propanol: This toxin can cause cancer.
• Limonene: A potent allergen and an immune system toxin. It is also an irritant to the eyes, skin, and even lungs.
• Acetaldehyde: This is a widely known carcinogen that adversely affects the reproductive and development of a human's immune system. It can also irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs.
• Fragrance: This is arguably the most generalized term that contains up to 400 diverse ingredients, most of which can have a list of health concerns ranging from depression to headaches to skin irritations and even more.
• Propylene Glycol: A widely known carcinogen, propylene glycol is highly toxic to the immune system, it is also linked to allergies as it can accumulate in the body and irritate a person's skin, eyes, and lungs.
• Methyl pyrrolidone: A reproductive system toxin which is linked to potential birth defects, allergies, body's immune system toxicity, and irritation to skin, eyes, and lung.
• Alcohol, denatured: Alcohol in this particular form is linked to cancer, organ system toxicity, birth defects, and skin, eyes, and lung irritations.
• Butylphenyl methylpropional: This is widely known allergen, irritant, and an immune system toxin.

So, I bet you're way more motivated to make your own natural air fresheners now.

Natural deodorizers bins home made?

You can wrap orange or lemon peels onto a meshed fabric and put them in a small container with an open top. It will emit really good smell and is known to reduce offensive smells at home.

You can also put charcoal onto a small pot and just leave it exposed. Charcoal is known to absorb foul odors. With not much effort, you will notice that the air around your house has been deodorized.

What are the basic compounds in air fresheners?

What kind of role played by chemicals i.e. DEP and JOJOBA in room fresheners?

DEP is a phthalate used for its syrupy consistency in air fresheners. There are many warnings about the use of DEP this way as it enters our atmosphere and some studies suggest it wreaks havoc on human hormones. Jojoba is an all natural carrier oil and safe to the environment and mankind.

How does one prevent and/or remove unpleasant odors after a bowel movement?

I do not see how spraying something in the toilet bowl works, because the second the feces hits the air moving from the body to the water in the bowl it has already emitted its unpleasant odor. I have tried: Essential oils, typical air freshener sprays, etc. (the usual). I think it was caused by: I would prefer not to put anything into the air therefore inhaling or breathing something worse than the unpleasant odor I am trying to cover.

The Poo Pourri method works because you spray it in the toilet BEFORE you use the facilities. The smell will be eradicated immediately. You can pick an essential oil that you do like. There are so many essential oil scents now so it is not just flowers and food smells like sugar cookies.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

Comments