Well, it is as good as the real thing. No. Actually....It's Better!
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| Credit |
1/8 Cup of Your Favorite Fabric Softener
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
Hot Tap Water - To Fill the Bottle to the Top
Shake it up in your Spray Bottle and you're ready to go and fight those Stinky Dog Odors!
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| Who's Stinky??? |
Fake-It Yourself Breakdown:
Fake Febreeze ($0.15 or less for 1 oz Fabric Softener)
Total Fake-It Cost: $0.15 Each
Compare to Actual Febreeze ($5.59 Each, seriously?)
Total Fake-It Savings: $5.44 Each*
*Let's say you purchase 1 Bottle of Febreeze per month, that's a Savings of $65.28 per year!
PS - If you've never visited Homemade Mamas before, go check out their incredible catalog of DIY household and beauty products, among all of their other great tutorials!
Linking Up at Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog and these other Great Parties!
This I am going to have to try! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! I'll give it a try!
ReplyDeleteNew follower!
nancy
http://stylendecordeals.blogspot.com/
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip -- I'm 1/2 through my bottle of Febreze -- next time I'll try this formula!
ReplyDeleteThat's great! I love diy potions like that! :D Thank you so much for linking up with Kirsty & Friends Linky Party! :D Gorgeous gorgeous pup!
ReplyDeleteI used my spray bottle of water downed softner as Febreeze! I wonder if the baking soda makes a lot of difference?? Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeletethe baking soda is what neutralizes odors. :)
DeleteWonderful recipe! Thank you. Thanks for linking to Wicked Awesome Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteVisit you via Free Pretty Things - all linkup are quite impressive but i LIKE yours best! $0.15? You certainly make me smile for the whole day!
ReplyDeleteI have a dog and I will be trying this out. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad I clicked on over. This is a great idea. I bet you can add some lavender oil too (or any other) and get a nice smell.
ReplyDeleteOil would probably hurt the fabric you're spraying it on
Deleteidk aboout fake stuff, but lavender essential oil won't cause any negative effects on fabric. I'm an aromatherapist and work with essential oils frequently and have never had a problem! (With the exception of garlic essential oil. That you definitely do NOT want to get on your clothes!)
DeleteJust get lavender scented fabric softener and there you go!
DeleteGreat tip. I need to give this a try!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing... You have some cool ideas... I'm a new follower.
ReplyDeleteoh geez, and i just bought a big thing of febreeze for $8 today! should have waited. thanks for the great tip!
ReplyDeletelovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com
LOVE THIS! Thanks
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent solution and easy on the pocketbook.
ReplyDeleteI would love for you to share this on my mommy linky party.
http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2011/07/the-mommy-club-share-your-resources-and-solutions-2/
does it leave a residue with the baking soda? If not, that sounds like a great substitute. Thanks for linking up to the Frugal Tuesday Tip this week. http://juliecache.com/2011/07/26/frugal-tuesday-tip-27/.html
ReplyDeleteYes it does leave a residue because of the fabric softener Iv used this recipe for several years furnishings and curtains as well as rugs all need to be regularly cleaned
Deleteif you use less of the fabric softener you dont gett as much residue. still works great
DeleteHi Julia,
ReplyDeleteNope - I've been using it for about a week, and I have no residue - only nice smells!
Cheers!
I was just thinking I needed to make a run to Walmart for some Febreze, no pets here just a stinky hubby and 2 year old LOL! Thanks so much for this, I'm going to go try it out right now on our couch. :)
ReplyDeleteIv made up this recipe for about 2 years now, I tried baking soda, didnt care too much for it so i leave it out :)
ReplyDeleteI love this! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great idea...I love febreeze, but you're right, it is very pricey!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome, thanks for sharing. I love febreze.
ReplyDeleteJessica
http://thatgivesmeanidea.blogspot.com
That's awesome! I totally want to try! Thanks for linking up to my party!
ReplyDeleteKaitlin-The Not So Simple Housewife
http://notsosimplehousewife.blogspot.com
this is an awesome idea and even cheaper if you make your own fabric softner like me! lol
ReplyDeleteWant to share your recipe for fabric softener?
