Homemade "Febreeze"

Very cheap alternative to febreeze that WORKS. Been using for a long time.

Step 1: Get an empty spray bottle

You can use the empty febreeze bottle, or buy an empty new bottle at almost any store. i got mine at the dollar store :)

Step 2: Add water

Add about 1 1/2 cups water to the spray bottle

Step 3: Add baking soda

Add one Tablespoon of baking soda. Cheap stuff works. I have also tried white vinegar. Works well if you are afraid the spray will leave spots on your fabric.

Step 4: Add fabric softener

Add about 1-2 Table spoons of your favorite fabric softener. I recently tried Tide Natruals, its been my favorite so far, but the cheap stuff works too.

Step 5: Shake well

After all the ingredients have been added, shake well. Also Shake before each use.

Step 6: Spray everywhere

Spray onto carpets, clothes, blankets, or anywhere that needs freshening. I use it daily, on all the fabrics in my home. Sometimes it leaves spots on hard surfaces, but easly wipe off with a damp rag. Hope this helps you guys, I had a very smelly room mate, and i always sprayed this stuff in our room and it helped out tons!
Recipe can be doubled, tripled etc.

Comments

[Glenda Marie]

I used Downey! I love it!

[brhinehart]

If you add baking soda to any of these solutions that have vinegar in them you're probably going to have a mess when it starts foaming up.......I'm going to try the cornstarch with the vinegar and fabric softener......I have used the softener, vinegar and water for wrinkle release spray and it's great....just a heads up on the vinegar/baking soda reaction! :)

[Sunsun34]

In the theatre, there isn't time to wash. Costumes at the end of each performance. What is done instead is the underarm area of the garments are swagger with a cloth dipped in alcohol or vodka. The actors sweat quite a bit because of the hot lights and exertion, and also mor the most part only one of each costume is made. What I am getting at is I think the alcohol is a very good suggestion to whoever added that!

[Sunsun34]

little miss caps lock needs to stop shouting.

[nikholemarie]

i personally tried a different recipei with one key ingredient! rubbing alcohol. about 1/4 to 1/2 cup.  i know your thinking it will bleach the fab. but it wont. the purpose of the alcohol is to make the water and other liquid contents evaporate more quickly. give it a shot. (in industrial settings they add it to mop water, window cleaner, and carpet cleaning solution to make it dry faster so they dont have to block rooms off for hours-its called QUICK DRI) P.S.  MY RECIPIE: 1/2 CUP LAUNDRY DETERGENT (CUTS GREASE AND DISENFECTS) 1/4 CUP 3% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (ANTI-GERM, ANTI-FUNGAL, ANTI-MOLD, AND BACTERIAL) 1/4 CUP RUBBING ALCOHOL (QUICK DRY) 2 CUPS WATER. *CLEANS AND DIS-INFECTS AIR AND FABRICS.*

[peapeam]

Thanks for that info. Too bad I didn't read it until I commented above... ;) Thanks for your recipe... :)

[nikholemarie]

IM GOING TO USE 1 1/2 WATER AND 1/2 CUP VIN. IN MY NEXT BATCH BECAUSE I HAVE USED VIN. TO CUT ODERS BEFORE. THE ACID IN THE VIN. KILLS THE ODERS.

[owendrake]

I know this thread/post is kind of old but I have some information about your post nikholemarie. Don't use vinegar in addition to the recipe posted in this instructable. You have to choose between either peroxide or vinegar. The reason for this is explained in this quote from another site I found while researching this.

"When cleaning with vinegar, make sure that it does not come in contact with hydrogen peroxide. Mixing the two will create Peracetic Acid (C2H4O3).

The toxicity of Peracetic Acid is low. However, peracids are extremely irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. It has a strong oxidizing potential, is highly corrosive, and can explode at temperatures exceeding 110ºC."

[nature223]

actually6 Fabreze has a corn starch derivitive that ENVELOPES the scent molecules. and stops them from outgassing their respective odors.. I'll just keep buying Fabreze,the scent that they use doesnt mess with my alergies unlike some other commercial products do. also Fabreze DOES work as advertised.

