DIY Fabric Refresher – Here’s How You Can Make Your Own!

diy fabric freshener without baking soda

Did you know that making a DIY fabric refresher is very easy and convenient?

Tired of that filthy smell even after washing your clothes with the best fragrant detergent? Or does monsoon leave your clothes with an unwanted, irksome odor? Be it the carpet, curtains, pillows, bedsheets, clothing, towels, or any other fabric, it can’t be tolerated when it gives off some unbearable odor. And just as you use the best fresheners to refresh your surfaces, the fabric refresher is the ultimate option to eliminate unwanted odor from the fabrics.

No doubt, the market is full of fabric refresher sprays with different fragrances, but they are still the least used. The reason behind this is the toxic chemicals they are made from. The fabric refreshers on the market are made using around 3000 chemicals, including formaldehyde and phthalates. Such fabric refreshers surely give your fabrics a good smell, but they also damage the fabrics when used for a long time. Again, some of these fabric refreshers are dangerous for pets, marine life, and toddlers. Some might also lead to respiratory distress, skin irritation, nervous system issues, and other allergies.

But now you can have a refreshing fabric without damaging it. Surprised how? Through DIY fabric refresher. The homemade fabric refreshers are made using natural ingredients and, hence, are toxic-free and completely safe to use even if in houses with kids and pets.

The DIY fabric refresher can be used for the following purposes:

  • Pet beds with filthy and unpleasant smells
  • Used on pillows, bed linens, and mattresses, especially when having babies at home
  • Spraying on seat covers, upholstery fabrics, and carpets in cars
  • Used on couches, rugs, and curtains to refresh the living rooms

Hence, DIY fabric refreshers are natural deodorizers that refresh the fabrics in your home and cars for a pleasant odor of your choice.

How to Make a Homemade DIY Fabric Refresher?

So, are you busy looking for fabric refresher recipes? Here are some quick-to-make simple fabric refresher recipes you can try at home. These recipes are very easy to make at home, and they contain natural ingredients, making them a safe and effective febreze alternative.

1. DIY Lavender Essential Oil Fabric Refresher

Lavender oil, tea tree oil, and lemon oil are completely safe ingredients to use, especially when you have kids at home. If you don’t like the odor of tea tree oil, you can eliminate this ingredient from this recipe. This is by far the best fabric odor eliminator spray that you can make easily at home.

List of Ingredients

  • ½ cup distilled water
  • ½ cup spirituous vodka
  • 25 drops of lemon essential oil
  • 25 drops of lavender essential oil
  • 10 drops of tea tree essential oil

How to make

Take a spray bottle with a 16-ounce capacity. Pour ½ cup of spirituous vodka into the bottle. Now add all the essential oils one by one in the bottle. Now add ½ cup distilled water to the bottle. Finally, shake the bottle properly to mix all the ingredients.

How to use

This fabric refresher can be used on various surfaces, like linens and fabrics. However, make sure you don’t use the refresher on fabrics like suede, leather, and silk. When using the bottle, make sure to shake the refresher. If you are having pets at home, avoid adding tea tree essential oil to the refresher.

2. Sweet Orange Fabric Refresher

Sweet orange fabric refresher is a natural spray that is widely used as a disinfectant and deodorizer, particularly for woolen clothes. Its citrus aroma makes it best for reducing stress and making positive changes in mood.

List of Ingredients

  • 13 grams or 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 2 cups of water
  • 15 drops of sweet orange essential oil

How to make

Take a jar and add 2 cups of water to it. Now add baking soda to the water. Stir both ingredients properly. Now add 15 drops of sweet orange essential oil to the combination and mix all the ingredients. When combined properly, pour the refresher recipe into a spray bottle.

How to use

Shake properly before using the fabric refresher. You can use this refresher on curtains and linens in the living room for some sweet citric aroma. It is popularly used in cars as well.

3. Scented DIY Fabric Refresher

This fabric freshener is made using rubbing alcohol. Hence, it not only eliminates bad odor from fabrics but also kills bacteria from their surface. It also prevents any kind of residue from water minerals that might end up landing on the fabric, like water spots.

List of Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups of warm water
  • ½ cup of rubbing alcohol
  • 10 to 20 drops of essential oil
  • 1 tsp of vegetable glycerin
  • ¼ cup of baking soda

How to make

Take a spray bottle or a jar. Add 1 ½ cup of warm water and ½ cup of rubbing alcohol to the bottle or jar. Add baking soda to the combination. Mix the ingredients properly by either stirring it or shaking the bottle strongly. Take a small bowl and add 10 to 20 drops of all the essential oils of your choice to it. You can use either one or more than one essential oil of your choice. Now add 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to the essential oils and mix it. Add this to the bottle and mix all the ingredients properly by shaking the bottle or stirring in the jar. Add the refresher to a spray bottle if you have combined the ingredients in a jar, and it’s ready to use.

How to use

You can use this scented fabric refresher in the form of deodorizer and sprinkle it on curtains, sofa sets, and other fabric linens. It not only eliminates bad odor but also helps reduce bacteria from the fabrics.

Bonus Tip: How do you make fabric freshener without baking soda?

You may be looking for the recipe to make a fabric freshener without baking soda. When the rainy season dampens your wardrobe with the musty scent of wet clothes, making a fabric freshener without baking soda is not only possible but can be surprisingly effective.

Instead of relying on traditional ingredients, consider using white vinegar as a base. Its natural deodorizing properties make it an excellent alternative for eliminating unpleasant smells. Simply mix one part vinegar with two parts water in a spray bottle, and add a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender or eucalyptus, to infuse your garments with a refreshing fragrance that masks any bad odor.

This DIY fabric freshener offers more than just immediate relief from the foul smell. It presents a safe option suitable for families and sensitive skin types. Unlike some chemical-laden commercial products, this homemade solution ensures no harmful residues are left behind on your clothes. Additionally, vinegar acts as an antimicrobial agent during monsoon-related humidity spikes when fabrics become breeding grounds for bacteria.

Final Words

DIY Fabric Refresher is henceforth one of the best solutions to eliminate unwanted smells from the fabrics without damaging them. The only thing you need to keep in mind here is the selection of essential oil for making the deodorizer. They are powerful ingredients, and hence, one should know how they would react to the surroundings, especially when you have pregnant women, kids, and pets at home. You can either discuss the essential oil pros and cons with the seller or a doctor before making a fabric refresher for safety checks.

This post was last modified on December 21, 2024 4:29 pm

Cammy White: A fashion blogger and art enthusiast currently living in NY, US. I have done my Masters in Science with Food and Nutrition as major. Since I have a deep inclination towards niches like women's health, beauty, fashion and lifestyle I regularly write on these topics. In my free time I love swimming and hit the gym and cycle riding.
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