Delete3 cups vinegar
Delete3 cups water
1 1/2 cups hair conditioner
How does the homemade fabric softener work in comparison to store bought? Also do you use a cheap cond or namebrand?
DeleteProbably whatever smells good
DeleteHow do you not have a reaction between the vinegar and baking soda?
DeleteIf your using the homemade softener, I would leave out the baking soda.. the vinegar works at neutralizing the odors..( I have used the homemade softener for a cpl years, works great on laundry)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSuave hair conditioner is formulated differently than other conditioners and is recommended for this fabric softener recipe (as well as is less expensive). I prefer the lavender scent but others prefer the ocean or waterfall versions better. I've used 6c water to 3c vinegar and it works great. I look forward to trying it in this recipe, too! Thank you! (Sorry for the delete; websites are finicky.)
DeleteSuave hair conditioner is formulated differently than other conditioners and is recommended for this fabric softener recipe (as well as is less expensive). I've used 6c water to 3c vinegar and it works great. I prefer the lavender scent but others prefer the ocean or waterfall versions better. I look forward to trying it in this recipe, too! Thank you! (Sorry for the delete; websites can be finicky.)
Deleteoh my! This is amazing! I am a fabreeze addict. I am so doing this when my current bottle runs out!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip!
ReplyDeleteI am a new follower.
Oh I have to try this too. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. Febreze is so dang expensive! I'll definitely be giving this a try!
ReplyDeleteThere are fantastic ideas on your blog. I wish I had this fabreze recipe 2 years ago when I was living with my friend and her dog- the smell of the dog on the furniture almost drove me crazy. Cute dog but ohhhhh my!!!!
ReplyDeleteClicked over from 365 Days to Simplicity's blog party...what a great idea!! Can't wait to try it!!
ReplyDeleteI am going to try this! Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try this. It even beats the price for a bottle at the dollar store where it's a good deal and they also sell slightly smaller version of Lysol for $1 that you cannot copy.
ReplyDeleteI also mix a bit of fabric sofener with water in a spray bottle (w/o the baking soda or anything else) and spray it into the dryer with clothes I want to freshen or de-wrinkle or eliminate static. I think there are pricey products on the market to do the same.
Lord knows with 2 boys, one husband, and 3 dogs... I go through bottles after bottles! now I can make it myself! woo hoo! thanks!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI need this at work. A few ladies leave smell when they sit in the seats for more than 3 hours without getting up. I mean a strong odor of fish,musk and onion.
ReplyDeleteOh my! that's grose! ha ha!!
DeleteThe recipe should be 1/2 cup of liquid fabric softener and 2 teaspoons of baking soda if you're going from 16 ounces to 32. That's if the recipe on homemademamas.net is using a 16oz squirt bottle.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be giving this a try! Thanks a bunch!
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous (Above), I actually altered Homemademamas recipe because I thought 1/2 C of Fabric Softener was WAY too much. Stick with 1oz - that is plenty! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThis works great...and for the car after my sons football gear is in and out!!!
ReplyDeleteStumbled upon your blog from Twitter somewhere...and love this idea! Crafty and frugal - a girl close to my heart; here's a new follow!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Kristina
@PearlGateway
Just found your blog through the Frugal Girls! I wanna try the febreeze!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome!!! Thanks so much for posting this. We use febreeze all the time with two dogs three kids and ferrets. This will def. save us some moolah!
ReplyDeletegotta try this! LOTS of kids & pets here.
ReplyDeleteI just made this and LOVE IT! No more Febreze for me.....Thank You!
ReplyDeleteI'm anxious to make up the fake Febreze...as soon as my bottle is empty. I don't even have to buy anything!! Thank you...
ReplyDeleteBe careful not to use too much fabric softener, especially on upholstry and fabrics that cannot be washed. Fabric softner has lots of oils in it that will build up over time. Its not a big deal on our clothing, because it is washed out, but on upholstry, it will build up, and actually cause more dirt to stick to the fabric. Great idea, but use in moderation :)
ReplyDeleteI was actually about to ask the question that Anonymous above just answered. I was wondering about it staining or leaving spots. It's a great idea though! I will for sure try it in the car!
