Hello! Welcome back to another cleaning article! Today we want to talk about DIY natural air fresheners for your home.
First of all, we all love a house with a nice fragrance. It has the power of making us feel better right away! It improves our mood and we automatically think that a house that smells good must be clean and tidy as well, even if it isn’t.
Many people enjoy using commercial air fresheners. And we can’t blame them: they smell nice and they are easy to use and affordable. However, you might find that they’re not as safe as you think and that their effect is not long-lasting.
There are many DIY natural air fresheners you can use at home. In this article, we will talk about some of them and give you ideas for you to try your own combinations.
As always, feel free to check our main page if you need a cleaning service in Dallas. We promise you, your home will smell amazing after our cleaning service!
DIY Natural Air Freshener #1: Essential Oils
The first DIY natural air freshener e can suggest are essential oils.
Many essential oils that come from plants or fruits are particularly nice to smell. Some great examples are lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus. Tea tree oil, for example, also have natural antibacterial properties.
Essential oils can be used in many ways. You can add a few drops directly into a water bottle, along with other cleaning agents (e.g. white vinegar or all-purpose soap). This works great for many surfaces such as floors and countertops.
Our fellas from Emily’s Maids created a two-part blog section with the cleaning benefits of using essential oils. Check Part I and Part II if you want to read more about essential oils!
If you have pets, make sure you do some research first and check with your vet if it is safe to use essential oils around your household. Dogs and cats (among other pets) can react negatively to some essential oils, so keep that in mind before buying them or trying any DIY natural air freshener.
Last but not least, keep in mind that some surfaces do not react well with essential oils. They are concentrated, acidic liquids that can cause stains or color fading, especially on sensitive surfaces such as granite or hardwood. Always test in a small, hidden area first.
Related: 7 Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Your Home
DIY Natural Air Freshener #2: Lemon and Baking Soda
Lemon and baking soda are two powerful air fresheners.
baking soda is great at absorbing odors and removing them from the environment.
If you want to try this mix, start by cutting a lemon in half. Sprinkle baking soda on the cut side.
Place the two lemon halves in a bowl or plate and leave them in the room for several hours. You can add a few drops of lemon essential oil as well.
If you want to turn this into a spray, just add two cups of warm water and turn the lemon into lemon juice.
Related: Magic Powders: Baking Soda and It’s Endless Purposes
Beeswax Can Be a Great Air Freshener
Beeswax candles are great natural air fresheners as well. This is because they release negative ions. They help neutralize pollutants and allergens in the air.
However, make sure you choose candles made with natural beeswax and essential oils. Synthetic beeswax mimic the properties of natural beeswax but it’s just not the same.
Even if you don’t have candles, you can create your own DIY beeswax air freshener.
You can start by melting beeswax and soy wax combined, or just beeswax. Pour 1 cup soy wax, 1/2 cup beeswax, 1 tablespoon essential oils and a double boiler. You can throw some dried herbs as well.
Place the soywax and beeswax in your double boiler (medium heat) until you melt the wax.
Remove from the heat and allow the wax to cool off. Add the essential oils and herbs and stir.
Pour into a silicone mold and let cool. Remove them slowly once they have completely cooled down. There you have it!
You can quickly modify this mix and create a candle instead. Replace soy wax with 1/2 cup of coconut oil because it will burn slower.
Just add a candle wick and a bamboo skewer to hold in place. You are going to need small jason jars instead of a silicone mold as well.
Related: How To Remove Mold And Mildew From Your Home
Use Plants as Air Fresheners
We have always known that plants are great air purifiers. The snake plant, the spider plant and the bamboo palm are some examples.
Besides removing carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen instead, they also remove other toxins. Remember that the air is filled with dust and microorganisms that can cause allergic reactions or give you a cold, for example.
Some plants such as lavender and gardenias also bright a pleasant fragrance to your home.
Place your plants in areas where air circulates poorly, such as corners or laundry rooms. If you live Dallas, you already know air quality is not the best, so you might want to place plants near windows to absorb pollutants.
You can use essential oils on your plants too! Just add a few drops of essential oils to water and spritz the solution onto the leaves of your plants. Some of them can stop fungi from growing in your plants and they will release a pleasant fragrance too.
Of course, remember to bring indoor plants into your home if you have the time and energy to take care of them!
If you love cooking, you can create a herb garden! Herbs like rosemary, lavender, thyme, and mint smell great and can be used for cooking or baking.
And they are also natural air fresheners! It’s a win-win scenario.
Related: 7 Steps to a Clean Smelling House
Homemade Potpourri is One of Our Favorites Air Fresheners
One of the most well-known recipes to create a DIY natural air freshener is to make a homemade potpourri.
You just need to combine dried herbs and flowers. As we were mentioning earlier, plants are great natural air fresheners. And you can use dried flowers and herbs to create a homemade potpourri!
Popular options include lavender, rose petals and cinnamon sticks. You can use dried-out orange peels or drops of essential oils as well. Place them in a bowl or jar and near a well-ventilated area in your home.
Conclusion
Air fresheners help you keep your home smelling wonderful. We hope these DIY natural air fresheners work for you and, as always, you can create your very own mixes! Just as long as it works for you, it will be ok.
Remember that your home needs to be cleaned first if you want your favorite fragrances to stay in the air more time and not get mixed with the smell of your carpet floors or your furniture.
As always, visit Dallas Maids if you need a cleaning service to help you deep clean your home and bring a new vibe into your household.
We’ll be back soon with more cleaning tips!