How to Deodorize a Room
How to make your own DIY room deodorizer
Store-bought air fresheners and candles can contain tons of chemicals. They also wreak havoc on your home’s air quality. You can make your own room deodorizer with all-natural ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Basic Room Deodorizer Recipe
A basic room deodorizer consists of only three ingredients: water, baking soda, and your choice of essential oil. Small, 2oz spray bottles are helpful if you plan to make your deodorizer in large batches. Use a funnel for mess-free pouring. For a basic room deodorizer, you will need the following:
1 cup water
1 tbsp baking soda
30 drops essential oil (feel free to adjust for a lighter or heavier scent.
This recipe is simple, effective, and highly customizable. The water acts as a solvent, the baking soda neutralizes the odor, and the essential oil adds a refreshing scent to the air.
Why does baking soda work to deodorize a room?
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a basic compound that effectively neutralizes bad smells that are usually acidic. Baking soda is an effective deodorizer because it absorbs smells rather than masking them, like candles and traditional air fresheners.
Essential oils to add to each specific room (Living room, kitchen, bedroom)
There are many options when choosing the best essential oils for your space. Based on the recipe above, here are essential oil recommendations for room-specific deodorizers.
• For the living room, peppermint and lemongrass oils are light and refreshing.
• For the kitchen, grapefruit and bergamot oils add a nice citrus zing to the air.
• For the bedroom, lavender oil has calming properties that may aid in relaxation. A mixture of spearmint and eucalyptus oils is also helpful in winding down.
Common household smells and how to rid them
Stale air – create a room deodorizer using the recipe above. For especially stale air, consider a citrus oil. Spray room twice daily.
Carpet smells – there are two options:
• Option 1: mix one cup water, one fourth cup white vinegar, and one tbsp baking soda. Lightly mist the carpet with mixture until just wet. Do not soak. Let misted area dry and repeat as needed. For stubborn smells, double the amount of baking soda.
• Option 2: sprinkle baking soda directly on carpet. Let sit for 2-4 hours and vacuum. Repeat as needed.
Fridge odors – place a box of baking soda in the back of the fridge. For this to be continually effective, shake the box of baking soda periodically and replace every 30 days.
Garbage disposal stink – Boil two cups of water. Add a half cup of white vinegar and three tbsp of baking soda. Pour this mixture down the drain. For a touch of added freshness, throw in a citrus peel (orange, lemon, grapefruit) and turn on garbage disposal.
Making your own room deodorizer is a chance to be creative and create scents for a cleaner, fresher home!