ReplyDeletethanks so much for this. I love to make my own household cleaners. I didn't have a recipe for Febreeze. I think I'll follow you for awhile and see what else you got :0)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I wonder if it would work on my son's stinky tenners...? ;)
ReplyDeleteI just sprayed my 17 year old's shoes...I'll let you know!!
DeleteIs there a way to make an antibacterial version. I usually buy that one for my bed linen in the guest room and to spray our beds during cold season. I am dying to try this out thank you for the tips!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your question, Sunshine! I wonder if you could put a little bit of vinegar in the mix to make it antibacterial? Vinegar seems to kill most anything!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Heather
What a great idea! I don't even like the smell of Febreeze, but I love the smell of fabric softener. Now that we have a dog, I understand why people use this product. :) I like candles and such, but I don't like to put them in the basement where the dog sleeps. I can't wait to try this!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Heather
Im sure it's just personal preference but I looked at Homemade Mamas, where you originally found this recipe, and realized that they made 1/2 the amount you did with twice the amount of fabric softener. I was wondering if it was a typo on someones part or (like I said) just personal preference. I would hate to add too much softener and possibly stain or "film" my furniture.
ReplyDeleteA late reply, but hopefully helpful. I made the recipe using a little bit less than 1/8 cup of fabric softener to 32oz water and the smell was still potent enough to cover pet odors. It may make a difference depending on the type of fabric softener used though.
DeleteJust read a few comments about that touched on what I just posted. (Should have done that first;) I will try it as you suggest-better safe than sorry- and alter if need be. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteHi Ii$h4 , Yeah - I used less fabric softener in my recipe because I thought the original came out too "cloudy." Less is more on this one! Thanks for the question!
ReplyDeleteWe love Febreeze at our house, but only get it when we have a coupon. Should have known someone would find a way to make it! Am going to try this as soon as possible! Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteI haven't bought Febreeze for a while but the bottles always messed up at the trigger points when I cleaned other people's homes. If you find that a problem, the off brand bottles work better if you don't have one laying around from a previous purchase.
ReplyDeleteThink this would work using homemade liquid fabric softener? I make my own and wouldn't want to buy fabric softener just to make this.
ReplyDeleteHi Meg, I guess it depends on what kind of recipe you're using for your homemade softener. I've seen many that use mostly vinegar and I don't think that it would be too good to spray that all over the house. (Plus, vinegar combined with baking soda might not work either). Cheers!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have fabric softener, would you think a few drops of an essential oil would work as well?
ReplyDeleteI use essential oils for EVERYTHING in my house. For a natural air freshener I add to a spray bottle, 1/3 vinegar, 6-10 drops of essential oil, and fill to the top with water. I normally use lavender or lemon for a fresh scent. Just shake it and spray it! :)
DeleteI foster mama cats and their kittens, when it is time to litter train I have an issue with getting them all to understand the litter box. I use a lot of vinegar spraying when they miss their mark. I will give this a try instead.
ReplyDeleteTrish
Vinegar has the same stuff in it as when cats spray.....I was advised not to use it as a cleaner for cat spray/pee by my vet as it can actually attract them to pee.
DeleteIt's actually ammonia that's in their urine, not vinegar. vinegar neutralizes the ammonia in the urine and removes the scent that attracts them to mark again.
DeleteI'm trying this as soon as I can find an empty bottle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI just tried this for the first time this afternoon. Love the results! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSide note: 2 tbsp = 1/8 c.
I just found this on Pintrest. Thank you sooooooooooo much, Im defitnly making this for now on. Im now following you as welll to get for tips, thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI tweeked this to fit my existing 22 oz spray bottle and it is working GREAT! Thank you. (1 1/2 oz fabric softener, 1 1/2 TBSP baking soda, hot water to fill) I don't normally use fabric softener, but the dollar store had several to pick from for a dollar a piece.
