Homemade Fabric Freshener

By Deeli from Richland, WA

Archives: Tip: Homemade Febreze Archived on 07/07/2009 I love using Febreze Fabric Freshener but have found it to be quite expensive when used constantly. So, I decided to make my own Fabric Freshener and it is less costly. You will need: Spray Bottle (I use an empty Febreze one) Liquid Fabric Softener Take Fabric softener and fill it 3/4 full. Then add the rest with water and shake a bit. You now have Fabric Freshener that is as good if not better then the original Febreze. The scent also lasts much longer and is a great efficient way of always having this on hand. Spray away and be happy. Carolyn from E Northport, NY Feedback: RE: Homemade Febreze Is this recipe for Febreze safe for fabrics, such as curtains and slipcovers? It sounds wonderful and so easy! Thank you. (02/15/2007) By Laurie Keenan RE: Homemade Febreze It amazes me that people buy this type of product. Febreze is chock full of chemicals. In fact, so full of chems that it is known to cause household birds to DIE. Given that fact, do you think it is that good for humans? Same thing with Teflon/non stick surfaces, folks! (gases are released and has caused birds to die) Being married to a chemically sensitive husband, we have had to forego with the vast majority of chemicals in our lives. Things with scents, including those plug in devices, fabric softener, etc, all have pthalates which interfere with the body's hormones. I would think twice before spraying this product around just to make things smell nice or as a cover up. Those who have suggested baking soda are on the right track. If you NEED scent, add some essential oils. Think about guests entering your homes. We avoid places that are sprayed with anything. (02/15/2007) By Lois Ann from New York RE: Homemade Febreze I guess it's okay but I found that it makes the curtains somewhat stiff. It washes out but my cotton curtains were horrible. (02/15/2007) RE: Homemade Febreze Now I can experiment with the water ratio and the Fabric Softener I accidentally bought on sale, instead of detergent by the same mfg. God bless you. : ) (02/16/2007) By Lynda RE: Homemade Febreze This will remove wall paper as well! (02/16/2007) By Karen Chemical Sensitivity To Lois Ann or anyone else with advice, I too, am chemically sensitive and although I realise I can't remove the unavoidable from my life, I would welcome any suggestions at all for alternatives to the essential, everyday things one uses. I live in South Africa and tried importing skincare and make up products from Australia - but the exchange rate and customs duties were just too much for my budget. (02/22/2007) By Marjorie RE: Homemade Febreze Made some today, with Lavender and Vanilla Downy, fabulous! Thanks for the suggestion, I was out, in the middle of cleaning and didn't want to go to the store (03/29/2007) By Linda RE: Homemade Febreze I read on the febreze bottle and it said it had alcohol in it. So I bought a bottle of vodka and use about half a febreze bottle full of vodka, a few drops of fragrance oil and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Works great for me and the vodka will kill germs too and hopefully dust mites too. (05/22/2007) By Phyllis RE: Homemade Febreze I made mine with the baking soda, and had no problems. Thanks for the tip! (08/01/2007) By Shelley RE: Homemade Febreze Lois Ann: Not that I'm a big user of febreze (I found this entry while looking for a way to control static on my sofa) but I can't stand to see people repeat Urban Legends as fact. Febreeze is NOT harmful to pets. Spend two minutes researching things before you repeat these stories. As found all over the internet: http://www.snopes.com/toxins/febreze.htm The ASPCA's National Animal Poison Control Center agrees. A staff veterinarian I spoke with said the Center has not been able to confirm any cases of Febreze causing the death or serious injury of pets. The Center has issued the following statement: Veterinary toxicologists at the ASPCA National Animal Poison Center are conducting an on-going investigation into claims that use of Febreze in the home caused the death of several pets. All information reviewed to date suggests that there is no evidence that Febreze represents any risk to pets when used according to label instructions. Presently, the center considers the product safe to use in households with pets. As with any cleaning product, the center recommends that birds be removed from the room until the product application has dried and the area has been ventilated. Please call 1-800-345-4735 if you have any questions or have a pet that you suspect is experiencing problems or visit us at www.napcc.aspca.org ASPCA/NAPCC Letter Regarding Febreze The Center also told me that while zinc chloride (one of the ingredients in Febreze) can be toxic in large amounts, it comprises less than 1% of the formulation of the product