How to Make Homemade Febreze Spray

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Febreze is a commercial air freshener that many people love to use around the house, at the office, in the car, and even on clothes. Many people love the smell of this all-purpose odor eliminator, but the bottles can be quite expensive. Luckily, there are a few copycat recipes that you can make at home for a fraction of the price, so it is possible to keep your stuff smelling great on a budget.

Ingredients

Copycat Febreze

2 cups (470 ml) water
⅓ cup (73 g) baking soda
1 cup (235 ml) fabric softener

Febreze Without Fabric Softener

½ cup (118 ml) isopropyl alcohol
½ cup (118 ml) water
15 to 25 drops essential oils

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Copycat Febreze

1
Boil the water. Measure the water into a saucepan. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. When the water is at a rolling boil, turn off the heat and remove the pan from the hot element. It’s important to dissolve the other ingredients in boiling water first, otherwise your air freshener may leave a residue around the house.^{[1]
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- You can also boil the water in a kettle. Transfer the water to a bowl once it has boiled.
2
Add the fabric softener and baking soda. Measure and pour the other two ingredients into the saucepan with the boiling water. You can use any fabric softener you like, including liquids or scented beads. Stir to combine all the ingredients, and to dissolve the baking soda.
- If you use the beads, make sure they're completely dissolved in the water as well.
- The fabric softener and baking soda are equally important in this recipe, because whereas the baking soda will help to absorb odors, the fabric softener will make everything smell great.
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3
Allow the mixture to cool. Set the pan aside and let the mixture cool to room temperature, about 30 to 60 minutes.^{[2]
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Research source} This will also give the baking soda and fabric softener time to completely dissolve in the water.
- You also need the mixture to cool because it’s not a good idea to add boiling hot liquids to a plastic spray bottle.
4
Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle. When the mixture has cooled, insert a funnel into the mouth of a clean spray bottle. Carefully pour the mixture from the saucepan through the funnel and into your spray bottle.^{[3]
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Research source} Then, remove the funnel and screw on the spray top.
- The bottle you use must have a capacity of at least 3 cups (705 ml).
- You can use an old air freshener bottle for your homemade spray. Before using the bottle, clean the bottle with dish soap and hot water to remove any residue.
5
Shake before using. There are no additives in your homemade air freshener to prevent the ingredients from separating, so it’s a good idea to give the spray bottle a good shake before you use it. This will ensure that none of the ingredients have settled on the bottom, and that you get the full effect when you use your spray.
6
Spray around the house as needed. You can use your homemade air freshener just as you would the commercial version, spraying it at the office, in the car, and around the house. You can spray bedding, rugs, drapery, carpets, and more to get rid of odors and make your place smell great.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Febreze Without Fabric Softener

1
Combine the water and alcohol in a spray bottle. Insert a funnel into the mouth of a clean spray bottle. Add equal parts alcohol and water to the bottle.^{[5]
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Research source} Remove the funnel from the mouth of the bottle.
- You can also use vodka in place of the isopropyl alcohol, as it will work just as well to eliminate odors.^{[6]
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- For additional odor absorbing properties, add 1 tablespoon (14 g) of baking soda to the mixture as well.
2
Add your favorite essential oils. You can add any combination of essential oils you like to your air freshener. While the alcohol in the recipe will help to get rid of odors, the essential oils will help to make your house smell great. You can add 15 to 25 drops of your favorite oil, play around with different combinations, or make specific aroma recipes, such as:^{[7]
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- Equal parts peppermint and orange
- 6 drops each of bergamot and lemon, plus 4 drops each of rosemary and peppermint
- 8 drops lemongrass, 7 drops orange, and 6 drops peppermint
- 7 drops orange, 5 drops ginger, and 5 drops ylang ylang
3
Shake well before using. When you’ve added the essential oils, screw on the spray top. Shake the bottle thoroughly to combine all the ingredients, and spray liberally around the house, office, and anywhere else that unpleasant odors are lingering.^{[8]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Keeping Your Home Clean and Smelling Great

1
Vacuum regularly. The trick to keeping your home smelling great is a combination of keeping it clean and using air fresheners when necessary. A common source of odors is carpeting and flooring. Vacuum carpeting and hard floors weekly to remove food crumbs, spills, dirt, dust, and other sources of bad smells.
2
Stay on top of laundry. Dirty laundry, and especially dirty wet laundry, can cause terrible smells that permeate the entire house. Wet laundry can lead to mold growth, which smells and can damage your clothes. Whenever you have a full load of laundry, wash it immediately to prevent bad smells in the house.
- When you have wet laundry to add to your pile, hang it to dry before throwing it into the basket if you aren't going to be washing it right away.
- Always use a laundry basket to keep dirty clothes in one place to minimize odors around the house.
3
Keep bedding, towels, and linens clean. You should actually be washing your towels and bedding once a week, and staying on top of this can help eliminate odors in your home.^{[9]
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Research source} This is especially true if you have pets that sleep on the bed. Each week, collect all your towels, sheets, and pillow cases and launder them.
4
Clean the refrigerator regularly. The refrigerator can be an enormous contributor to bad smells in the house, so cleaning it every few months is essential to a good smelling house. To clean the refrigerator properly:^{[10]
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- Remove all the food and transfer it to cold bags
- Throw out any old, expired, or rotten food
- Remove all the drawers and shelves and wash them with soapy water
- Wipe down the inside of the refrigerator with soapy water
- Rinse and dry the inside of the refrigerator
- Dry and replace the shelves and drawers
- Put all the food back
5
Clean the bathroom often. The bathroom is another source of many bad smells, and keeping it clean is important for your health and the smell of your house. Use your favorite all-purpose or bathroom cleaner to clean the inside of the toilet bowl, the seat and exterior of the toilet, the sinks, and the shower or bathtub. Vacuum and wash the floor, and air out the rugs.
- Deal with clogs as soon as they form, because clogs can lead to bad smells in the drains.
- Wipe down the shower walls with a towel or squeegee after each shower to prevent mold growth and moldy smells.
6
Take out the garbage as necessary. Garbage is a huge cause of odors, and no amount of air freshener will help if you don’t deal with the source. When your garbage is full, tie up the bag and take it out to the garage or shed to wait for collection day. Rinse the garbage can and clean it with soapy water. Let the can dry before adding a fresh bag.
7
Groom your pets regularly. Pets can also make the entire house smell, so it’s important to keep them well-groomed. This includes monthly baths, teeth brushing three times a week, and daily brushings.^{[11]
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- Also, keep your pet toys, bowls, and bedding clean with regular washing.

wikiHow Video: How to Make Homemade Febreze Spray

Warnings

Exposure to essential oils can be dangerous for pets, and especially cats. If you have pets in the house, avoid using essential oils and air fresheners that contain them.^{[12]
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