ReplyDeleteThe baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda, same thing: sodium bicarbonate) is the active ingredient that 'soaks up' bad odours, while the fabric softener is just there to perfume the surface but won't take any odours away.
ReplyDeleteIf you're concerned about the spray leaving a residue you can always hoover the furniture a few hours later, or give it a good brushing with a stiff brush. :)
Thank you to Alice's comment on Sept 16... I was so worried that the baking soda was going to leave a white residue on my chocolate brown furniture that I wasn't going to add it. But it makes sense that it is the active ingredient for taking away the odor... I don't want to just cover it up. Now, I'm going to give it a try and if it does leave a little something (I'm going to do a test spot first), I'll try vacuuming it once it drys!! I vacuum my furniture at lease once a week anyway so it's not like it would add anymore work. Thanks "Fake-It Frugal"... love your blog and ideas!
ReplyDeletejust made it and LOVE it! thank you for sharing!! i can't stop spraying it everywhere. i have a stinky dog, 2 messy kids and a smelly husband (when he gets home from work and play!)so we go thru febreeze like CRAZY! thank you for saving us money! and i have made sure to "Pin" it to share the love!
ReplyDelete-Des
xoxo
This is a good way to use up the samples of softener I get in the mail. :) Smells great, just wondering how long it's going to last. Hopefully a while!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks...
Wonderful--even I can do this!
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion! I hate spending my money on this kind of thing!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Can you tell us what this does to fabrics and rugs. Does it leave a residue that attracts dirt?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great stuff.
http://sksartell.blogspot.com/
thank you, very useful post! my cat had 4 kittens last week so I'll use soon a lot... I reblogged here http://1129designorecchinigioielli.blogspot.com/2011/10/massaia-per-un-minuto-rinfresca-tessuti.html
ReplyDeletebest nicoletta (italy)
Thanks so much for the tip, no more scented candles for me!
ReplyDeletesaw this today and already went and bought the snuggle fabric softner in blue sparkle (my fave!) my whole house smells like fresh laundry! soooo awesome!!! i can't wait to share it with friends!
ReplyDeleteJust made this too. I love saving money!!!
ReplyDeleteJust found your link on PINTEREST!!!!! I'm never buying febreeze again! I have 10, yes you read that right, 10 cats, 2 dogs, a husband and 2 toddlers! Bring on the .15 fakebreeze!
ReplyDeleteJust made up a bottle of it and LOVE it! I even shared the post on my Facebook!We have 4 cats and a little one that smells the house up! I love that it makes my whole house smell like fresh laundry! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteI tried this this morning and it WORKED LIKE THE REAL THING! This is my very first time trying to make something like this myself and I'm SO EXCITED! I'm used to paying $4.99 a bottle for Febreeze. I bought a $3.99 bottle of fabric softener and a .69 box of baking soda and it's going to save me a TON of money in the long run. YOU ROCKED MY SOCKS! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying this cuz my daughter says it works like magic! Now I'm going to check out Homemade Mamas for some recipes for laundry soap!
ReplyDeleteI tried this today and love it. It's cheap and works great. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea! I just ran out of Fabreeze so the timing couldn't have been better. Nice post...thank you!
ReplyDeleteActually going to make this for Christmas gifts! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is great!
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, vodka sprayed onto fabric can remove smells by killing the bacteria that cause odors. It evaporates quickly, and is safe on most fabrics. It's a trick I learned from professional dancers whose elaborate beaded costumes can't be thrown in the wash.
I wonder if replacing some of the water in your recipe with alcohol will make an even better odor remover? Can't hurt to try!
This is such a great money saving idea. I had some "febreeze" type spray from the dollar store and just added the fabric softener (1/3 c...if some is good, more is better?/). Works wonderfully and such a saving.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! Thank you for linking it up to my Best of 2011 party.
ReplyDelete~Kara (www.petalstopicots.com)
I like to spray it ON the stinky dogs and children
ReplyDeletethis works great! I think it just might work better than that pricey store bought stuff!