and is not considered to be a hazard, contrary to allegations in the email warnings. Procter & Gamble says it began producing an improved Febreze formula in December 1998 which does not contain the chemical. (12/07/2007) By Vincent RE: Homemade Febreze I see no need for the baking soda. One other thing, why so much fabric softener? I just add some fabric softener, maybe an inch or 2 in an empty Febreze bottle, fill the rest with warm or hot water. It works just fine! (12/20/2007) By Ivy RE: Homemade Febreze Does anyone know if the homemade febreze makes sofas more susceptible to picking up dirt and stains? (12/30/2007) By BA RE: Homemade Febreze These recipes don't make the furniture sticky? (01/04/2008) By iBroke RE: Homemade Febreze I've been using this for a long time: 4 tbs Downy to a 32 oz bottle. It also works great as a wrinkle releaser! Just spray on wrinkled clothes, pull or smooth the wrinkles out, and let dry. Works awesome. (07/06/2008) By tholtz RE: Homemade Febreze Just use water, it will remove wrinkles. (10/20/2008) By me Magical Air Freshener and Dewrinkler Spray Of the many different recipes for homemade fabric/air freshener I have tried in the past, this is what I have come up with as my own recipe. I don't use very much fabric softener because most commercial grade fabric softeners (Bounce, Snuggle, Downy, etc..) contain chemicals that have been found to cause cancer, nervous system disorders, and brain damage, as well as reduce the effectiveness of flame resistant materials. So, be safe and avoid exposure to harmful chemicals when possible. 1 16oz fine mist sprayer (an old febreze/downy wrinkle releaser bottle will do) 2 Tbsp. of white vinegar (cheap and available at grocery store) 2 Tbsp. of your favorite fabric softener (preferably a natural/organic softener which can be hard to find locally, but can be ordered online) 6 to 10 drops of your favorite essential/scented oil (you can also use any scented extract available such as vanilla or almond) Fill the remainder of the 16oz container with distilled water (cheap and available at grocery store. You could also boil some tap water and let it cool a bit before handling, but please don't use impure water straight from the tap) Shake and spray to eliminate undesirable odors or release wrinkles NOTE: If you are concerned about chemicals from using fabric softener, you could leave fabric softener out of the recipe and use a little more white vinegar and scented oil/extract. There shouldn't be much of a vinegar smell at all and if there is it will be gone when dried. White vinegar works very well against odors by absorbing them and nuetralizing them instead of just covering them up. It's also a safe and effective alternative to using fabric softener in your washing machine, helping to release wrinkles, clean and brighten clothes, as well as making your clothes last longer instead of chemically destroying them. Additionally, vinegar kills 82% of mold spores on contact. (11/14/2008) By Die Hard RE: Homemade Febreze won't work You cannot make febreze without cyclodextrin nor does it clean or remove anything. It masks odor ONLY through a two part process by reducing the volatility of odor molecules so they cannot be smelled. Spraying fabric softener, etc, will not accomplish the same thing but WILL cause a build up of gunk in your house, and make fabric harder to clean properly. Ditto for oils, etc. Febreze is not a cleaner, even the makers don't make this claim. (04/11/2009) By Check your facts Report Spam or Abuse Request: Homemade Fabric Freshener Archived on 07/07/2009 What is the recipe for do-it-yourself fabric freshener? the store bought ones are so expensive and super smelly. I saw one with vinegar, water and something else. I forget the amounts of each. Thanks, Stephanie from Connecticut Feedback: RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener Here's what I do to make a fabric freshener: I take 1/2 tsp of scented oil of choice (or a mixture of oils) and add it to 1/2 cup of high proof cheap vodka (this allows the oil to dissolve and emulsify). I put this into a 16 oz spray bottle and shake it up. I then fill the bottle with distilled water. I regularly spray it on bedding and curtains and also use it when I iron clothing. (01/31/2007) By Chris RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener I use 1 capful liquid fabric softener (not the concentrated kind) 1 capful distilled white vinegar and about 2 capfuls of water in a spray bottle. This smells great on furniture, curtains, carpet, etc and I haven't had any problems with residue or stains. Oh, I use the fabric softener cap to measure everything. (02/03/2007) By hotmomma RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener RE: Fabric Freshener I usually put an unopened sachet of fabric softener/concentrate (Pre-packed plastic type) into my cupboards and in my shoe closet. Just tuck them into, under