Natural Homemade Febreze Fabric Refresher Recipe

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Homemade Febreze Homemade Fabric Refresher

A disinfecting homemade Febreze spray for fabrics. This homemade fabric refresher is effective, natural, and stain-free on all our fabrics!

Tip: you may also be interested in our all-purpose cleaner.

Homemade Febreze (Fabric Refresher)

Now that school is back in session, I notice that I’m worried about the germs my son is tracking in from class.

From his book bag to his shoes, I know he is covered in all sorts of germs. Since he’s just in preschool, his book bag is often thrown at the door, shoes in all directions, and germy hands touch everything before I can even blink!

We also have a newborn in the house, so I’m ultra germ-conscious. I am always washing hands, vacuuming, and cleaning the hard surfaces of my home – but what about fabrics? Enter this homemade Febreze fabric refresher.

Disinfecting Fabrics

I know germs often live on surfaces that we often don’t think about like couches, carpets, clothing, and bags/purses. Lately, I’ve seen a lot of commercials for fabric refreshers and germ killers, but I absolutely cannot handle the scent of commercial cleaners. Not to mention the chemicals! In a few months, my newborn will be crawling and putting everything into his mouth. I don’t want him coming into contact with tons of germs OR chemicals.

Natural Ingredients for Freshening & Disinfecting Fabrics

For this homemade Febreze recipe, I decided to dig deep into some research to make an effective, natural, and safe disinfecting spray for fabrics. I do find that this recipe has been stain-free for my couch, carpet, and other surfaces. But PLEASE test any new recipe in an inconspicuous place before using it on furniture or other delicate surfaces. You never know how certain fabrics will react to any cleaning solution.

The ingredients for this homemade Febreze fabric refresher are natural, non-toxic, and smell wonderful! For more information on the effectiveness of each oil, I recommend readingΒ Β “Biological properties of essential oils: an updated review” Β by B.Β Adorjan and G. Buchbauer.

Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon essential oil disinfects the air and kills a variety of bacteria. It has such a lovely fresh aroma and it is very effective as a cleaner.

Palmarosa Essential Oil

Next, I chose a more obscure oil – palmarosa essential oil for this homemade Febreze fabric refresher. It has a floral, woody, slightly herb-like aroma with antibacterial, antifungal, and airborne antimicrobial properties.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil and Tea Tree Essential Oil

These oilsΒ have great promise for killing common bacteria like influenza and other viruses. (Note: do not use these oils directly on or around children under 10 due to the high 1,8 cineole content which can cause respiratory issues in children under 10. AllowΒ the spray to disperseΒ for 20-30 minutes before introducing children back to the area.)

Other Ingredients

Other ingredients in this homemade Febreze fabric refresher recipe include baking soda and water to help further kill odors and prevent oil stains. I love to combine baking soda and essential oils because I find that baking soda intensifies the aroma of the oils and gives them more powerful deodorizing properties.

Homemade Febreze Homemade Fabric Refresher

Homemade Febreze Fabric Refresher Recipe

A disinfecting homemade Febreze spray for fabrics. This homemade fabric refresher is effective, natural, and stain-free on all our fabrics!
Prep Time
5 minutes
Active Time
10 minutes
Total Time
15 minutes
Servings
10 ounces
Estimated Cost
$1

Equipment

  • 1 spray bottle (preferably dark glass to protect the essential oils, like this one)

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Using a funnel, add baking soda to an 8-ounce spray bottle.
  2. Fill with water until the bottle is almost full.
  3. Shake well to combine.
  4. Add in essential oils.
  5. Shake well.

To Use

  1. Test the fabric before using your homemade Febreze fabric refresher: apply a small amount to an inconspicuous area on each new fabric, allow to dry, then check for stains.

  2. Shake well.

  3. Spray lightly on carpet, couches, and fabrics.

  4. Allow it to dry.

Recipe Video

Notes

Many essential oils are unsafe to use around pets, including tea tree. If you do have pets, remove them from the area and wait 20-30 minutes before re-introducing them to the area. Store the solution away from pets and children.

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That’s all! I typically discard this solution after a few weeks and mix a fresh batch.

Did you make this homemade Febreze fabric refresher? Share below!

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About Katie Vance

Katie is a wife, mother, aromatherapist, and lover of all things DIY. She offers consultations and gives simple aromatherapy advice at Katie Vance, Aromatherapy Simplified. You can also find Katie on Facebook.