ReplyDeleteI just found your site. SO helpful. I can afford to buy the REAL DEAL....but why would I pay full pop when I can make a clone for so much less? I love it! Keep up the good work...I'll be back to find out what new products you'll be duplicating. ***Pamela from California
ReplyDeletei made it and love it.will not buy it anymore,will make it.also made a all purpose cleaner from pinterest..love it. about to make laundry detergent. not only saves money,but space under cabinets or on shelves. love it
ReplyDeleteJust made it and love it....Great Idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I spend WAY too much on the "REAL" stuff.
ReplyDeleteSo what is everyone useing for a 16oz bottle
ReplyDeleteor a 32 oz bottle how much fabric softner. And what kind works the best?
did you ever find a response to this?? i want to make this with a 16oz bottle and want to make sure i use the right amounts.. lol
Deletethanks
For a 16 oz bottle, half the recipe.
DeleteI didn't have any liquid fabric softener today, so I rolled up three (Arm & Hammer) dryer sheets, inserted them in the 22oz Febreeze bottle I had on hand, added a few sprinkles of baking soda and hot water. My house smells lovely! We'll see how long those sheets hold up before they clog the spray nozzle, but in a pinch, I punched. :-)
ReplyDeleteFabulous idea! Tell us if it holds up!
DeleteLove this! Thank you for sharing! I used 2 TBSP Snuggle, 2 TBSP baking soda and filled the rest of a 32 ounce bottle with water... my house smells so good, now!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try this. My son goes through Febreeze like it is free. I will be back to let you know what I think. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine posted this link on Facebook, and I couldn't resist trying it. My house smells so good. I'll use it often. Regular Febreeze I use sparingly since it's so expensive.
ReplyDeleteAnd I used liquid Downy with Febreeze which makes it even better!
DeleteAnd it will be even CHEAPER since I make my own fabric softener!
ReplyDeleteWhat is your recipe for your fabric softener?
Delete6 cups water, 3 cups vinegar, 2 cups of your favorite hair conditioner =)
DeleteI'm going to make this!~Ames
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know, 1/8 cup IS 2 tablespoons. No need to get two things dirty to measure :)
ReplyDeleteIs this something that you make each time you want to use it? I'm wondering this because the recipe states that the water needs to be warm.
ReplyDeleteNo - the warm water helps dissolve the baking soda, that's all!
DeleteThe warm water is just to dissolve the baking soda properly. Awesome stuff by the way! Thanks for sharing this with us all!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome and cheap substitute for Febreeze! I've been doing it for years now by taking a Bounce dryer sheet and putting it in a spray bottle and filling to the top with warm water. Smells fantastic and actually lasts longer than Febreeze!!!
ReplyDeleteDoes the fabric softener leave a residue and then attract dirt?
ReplyDeleteI didn't read all of the comments since there are so many, but...you could also use this in the place of Static Guard when you have those issues with static electricity. :) The fabric softener in it will tame it.
ReplyDeleteYou can also take a spray bottle with half white vinegar and half water and spritz on fabrics to eliminate odors. It will smell like Vinegar initially but not once it dries. Vinegar is also a great fabric softener, especially for those who have sensitive skin...use full strength in place of commercial fabric softener.
ReplyDeletemake sure to go to homemademamas.net and not .com
ReplyDeleteWhat a shocking surprise that was!!!
LOL! Thanks for the tip!
DeleteI've seen Febreze at the dollar store. Even then it is cheaper to pick up your fabric softener there with that dollar and make numerous batches.
ReplyDeleteI totally panicked this evening because my little boy woke up with throw up in his crib. Me being a not so prepared mom didn't have an extra mattress pad( i didnt have time to wash it because he needed to go back to bed) So I remembered hearing about this febreeze recipe.I whipped up a bottle of this, than spritzed the mattress pad, than blew dry the wet spot,than threw on a clean crib sheet. The spray smells divine, the only issue I came across was a white chalky residue on my hand from fluffing the mattress pad when I was blowing it dry. What would cause this? Maybe just the fact I took the blow dryer to it. Anyway I can't wait to try this on something else.