[peapeam]

If you make your own with a fabric softener that is OK with your allergies, I can't imagine that you'll react to this one... I wouldn't be surprised if baking soda has very similar properties to the corn starch derivative that is used in Febreeze. I make all the cleaners etc. I can myself, and it saves me a lot of money during a year. E.g. a bottle of isopropyl alcohol and some dishwashing liquid gets me huge amounts of bathroom cleaner (for the porcelain) and window cleaner. Works real great! I add a tiny amount of food coloring too, so it even looks like the pro stuff. Since I started using my own in the bathroom, the sink etc. has never been so shiny, it is better than the stuff I used to use (which was a professional cleaner series). But of course, if you prefer buying stuff, that's up to you... Never tried alcohol to remove odors though as some here use...

[nikholemarie]

IF YOU LOOK UP CLEANING WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE YOU MIGHT JUST FIND THAT THIS RECIPIE ALONG WITH SOME ADDED PEROXIDE WOULD BE HEALTHIER AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND "ENVELOPES" THE SCENT MOLECULES AND KILLS THEM. IT DOESNT JUST WRAP ITS SELF AROUND IT TILL IT DISIPATES. AND USE THE LAUNDRY DETERGENT OR SOFTNER YOU USE EVERYDAY AND IT WONT MESS WITH YOU EITHER. DO YOU WORK FOR FABREZE OR SOMETHING? TAKING IT AWEFULLY PERSONALLY NOW ARENT YOU? LOL, BUT SERIOUSLY, CHECK IT OUT.

[peapeam]

Wouldn't spraying hydrogen peroxide on textiles (as many uses it on, e.g. pet textiles, curtains etc) be risky? After all, it is a bleaching agent... I would be scared of doing that. Instead of peroxide, I would rather add some alcohol.

[SKORPIO71]

GREAT! I added a little more fabric softener, my dog is pretty stinky! Works great on pet odors. I spent a little over 5 bucks and I will get at least 10 bottles what a savings! THANKS WHOLE BUNCHES!!!

[nikholemarie]

YOU SHOULD PUT A DRYER SHEET (SAME SCENT MAKES IT ALL MATCH) IN THE BAG/CANISTER OF YOUR VACUUM, WHEN YOU PICK UP PET HAIR, YOU WILL FRESHEN AIR AT SAME TIME AND NO MORE PET SEMLL IN YOUR VAC! (COTTAGE CARE HOME CLEANERS TRICK)

[acidbass]

have you ever thought of turning you caps lock off

[Lost Moai]

Cheap vodka works surprisingly well, too. It's excellent at removing smoke odors.

[nikholemarie]

RUBBING ALCOHOL IS EVEN CHEAPER. AND MAKES LIQUIDS EVAPORATE FAST.

[w00ty32]

ahh, cheap vodka. works amazingly well on disgusting hockey/football gear. and its in a convenient container for shots!

[cpotoso]

Another good way is to drink it (and then you can't tell there is a bad smell anymore) :)

[bedeboop]

I am all for using homemade recipes for items like this. 1. Non-toxic and as I get older I am finding more things I react to due to allergies not to mention adding toxins to the environment. 2. I like the idea of saving money 3. It helps the environment by using a plastic bottle more than once. I'm gonna give it a shot. :)

[Gadeeka]

We could go ever farther and add the fabric softener to the vodka. I think I've just come up with a new shot that will deodorize fabric, and leave you smelling good on the inside as well.

[Firebert010]

For all those who don't want to go to the store and pay the three bucks for the actual stuff, there's this. Cool idea, however I'd put in more baking soda, this stuff is great for getting rid of odors.

[susanfromhauntspace]

cool, i can't wait to try this!

[aliceownsj00]

genius! We have all those things and I've been thinking to myself, 'I could use some febreeze'

[GorillazMiko]

Smart! Could have better pictures, but at least I get it. Add fabric softener, baking soda, water, blah blah-- seems easy. Cool Instructable!