Inflation Busting #4 – Room & Laundry Deodorizers

Inflation Buster #4: Stop Burning Cash on Store-Bought Air Fresheners

Commercial air fresheners and fabric sprays are sneaky cash eaters. Store-bought plug-in refills hold a tiny fraction of liquid—often just 0.38 oz per bottle—yet can easily set you back $120 or more a year just to keep a small home smelling fresh. The good news is that you do not need to keep paying name-brand prices. With a few basic household ingredients, you can make your own plug-in refills and fabric fresheners for pennies.

Here is how you can slash your budget, ditch the artificial chemicals, and keep your home smelling amazing.

Save Big with DIY Plug-In Refills

Instead of tossing out your empty plug-in bottles and buying expensive store replacements, reuse them!  This simple recipe costs next to nothing to whip up.

Ingredients & Tools

• Empty plug-in air freshener bottles

• A butter knife

• Equate 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol (or similar)

• Essential oil of your choice (such as lavender)

• Water

• A dropper

Step-by-Step Instructions

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1. Remove the Cap: Use a butter knife to gently pry off the cap or wick assembly from your empty air freshener bottle.

2. Add Alcohol: Fill the bottle halfway with rubbing alcohol.

3. Add Scent: Using a dropper, add about 8 drops of your favorite essential oil directly into the alcohol.

4. Top It Off: Fill the rest of the bottle with water, snap the cap back on, and give it a gentle shake. You are done!

Non-Toxic DIY Fabric Spray (Febreze Alternative)

Why buy expensive fabric deodorizing sprays when you can make a non-toxic version at home? This simple mix uses alcohol and baking soda to neutralize tough odors rather than just covering them up.

Here is Walmart's best seller, Febreeze spray -- almost $6.00 for a small bottle.  This is one of the products that has quadrupled in the last two years!

There comes a time when paying for convenience turns into gouging.  In my opinion, Febreeze and other deodorizing sprays have crossed the line into gouging the public.  Especially when you see below how easy and inexpensive it is to make your own!

Basic Essential Oil Fabric & Room Spray

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup isopropyl alcohol (vodka or witch hazel also work great)

• ½ cup distilled water

• 15–25 drops essential oil (lavender, citrus, or peppermint)

Instructions: Pour the alcohol and water into a clean spray bottle. Add your essential oils, shake vigorously, and spray onto furniture, curtains, or into the air.

Heavy-Duty Odor Control Option

For extra-stubborn odors, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 15–25 drops of essential oils first. Then, stir that mixture into 1 cup of distilled water and 1 cup of alcohol before pouring it into your spray bottle.

Bonus Laundry Hacks: DIY Softeners & Sheets

While you are tackling room deodorizers, take your savings into the laundry room with these easy, natural fabric softeners.

100% Natural Wool Dryer Balls

Skip chemical dryer sheets entirely.  You can pick up four laundry balls on your next run to Walmart or other supermarket.  They cost slightly more than one bottle of fabric softener but you can use them over and overr again.

If there are any knitters or crocheters out there, to make wool dryer balls yourself, wrap 100% wool roving tightly around your fingers to form dense balls. Wash and dry them repeatedly in hot water to felt the wool. Toss 3–6 felted wool balls into the dryer with your laundry to naturally soften fabrics, reduce static, and cut down overall drying time.

DIY Washing Machine Fabric Softener

Mix up a batch of liquid softener to add directly to your wash cycle.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water

• 2 cups distilled vinegar

• Food-grade vegetable glycerin (optional, acts as a conditioner)  You can also use baby lotion as that is manufacturered for a baby's skin!

• 20–30 drops essential oils (optional for scent)

How to Use:

Add ½ cup of this liquid directly to the final rinse cycle of your washing machine.

DIY Reusable Fabric Sheets & Sponges

You can also turn your homemade liquid softener into reusable dryer/washer sheets!

1. Pour 1 cup of the DIY liquid fabric softener mixture into a mason jar.

2. Grab a few inexpensive sponges or face cloths from the dollar store. Cut the sponges into halves or quarters.

3. Submerge the cut sponges or cloths into the liquid inside the mason jar.

4. Wring out one sponge or cloth and toss it in with your laundry load to keep clothes soft without ongoing store expenses.