Home Mortgage Alliance Corporation (HMAC)

Smile and breathe easier with some homemade deodorizers

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Published Date 7/7/2020

As they have done for months now during the pandemic, many Americans are still sticking pretty close to home — a home that often serves as home, school, and workplace as well, as well as a place that might need an aroma pick-me-up to make it feel fresher, cleaner, and more inviting.

Better Homes and Garden's Jessica Bennett says that while there are tons of store-bought products that can help achieve this goal, commercial air fresheners and cleaners made from harsh chemicals aren't the only way to achieve a great-smelling home. "DIY alternatives provide a simple approach to deodorize and scent your space the natural way," she says. "Using a handful of household ingredients and fragrances from essential oils and herbs, you can create natural home scents that help eliminate odors and diffuse pleasing aromas."

Her first suggestion is to freshen up rooms with the clean scent of lemon and basil. To create a DIY room spray, begin by boiling 3/4 cup water in a pot or tea kettle and pour it into a liquid measuring cup. Then she says to add 4 tablespoons of dried basil and let it steep for a few minutes. "Line a funnel with a coffee filter and place it in the opening of a reusable spray bottle. Carefully pour the basil and water mixture into the bottle through the filter to remove the herbs, then discard the filter. Add 3/4 cup distilled water, 1 tablespoon vodka, and 5 drops of lemon essential oil to the bottle. Attach the spray bottle top and shake to combine the mixture. Spray the odor eliminator around the room as needed."

Another simple air freshening solution is to create a reed diffuser with a teaspoon of your favorite essential oil, pouring it to a small glass container and filling the rest with baby oil. "If you're using a large vessel, you may need to add additional essential oil," she says. "Place rattan diffuser sticks inside the container and gently stir the mixture. Set your DIY reed diffuser on a countertop or table to fill the space with fragrance."

Want to freshen towels, bedding, clothes, and upholstery? For a heavenly linen spray, pour 1 tablespoon vodka into a liquid measuring cup, then pour into a reusable spray bottle. Add 35 drops of essential oil (you can use a combination of scents if desired), then fill the bottle the rest of the bottle with distilled water. Attach the spray bottle lid, and shake to mix well. Spray linens as needed.

Carpets deserve your attention as well. Create a homemade carpet deodorizer by mixing 1 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup cornstarch in a medium bowl. Add 5 drops of your favorite essential oil and stir to combine. Use a funnel to pour the mixture into a Mason jar. Create small holes in the lid using a hammer and nail, then attach the lid to the jar. "Lightly sprinkle the mixture onto the carpet as needed, and let sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming up," says Bennett.

It's hard to resist the aroma of citrus. Bennett suggests an easy "simmer pot" recipe to fill your home with a warm, inviting aroma by cutting an orange into slices and adding it to a pot, along with a small handful of cloves and cinnamon sticks. Add water to cover the ingredients and simmer on the stove for several hours to release the scent.

Source: Better Homes and Garden | TBWS

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