14 DIY Fabreze Recipes Made with Natural Ingredients

Sometimes life stinks.

Oh, not in the rotten things are happening to me kind of stink. I mean the literal something is making my sofa/car/room smell rotten kind of stink.

In the past, a few squirts of Fabreze in the right direction took care of the mystery funk. Although more often than not, I replaced the mystery funk with overly sweet fake flower chemical concoction funk because that is exactly what I was using. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience)

A fabric refresher made from a synthetic chemical concoction that may or may not be harmful to my family. The companies that make that stuff don’t have to list their ingredients or say one way or the other so they don’t.

  Pin this list of all natural fabric refresher recipes for later!

It looks like Fabreze users typically fall into three camps:

1. People who just want to cover up the stink on fabric with something that smells pretty.

2. People who want to kill the source of the stink and have their room smell like nothing at all.

3. People who want to kill the source or the stink with something that smells pretty.

I researched and experimented with making different fabric refresher recipes and testing them so I have a homemade fabric refresher recipe no matter what camp you are in. What can I say? It has been a looooong winter.

I know exactly what is my version of Fabreze so it is safer and it costs a heck of a lot less than the store brand stuff.

Mine smells better too.

4 Homemade Unscented Fabreze Recipes

Professional costumers use vodka to deodorize stage costumes in between performances because the alcohol kills the bacteria causing the smell, evaporates quickly and won’t harm the fabric. Most say to use the good stuff but I’ve used bottom shelf vodka with equal success (which is the only reason to buy bottom shelf vodka IMHO because it tastes wretched.)

You can use any of the deodorizers full strength although the item may end up smelling like vinegar or rubbing alcohol, which is why I suggest diluting it with water. It is also less expensive to make this way and still gets the job done.

In an empty spray bottle (you can buy glass spray bottles from Amazon here) combine:

Recipe 1. 1/4 part vodka + water
 
Recipe 2.  1/4 part rubbing alcohol + water - the rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly so it is safe to use around children and pets.

Recipe 3. 1/4 part vinegar + water

Recipe 4. 1/4 part baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) + water – you may have to shake the bottle to remix it before each use.

Disclosure: I included affiliate links in this post for your convenience. Thank you for supporting Condo Blues!

8 Homemade Deodorizing Fabreze Recipes

I like the type of fabric spray that kills the bacteria making the funk and leaves a nice and natural smell behind. That’s why I scent my fake Fabreze with several drops of pure essential oil or my homemade lavender extract. Be aware that some bottles marked fragrance oil may be a blend of natural and synthetic essential oils.

Combine the following In an empty spray bottle and shake to mix:

Recipe 1. 1/4 part vodka + water + lavender essential oil – Tip: I use a combination of lavender essential oil and homemade peppermint extract in the fabric spray I use on our bedding to help us sleep well.

 Recipe 2. 1/4 part vodka + water + fabric softener or Purex Crystals – 92% of the Purex Crystals ingredients are natural but the fragrance is made from synthetic ingredients. I’m including it because I tried it and it works and I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit I use Purex Crystals from time to time to eliminate winter static cling. Use your best judgment on this one.

 Recipe 3. 1/4 part rubbing alcohol + water + essential oil or extract – This one is my favorite and the one I use after the experimentation period. Please keep it out of reach of curious children and doggies. Thank you.

 Recipe 4. 1/4 part rubbing alcohol + water +fabric softener (I used Ecover plant based fabric softener in my experiments) or Purex Crystals

 Recipe 5. 1/4 part vinegar + water+ essential oil or extract – As much as I love to use vinegar to clean, this recipe was not my favorite. I had to use more essential oil/extract to cover up the vinegar smell to my liking.

 Recipe 6. 1/4 part vinegar + water+  fabric softener or Purex Crystals

 Recipe 7. 1/4 part baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) + water + essential oil or extract

Recipe 8. 1/4 part baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) + water + fabric softener or Purex Crystals

2 Fabreeze Recipes That Just Cover Up Smells

Some folks like to add scent using fabric softener (try to use a plant based fabric softener like Ecover or Seventh Generation please. It works just as well and is safer for your family) because it is safe to use on fabrics.

Personally I think using fabric softener is scent overkill but some folks like more heavily scented products than I do. Use whatever works for you.

Recipe 1 water + several drops of orange essential oil (or the essential oil of your choice)

 Recipe 2 2 cups water +1 cup fabric softener

If you'd rather buy than DIY, check out the following options - and more! - below!


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