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Comments

  1. Avatar photoKaren says

    I fervently hope that someone can come up with a way to remove the stench of Febreze – I recently bought a “NWT” purse on Ebay – it came and the package reeked of Febreze on the porch. I struggled through the packing (OMG it was strong) and hung the purse – opened – outside for two days. It still reeked, it is currently sitting in a sealed container with a dishpan of activated charcoal. I hope to be able to use this purse in my lifetime.

    • Avatar photoava says

      It takes a good month to go away.. but it will.
      we stop buying that stuff and went with natural oils to make a lovely spray.
      good luck!

      • Avatar photobecca says

        I had the same problem with a car hubby bought. I had tried EVERYTHING! Aired it out, dishes of activated charcoal, you name it…… 6 months later, it still STINKS like they dumped a bottle of febreeze. The kids and I don’t even ride in the car. If you find something that works, please update your post!

  2. Avatar photoMarty says

    Do all the essential oils listed need to be used? Are you sure of the baking soda amount? I am interested in trying this, but want to be sure of the measurements prior. I can not use eucalyptus since I am allergic and that would sort of defeat the purpose.

    • Avatar photoKatie Vance says

      Not all of the essential oils need to be used, though it is most effective when they are all included. You can definitely leave out the Eucalyptus and still have a refreshing, deodorizing spray. If you are uncomfortable using that much baking soda, try adding just a teaspoon at a time until you find the consistency you are comfortable with. 1/4 cup worked well for me, but I didn’t use this spray heavily or on fabrics like microfiber. Remember to always test a patch before spraying all over!

  3. Avatar photoMegan says

    Are you sure about the 1/4 a cup baking soda? I tried mixing up a homemade “fabric refresher” with that much 8-12 oz of water and 1/4 a cup of baking soda, and most of the baking soda never dissolved. It just sat on the bottom of the bottle, and made a white chalky mess wherever I sprayed it. 1 tablespoon maybe, or POSSIBLY 2 tablespoons to 8 oz of water.
    That is unless I didn’t use enough essential oil, and the essential oils were needed to help the baking soda dissolve some more.(??)

    • Avatar photoKatie Vance says

      Some doesn’t dissolve, but much of this one does. If you shake well before each use, it will shake up what is on the bottom and help the solution to spray more evenly. The essential oils do not help the baking soda dissolve more.

  4. Avatar photoDanielle says

    Actually, I have found that vodka/everclear or rubbing alcohol work wonderfully. The smell of the alcohol dissipates very quickly, and can conquer the smell of sweaty males falling asleep on the couch. ; )

      • Avatar photoLinda Marie says

        I heard Tea Tree Oil is harmful to dogs too so follow the rules about not spraying around children 10 and under. Include pets to that. ??❀️??❀️

  5. Avatar photoBonita says

    If you want to use alcohol please use vodka as rubbing alcohol is very toxic. Even the fumes are considered toxic.

    • Avatar photoKelly says

      EXCESSIVE inhalation of rubbing alcohol can causes headaches, nausea, dizziness and vomiting. So unless you spray it on fabric and stick your nose in it and inhale often, it’s fine. πŸ™‚

      We know about these instances because people were huffing it, not using a light spritz around the house. πŸ˜‰

  6. Avatar photoKelly says

    I have used straight ru”rubbing alcohol with my essential tial oils added as my spray, and you avoid stains -oil or water- with it. I use it directly on our microfiber couch, and because it’s alcohol and dries so quickly, it doesn’t leave any water marks. (I also use plain rubbing alcohol in large quantities and rub vigorously with a white towel to clean the microfiber couch!)

    I spray it on pretty much anything and everything, and if you use Purification essential oil, it helps takes bad odors out!!. πŸ™‚

    • Avatar photoBEN GREGO says

      that sure makes more sense to me than having to round up all those other ingredients……as always, simpler is better!! thanks for sharing!!

  7. Avatar photoCarol says

    THANK YOU for a non-Febreze TM substitute. At the doctor’s office I was asked what I was allergic to. In listing allergies, I saw a bottle of Febreze TM on the table. I said THAT gives me a headache immediately (as does Lysol used at a different doctor’s office). I haven’t been able to use scents in years, but bet I can handle some essential oils. Lemon and eucalyptus are lovely.