or next to the items. Our clothes, linen, towels etc always smell freshly laundered. The shoes do not ever smell used or like old worn leather. The sachet's last for months and are very cheap. In Australia under $1 each when on special and $1.20 regular price. When they start to deflate or shrink you can use the product as usual. Works like normal. Mix with 2 litres of warm water and shake. etc. Excelent for your motor vehicle as well. Best of all is when you open the doors you have a lovely whiff of your favourite smell. I personally like the soft blossom. I certainly hope this works as well for you as it does for me. (02/15/2007) By DIanne RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener If you are fortunate enough to have access to freshly grown lavender, lime or any of the numerous scented geranium varieties; mint or rosemary, put some sprigs in a spray bottle, add vodka, distilled vinegar, peroxide or water;(choose what works best for you) let it marinate abit and spray away! This natural alternative will make everybody happy. (07/19/2007) By Lois RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener Won't peroxide damage the fabric by bleaching or fading it? (08/11/2007) By Ellen RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener Hi were looking for some things to try and help us with our project we would like someone to help us out with a good house hold products to take the smell out of clothing. It would really help us a lot and we would really appreciate it. If you could just put some info on this site we will check it (02/26/2008) By Science Fair Participants RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener Barbara, A good Fabric steamer or steam cleaner similar to the Scuncii steamer will freshen fabric and carpeting. As for in the wash I just use 20 Mule Team Borax, a natural product that is good for many things. Also a mist with club soda can help with some odors. Hope this helps. (02/27/2008) By Sarendipity RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener I forgot. I use regular Dawn dish soap to remove fragrance odors. Some odors such as Fabreeze, Downy and Bounce as well as certain perfumes are very persistant and it takes many washes with the Dawn along with long periods of hanging outdoors to remove them. Sarendipity (02/27/2008) By Sarendipity RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener I've been using vinegar in the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener for over ten years now and it works great! An added benefit is that your clothes stay brighter -- especially your whites. And for those of you who like the scents of the fabric softeners, you might want to look up the ingredients. If you can smell them, you are breathing them in and they are getting into your bloodstream. Yikes! Maybe a good rule of thumb is, if you wouldn't eat it, don't use it. If you want to solve your problem with static cling use simple science. Static cling happens when two different materials are rubbed together. So, if you have a load where everything is 100% cotton, you won't get static cling. Dry loads of "like" fabrics, and you won't get static cling. (03/15/2008) By Oberhund RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener Why would anyone in this day and age be using fabric softener? Go green! Vinegar is cheaper and better for you and our planet! (07/31/2008) By surfergirl Report Spam or Abuse Request: Homemade Febreze Archived on 02/13/2007 Does anyone have any recipes for Febreeze? Sharon from Florida Answers: Faux Febreeze 1 1/2-4 tablespoons ultra downy clean breeze fabric softener 25 ounces water 32 ounces spray bottle, new and clean Put Downy and water in bottle and spray on furniture, carpeting, pillows, shower curtains...etc. By PICO RE: Homemade Febreeze I tried the baking soda and water "Febreeze" spray and I don't know how this is supposed to work because the baking soda would NOT melt in the water, I heated it and kept heating it and it just DOES NOT break down. So I skimmed off the only water part and put it in a bottle and tried it anyway. It clogged after a day or so and plus anything that I sprayed got a powder film all over it! Don't even bother wasting your baking soda on this, it simply does not melt in water. I'm glad I only tried a half recipe and only wasted a cup of baking soda. By Marian Norris RE: Homemade Febreze If I have to keep washing out the bottle. I better just find a coupon for Febreeze. I love the stuff, I buy it faithfully. I would love to make my own but this is not it. Thanks By giftsandbags.com Report Spam or Abuse Tip: Homemade Fabric Freshener Archived on 01/30/2007 You can save money on fabric and air fresheners by making your own. Here's what you need: Mix 2 parts of your favorite liquid fabric softener to 4 parts water, put in a spray bottle and lightly spray on curtains, bedding, any fabric furnishings for a refreshing, clean smelling home. By Marnita from Cumming, GA Answers: Peroxide Ok folks, I get the general idea but since fabric softener is an oil based product (mixed with emulsifiers) and you spray your furniture and drapes you would have to be leaving a residue. Makes for less static from friction i'm sure but how about attracting dust the buildup on fabrics? When I want to freshen fabric such as couch and carpets I use a light spray of straight peroxide. It evaporates completely. I guess you could add vanilla for a fragrance but i would rather not. (07/13/2006) By CARLA BLEDSOE Report Spam or Abuse Tip: Fake Febreze: Make Your Own Archived on 09/05/2006 Make your own febreze. 