ReplyDeleteYes! Homemademamas.NET not COM!!!!! The .com site is a porn site!!! I'm so glad my children were not with me when that happened. OMG!
ReplyDeleteI love this. Just had your site recommended to me and I love it. I'm your newest follower. (PS I have a linky party every Thursday called "Thriving on Thursday" where I like to feature thrifty ideas. Would love for you to stop by if you had a chance and link up some of your ideas. We're on the same wavelength.
ReplyDeletehttp://domesblissity.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/thriving-on-thursdays-linky-party-5.html
Anne @ Domesblissity xx
I have been doing this for about 5 plus years........ it works really well, and saves alot of money as I go through spray freshener for my furniture due to my indoor babies..... really is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI made this recipe with Gain fabric softner ( my favorite scent) .. Smells great!! Only question I have is I have noticed chalky residue on the outside of my bottle( cheap bottle that leaks a little :-(..) also felt starchy residufrom my hands..leaky bottle again.. I am assuming its from the baking soda.. Is 2 Tbs too much? What should I reduce baking soda to to still be effective?
ReplyDeleteThanks
You can reduce the baking soda. The recipe is to refill a Febreeze bottle, so if you're using a smaller size, adjust the recipe accordingly. Cheers!
DeleteThis has been the best find. The smell last at least 3 full days before I respray. All my students love coming in my classroom. They say, " It smell sooooo good." Good for after PE class.
ReplyDeleteI have used a variated version of this for years, but decided to try the recipe here including the baking soda into it, and it works so much better and is great!! Now my house has a nice scent that is lasting for hours, and that is a hard task with 3 dogs and 4 birds in the house, but it works wonders!
ReplyDeleteJUst made this and tried it immediately...it wonderful...three dogs two cats and a messy hubby...thank yo so much!!!
ReplyDeleteI've seen some pins saying to use leftover hair conditioner as fabric softener. Could you use conditioner in this recipe in place of fabric softener? I don't buy liquid so instead of going out to buy an "extra" ingredient. If not any other substitutions??
ReplyDeleteThanks! And I just LOVE your site!
Just made it and I love it!!!
ReplyDeleteWill have to try this out!
ReplyDeleteTip: If you make your own fabric softener, as I do, remember that vinegar and baking soda react! I just made a nice mess in my kitchen :) However the "febreeze" works great!
ReplyDeletethanks!! I was just about to sub some vinegar for the water.
DeleteI made this awhile ago, but seen your money saving part and had to borrow for my blog, thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteFANTABULOUS!!! Just sayin! Gonna have to try this!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea, i made it right away and sprayed it!!!! I bet it also keeps the static down throughout the house. Thanks for the awesome idea!!!
ReplyDeleteHave tried the two cleaning fakes and they are fabulous..keep up the good work!! in this tough economy all those pennies and dollars count---thanks for a wonderful blog!!!
ReplyDeleteJust tried this. It's amazing! Thanks for the wonderful tip.
ReplyDeleteDid it, will never ever go back to store bought!
ReplyDeleteSo, fabric softener is a known carcinogen, should we really be breathing it in? This sounds like a good idea to save money, but is it worth our health?
ReplyDeletecan you use home made fabric sofener in this?
ReplyDeleteSure - I don't know why not!
DeleteI'm a new follower. I saw this post on Pinterest and I am actually making this right now. I just had to stop so I can post here. LOL! Thanks so much. I was going shopping tomorrow and I have crossed a lot off my list already. Thanks sooooooooooo much :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic because I just made my homemade fabric softener today! Will have to make this tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI make this all the time. At my Walmart, there is a cheapy bottle of fabric "conditioner" by Suavital for 88 cents, and that is all I use. I love this. It is super cheap, and smells like fresh laundry throughout the house. I've been telling everyone how to do it.
ReplyDeleteMade this and it smells great! I've been wanting to get some Febreze but the price halted me every time I went shopping. This was free though (I used a fabric softener sample) and super easy. Thank you!
