Introduction: Super-Citrusy Room and Linen Spray
Don't throw out the perfectly good spray bottles that perfumes or other over-priced beauty products are sold in. We probably pay more for that bottle than for the product anyway! Instead, reuse the packaging to make new, and adorable, cleaning products.
This project is a great room or linen spray on it's own, or a base for something a little more elaborate. And since it is just citrus and vodka, if you like, it could also make a nice additional to your bar : )
The vodka and citrus fruits have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that will freshen up a room or closet without additional chemicals.
Ingredients
Lemons
Limes
Oranges
Vodka
Water
Materials
Empty Perfume Bottle (Spray bottle)
Jar (Reused food jar)
Tools
Knife
Cutting Board
Steps
- Remove label from bottle (the vodka helps with this as well).
- Slice rind of lemon, lime and orange. Just using the rind will minimize the amount of sugar that gets into the spray.
- Put rinds in a jar and fill with vodka.
- Cover and let sit for a few days.
- Remove a few pieces of rind and cut into very thin strips.
- Put thin strips in the spray bottle. This will not only look lovely, but continues the infusing process.
- Fill half of the spray bottle with the vodka mix and the rest with water.
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23 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
If I will use ethyl alcohol, with 70 or 75%.. is it ok?...
11 years ago on Introduction
hey annahowardshaw, i made one for myself, used 5% vodka, a mixture of orange and grapefruit rinds...my problem is it doesnt smell so good... i was thinkin if its because i mixed fresh and ripe rinds... please help...
also, im thinking if its possible to ethyl alcohol instead of vodka...
what do you think?
thanks in advance...
11 years ago on Introduction
hmmm....how about flavored vodkas?
11 years ago on Introduction
Could prob also be a body spray, right? (I LOOOOVE citrus smells!)
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
i bought a jar of a product like this, made with grapefruit and keep it in the frig. its a wonderful refresher during the hot summer! p.s. its lasted almost 5 years, since it takes very little to make you feel fresh.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Good idea! I don't see why that wouldn't work. The only thing is that I'm not sure how long the scent would last or how that might relate to infusion time.
Oh, and brand of vodka might come into play in terms of how strong the smell of the alcohol is and if it lingers at all.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Also the pure alcohol may dry your skin more than you want it to. Be sure to also use some sort of moisturizer!
11 years ago on Introduction
Hey I was wondering if you could use tequila for this? I don't really drink much so all I have is a bottle of tequila left over from New Years lol
11 years ago on Introduction
hey so ic ould use rubbing alchol
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
No! Rubbing alcohol would be okay for surface cleaning (which you could also use this for), but since it should not be inhaled and can cause skin irritation, spraying it around a room would no be advisable. Even if it evaporates quickly, and doesn't pose too much a hazard, it does has a stronger smell, so it may overpower any other scent anyway.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
From an organic chemistry point of view, Rubbing alcohol (iso-propanol) would dissolve the oils in the lemons better than ethanol, but as you said; it's not really very good for you...
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
what could i use i cant ude vodca suggjestens
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
You could add the lemon/lime rinds to water to infuse, but I think it would be far less concentrated. You could add some additional essential oil to make up for it. Citrus does have disinfectant qualities on its own, so there would still be that element, but again, just not as strong.
If I find a better alternative, I'll let you know!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
ok thanks
11 years ago on Introduction
Thanks for sharing
My question is that if there is a risk of, with the time, the linen ends up stained... I mean, if I moisture it up and ironed and let them for weeks in the closet, could it stain? (If I wrote something wrong, please, excuse that messy english of mine, it's, of course, not mother language)
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
You wouldn't use enough to actually dampen the sheets at all. You'd only used a few sprays either in the dryer or a few inches above the sheets on the bed. The alcohol will evaporate pretty quickly.
You could also use fewer citrus rinds to reduce the risk further.
And if you have delicate and/or expensive fabrics, I would do more research before just trusting me : )
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Thanks for the explanation, I'll try with a little more precaution, then
*Ü*
11 years ago on Introduction
could you use rum?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I think rum has more sugar, so I wouldn't! If you were going to you'd want a high alcohol percentage and obviously, white rum over dark.
11 years ago on Introduction
Just wondering...can you use rubbing alcohol instead of Vodka. I can drink the Vodka while making this! :)