2 cups Arm and Hammer baking soda 4 cups warm water 2 cups Arm and Hammer liquid fabric softener Mix thoroughly and place in a spray bottle. Spray on fabric to freshen, as needed. If you have any problems with the above formula, try this if you dare: 1 tablespoon baking soda, 2 cups warm water and 1/4 cup liquid fabric softener. Mix together and dispense through spray bottle. After each use, clean sprayer with clear water to prevent clogging. By Kathy This is a pretty common recipe. Sadly it is not clear that its that effective. "Which brings me to the subject of the fake Febreze. Yikes, that's a matter I regret bringing up. Not because I was wrong, but rather because I can't figure out why the recipe didn't work for many readers. I prepared the suggested recipe (2 cups baking soda, 4 cups warm water, 2 cups liquid fabric softener) prior to writing about it. My homemade version worked like a charm. I sprayed it on all kinds of fabrics to make sure it would not leave a residue. I was very pleased with the results. However, messages poured in from unsatisfied readers stating that the baking soda wouldn't dissolve, the concoction won't spray from the bottle and so on." Source: http://www.nwherald.com/StyleSection/293330432168785.php Feedback Faux Febreeze 1 1/2-4 tablespoons ultra downy clean breeze fabric softener 25 ounces water 32 ounces spray bottle, new and clean Put Downy and water in bottle and spray on furniture, carpeting, pillows, shower curtains...etc. By PICO RE: Homemade Febreeze I tried the baking soda and water "Febreeze" spray and I don't know how this is supposed to work because the baking soda would NOT melt in the water, I heated it and kept heating it and it just DOES NOT break down. So I skimmed off the only water part and put it in a bottle and tried it anyway. It clogged after a day or so and plus anything that I sprayed got a powder film all over it! Don't even bother wasting your baking soda on this, it simply does not melt in water. I'm glad I only tried a half recipe and only wasted a cup of baking soda. By Marian Norris RE: Homemade Febreze If I have to keep washing out the bottle. I better just find a coupon for Febreeze. I love the stuff, I buy it faithfully. I would love to make my own but this is not it. Thanks By giftsandbags.com Fabric Softener Sheets I always make my own fabric freshener by putting three or four fabric sheets into a spray bottle about half full of warm water and shaking. It works well. By Racing against thimerosol Why Backing Soda? I've done something similar with water and fabric softener. It works fine. Why use baking soda at all? By dcacle RE: Fake Febreze: Make Your Own I have tried this for years, but yes the bottle does clog easily. So, I just omitted the baking soda and that solved my problem. It works just as good. And you can add a little rubbing alcohol to it too, but not too much or that is all you will smell. By katieandjeffy Your Need The Baking Soda Bring your solution to a boil! Then cool down. This will dissolve the crumby residue from the baking soda. The baking soda neutralizes odors, is found in all air and fabric sprays. If you just just use fabric softener and water, it's just wetting the fabric for a temporary deodorizer. By BJ_upnorth Baking Soda is Important BJ_upnorth is right. You really need the boiling water, it dissolves the baking soda which is needed to truly get rid of the smell instead of covering it up. Without baking soda in the solution is just an air freshener. I also like to add rubbing alcohol as a antibacterial. Works great on pet and kid stains, the scent of the alcohol goes away as it dries, like vinegar. We have a new puppy, a toilet training toddler and a 4 month old that spits up a lot due to acid reflux. Needless to say we go though a lot of this solution. Good luck! Rebekah By Madelynnsmama It Clogged My Sprayers I made this up and it clogged two sprayers to the point that I can't use them anymore. Any suggestions? By ka RE: Homemade Febreze Boil the water and baking soda until it is dissolved. This will help with clogging the sprayer. By Jamie RE: Homemade Febreeze clogged sprayers Clogged sprayers are a problem of the solution sitting in the straw and nozzle, creating a