ReplyDeletehttp://ohigotthis.blogspot.com/
I love this, I always use Downy Simple Pleasures (purple bottle) in my laundry and love the smell. Now I can have that smell all over the house. The only issue I had was that the baking soda did leave some residue on my window when I sprayed the couch (window is behind it) so don't know if I should use less baking soda or maybe just leave it out next time and see how that works. Thanks for sharing such a wonderfully simple tip :)
ReplyDeleteDoes this work with homemade fabric softener or does it need to be store bought?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to try this! Lately i've been going through 2 bottles of Febreeze a month.. can't wait to try this cheaper alternative!
ReplyDeleteMy husband had some shirts made recently and he told us if we wanted to save money on drycleaning and extend the life of the shirt, when you take off the shirt spray the underarms with Febreze and then hang it back up. It works, my hubby can wear his shirts 3 times before we take them to be pressed. Thanks to your new recipe for home made Febreze, it will save us even more money!
ReplyDeleteI have heard that some fabric softeners have a warning and are harmful if inhaled...would like to know more on this subject. Some recipes have comments that say this is harmful to people after prolonged use.
ReplyDeleteYou can also use just 1 part water and 1 part vinegar. It will smell like vinegar at first (maybe use apple vinegar for a more initial pleasant smell, but the vinegar smell will go away and neutralize whatever odor you were trying to get rid of, not too mention, you won't have the chemicals like you would from fabric softner.
ReplyDeleteyou wouldn't want to use this on furniture with scotch guard or flame retardant items, as fabric softener ruins it...
ReplyDeleteAnother great way to freshen your home is using essential oils. I'd like to share the below link with everyone.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/tip/household-tips.html
Using essential oils to make air freshener is just as easy to make and there are a variety of scents to choose from.
Will this work the same if you make your own fabric softner?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great tip. I am now a follower. Would you like to be a guest blogger on my blog sometime? I have a lot to still learn and will be following you from now on. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi, I just found this blog. Great idea, and so easy. I have a stinky scottie too. Bathe him Monday, stinks by Wednesday. But I love him and wouldn't have him any other way. Well, maybe less smelly.:)
ReplyDeleteyou know what makes this easier? knowing that 1/8 cup is the SAME as 2 tablespoons. fyi.
ReplyDeleteActually, 1/8 cup = 4 Tablespoons. FYI.
Deletehttp://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Bulletins/measurement_equivalents.html
DeleteThis is a nice little "recipe" for fake-febreeze. I'm just wondering, because it has fabric softener in it, will it create build-up on stuff that you spray it on. Like curtains, couches, etc.? Great tutorial, thanks for sharing...I want to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteI've been using this on my curtains for months now and I don't see or feel any build-up. Not even on my dark colored curtains.
DeleteI just recently found your blog, and as a graduate student I like a lot of the ideas you have. I haven't actually tried any of them yet, but I've bookmarked a few for when I need them! I'm all for being frugal, but I was wondering if there was anything that you prefer to get, even if it's more expensive. For example, I love to bake, and have found that the butter can make a substantial difference, so I will spend more on nicer butter. My mom likes good olive oil, because she uses it on salads and other things where the flavor is really apparent. Is there something for you where faking it just doesn't work?
ReplyDeleteI am a "Febreeze Addict" but because it was pricey, would stock up when coupons + sale (I have two dogs!). I found this tip on Pinterest, but waited until I used up my Febreeze stock. I made this today (with the Gain softner with Bebreeze!) and IT. IS. AWESOME. I have sprayed it all over my house. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJust tried. loved it. I use Downy the April Breeze sent and it works awesome. i plan on making my own fabric softner when I run out so I can't wait to try it with the home-made softner
ReplyDeleteI'm having a problem with this spray leaving a white film on everything. The combination of fabric softener & baking soda is making a mess. Am I doing something wrong?
ReplyDeleteI love this stuff SO much more than febreeze and similar sprays! I spray it on my curtains around the house, carpets, rugs, SHOES, beds, throws & pillows... and I haven't had any problems with a white film or anything.