build up. When finished using the spray solution, unscrew the spray bottle lid with straw attached and hold the straw end in a cup of hot water. ( a drop of dish detergent could be added to the cup of hot water)Keep pumping the spray nozzle until the cup is empty to make sure all the solution is washed out and just the water is spraying. Spray a few more times to empty all the water out of the nozzle and straw and put the lid back on the bottle ready for the next use. If there is no solution trapped inside the nozzle and straw, it should not clog. By KM Report Spam or Abuse Tip: Homemade Fabric Freshener Archived on 01/08/2005 Make your own fabric freshener by pouring 4 fluid ounces of concentrated fabric softener into a spray bottle and dilute it with warm water. Wait for the solution to cool and then spray curtain, cloths, sofas and many other things to make them smell nice and fresh. By Miranda C. Feedback: RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener This mixture also works great in eliminating static in my pickup. The seats are upholstered and you get a shock every time you get out. Just spray it on the seats every once in a while. I have to do it about twice during the summer months and every month during the winter. Also works for static cling in your clothes and like you say, it really smells nice. --Jayne (09/30/2004) By Jayne Fabric Softener Freshener I put some Downey mixed with water in a spray bottle and use to freshen my bed linens every morning as I make the beds. By Renee (11/01/2004) By ThriftyFun Vinegar is a Natural Fabric Softener Add 1/2 cup to rinse cycle. Good if you have sensitive skin to chemicals in other softeners. (11/05/2004) By Gladys Hill RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener I use this tip all the time. I put a cap full of any laundry fabric softener in a spray bottle and spray away. Not dose this only make things smell like what you like but it saves money (11/15/2004) By Soulegal RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener I use this same method when doing my laundry. I put a small amount of CHEAPIE fabric softener in a spray bottle & fill up the rest with water. I spray my clothes after I toss them in the dryer. If it's something that tends to have static cling, I open the door & spray it several times during the drying cycle. It's SO MUCH CHEAPER than dryer sheets. A $2.50 jug of fabric softener lasted me for over (1) year & I do laundry on a daily basis. I think I was able to make up approx. 29 spray bottles from the (1) jug. (12/31/2004) By FrugalFriend Vinegar as Fabric Softener Fill a Downy dispenser ball with white vinegar and toss it in with your clothes. It will dispense in the rinse water and remove all soap and soften clothes. By Nancy (01/08/2005) By ThriftyFun RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener Question? If you use fabric softener dispenser instead of Downey ball is it used just the same? I would think so. I've used my dispenser for laundry forever. I like the idea of spraying on clothing/laundry so I can control the amount better. Great tip ladies! (01/10/2005) By jjager RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener I pour some Downy fabric freshener diluted with a little water into the garbage can--bad odors are gone in an instant! I also use this solution in a spray bottle and spray it in the toilet or bathroom to remove odors. I also pour some of it onto the floor tiles and run a mop over it so the floor smells fresh and clean. (09/18/2005) By Edwin RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener The reason I wanted a recipe for fabric softener is to replace the cancer-causing, animal byproduct filled, gross stuff that you get in the stores. This stuff is not only made by companies that test on animals but it is smelly, can cause headaches, allergies, and is NOT good for the septic system or the Environment. So telling me just to dilute fabric softener concentrate is not good enough. Also, that stuff is NOT good for pets so if you spray it on their bedding or they get it on them somehow and lick it you are just making a future vet visit. Shame on you for not thinking or reading labels. (11/24/2005) By Barbara RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener I take my favorite dryer sheets (lately Downy Lavender/vanilla) and place them UNDER the seats of my car! The smell lasts for days!!!! (03/01/2006) By Kelly RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener Miranda, what size is the spray bottle? In other words, how much water needs to be mixed w/ the 1/4 c. of fabric softener. I want to get the proportions right, even if my spray bottle is a different size than yours. (04/01/2006) By Kathleen RE: Homemade Fabric Freshener Also, place a dryer sheet in your vacuum bag, smells wonderful. Thanks for the tips, I never thought of this! (06/07/2006) By Sweetred Report Spam or Abuse