ReplyDeleteLast week, I left my car windows cracked and it rained hard all night! The next day when the sun came out, I sprayed the seats and floors down with this solution and let it dry. My car smells fresh and new now! And before all of this, it smelled like an old car.
In the past, the febreeze usually just blends with the bad odors and creates an almost pleasant but almost nasty smell. This solution just made the smell go away. I love it! I use it all over the place!
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful idea!!!
Oh, by the way- it kills flies too! LOL seriously!
Hi!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit to your site and I love all of the $$ saving ideas!
I recently re-discovered many uses for the inexpensive old stand-by, Borax. I used this way back in the 70's to freshen and clean cloth diapers.
I have been on a cleaning streak since I discovered it works wonders on tough grease and grime. I sprinkled some on the inside door of the oven and almost every bit of baked-on stuff came off using only a wet rag - no scrub-brush needed!!
After that, I tackled our bathtub - 1955 model! It had several places where I had used almost every cleaning product known, it was impossible to clean up completely - "aged" to perfection, I guess! Anyway, most all of the gray spots cleaned up after I sprinkled it on the tub and used a wet rag to wipe it down! Even the old tile shined up a little!!
When that was done, I rinsed out the rag and noticed the mirror was pretty dirty, so I wiped it off and guess what? The mirror shined like new with nary a single streak!!
Later on, I added a little bit to the dish pan. We live in west Texas where the water is very hard and full of minerals so I figured it couldn't hurt. Wow, the dishes and glasses are sparkling!! Even the old plastic (say 70's orange strainer) stuff looks like new again!
I am probably the biggest fan Borax has!!
I wonder, what should I try it on next?
ok, silly question, but i am just not good at conversions.. lol... i have a 27oz febreeze bottle, how would adapt the receipe to fit it??
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this "fake" product... Score one for the owners of stinky pets and parents of teenage boys!! I've been needing an alternative so that I'm not using a jug of the real stuff...what with a kitty in the house (and I can't seem to scoop her litter fast enough), and the gym socks from 2 teenagers... Thanks for this alternative to the expensive sprays!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this!! I have 2 large dogs in a small apartment and it has worked wonders!! I cannot wait to start making other products!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. I'm going to try adding hydrogen peroxide (my go to deoderizer) instead of baking soda and see what happens...
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! I tried it and smells great, leaves no residue at all. I have tile floors and i even used it to clean so the whole house smells great! Thanks
ReplyDeletePlain rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle works just as well, takes away the odors and evaporates leaving no smell behind. I would NEVER spray baking soda and fabric softener repeatedly onto my upholstery.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I used a 16.9 oz Febreze bottle and used 3 TBS of fabric softener and 1 TBS of baking soda.
ReplyDeleteYou have such great ideas! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDeb
I used a 16 ounce empty Febreze spray bottle with a tablespoon and a half of baking soda and a few (ok, a lot!) spritzes of perfume. My house smells like Victoria's Secret now! Febreze is around $6 - $7 a bottle over here in Europe! This stuff is so much better in so many ways! I'll probably never buy Febreze again.
ReplyDeleteNow if I could figure out a "fake" version of a Swiffer spray mop and a wax warmer that runs on 220 volts (can't find either of them here!) my life would be complete!
I just realized that 1/8 cup and 2 tablespoons are roughly equivalent, so basically you're looking at equal parts of each (makes converting to larger or smaller volumes easier, which is what I was trying to do lol). Just thought I'd pass that along!
ReplyDeleteJust made some. I had to put 1/4 cup of fabric softener. mine had a light scent any way. I love it!!!!
ReplyDeleteFabric softener has so many harmful toxic chemicals in it. PLEASE don't spray this crap anywhere!!
ReplyDeleteYou can use the homemade fabric softener and it works great to and then you save even more love it
ReplyDeleteI don't use liquid fabric softener... I use the pellets (downy unstoppabes). The pellets dissolve in the washer because of the vigorous movement of the water. So... I'm going to use some of them, shake them up in the bottle until they dissolve, and see how well they work. The scent lasts for weeks when used in the wash...so I'm hoping it lasts that long on my furniture!!!
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