How to Make DIY Fabric Refresher Spray

There’s nothing that quite beats the feeling of crawling into crisp, fresh-smelling sheets at the end of a long, tiring day. Or drying off with a clean-smelling towel after a relaxing shower. I’ve always found such comfort in fresh smelling linens, it’s almost like a therapeutic effect. This Two ingredient DIY Fabric Refresher Spray solves the issue of wishing there was a way to retain that just-cleaned smell a little longer, as it feels like that scent tends to dissipate after just a single use.

This is why finding DIY Fabric Refresher or homemade febreeze, as some refer to it, was such a rejoicing moment for me! I could finally savor that freshly-cleaned scent whenever I wanted, at the press of a spray bottle!

Even better, I learned that these were extremely easy and quick to make at home and I can’t wait to teach you how to do it too.

🛏️ What is Fabric Refresher?

This all natural fabric spray is a light mist that is used to keep fabrics smelling fresh and clean. They can be used as a fabric booster on a variety of surfaces including carpet, clothing, bedding, linens, car seats, and more. 

These are mainly made from two components: an alcohol base combined with aromatic oils. Common, store-bought linen sprays tend to use synthetic and artificial components.

If using a store-bought linen spray, then opt for one with all natural ingredients. Definitely make sure you don’t see phthalates on the label. 

The simplest, healthiest, and least expensive linen spray is to make a DIY version yourself.  

➕ Benefits

While it might sound easier to simply grab a store-bought spray off the shelf and throw it into your cart, or to rely on a strongly scented commercial laundry detergent to get your sheets smelling fresh and clean, those aren’t the healthiest options.

Plus, making your own DIY products is surprisingly quick and easy (and very inexpensive!) to do. Our Three Ingredient Disinfectant Spray, DIY Heavy Duty Cleaning Spray or Natural Cleaning Bottle Labels with recipes.

The main advantage of making your own household products means that you get to choose the exact ingredients that go into them.

That means no toxic, impossible-to-pronounce chemicals will be sprayed all over your precious home.

Avoiding the chemicals in commercial products might be doing you even more good than you realize according to this study which concludes that artificial scented products interfere with the healthy development of neurons and may contribute to some developmental issues.

⚙️ Tools / Equipment

Small spray bottle: I usually choose glass ones. I find they are easier to clean and adding or removing stickers is usually easier.

Small funnel: I get the collapsible ones. These take up a lot less space in the cabinet.

Label stickers: Virtually any stickers will work. I usually just write the recipe on the label, but you can use your computer to print some out.

🚰 Ingredients

Alcohol base: Use rubbing alcohol, vodka, perfumer’s alcohol, or witch hazel.

Essential Oils: Use essential oils that are labeled as 100% pure and natural. Avoid oils that are labeled as a “fragrance” or contain synthetic fillers. Oils that say “therapeutic grade” are totally fine to use. These are some of the oils we’ve found work best for linen sprays and some of their main properties: 

• Lavendar essential oil: Lavendar is widely used to promote sleep by easing anxiety, restlessness, and stress. It has a delicate, floral scent that boosts feelings of calmness and relaxation. This oil is our number one choice for linen spray that will be used on sheets, since it is so calming and sleep-friendly.

• Lemon essential oil: Lemon essential oil is characterized by its refreshing, uplifting scent. It contains detoxifying, disinfectant, anti-fungal, and calming properties. 

• Chamomile essential oil: This sleep promoting oil is easily recognized by its gentle, sweet, floral scent. It is known for its digestive-supporting, anxiety-combatting, pain-relieving properties.

• Fir essential oil: The calming, nature-inspired, forest-like scent of fir oil is a powerful aromatherapy agent. It is known for its respiratory-supporting and pain-relieving properties.

• Orange Essential oil: Orange essential oil is great for calming anxiety with its refreshing, uplifting, familiar citrusy smell. It is used for treating insomnia as well as for calming the nerves. 

• Rosemary Essential oil: This oil is known for boosting brain function and relieving symtoms of pain and inflammation. Its calming, earthy scent triggers a relaxing, therapeutic effect. Rosemary in aromatherapy has been linked to memory development and dementia prevention.

Essential oils are well known for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and therapeutic properties, but should be used with care. These oils are strong and should never be used “undiluted” which is why we dilute them into a base of alcohol for this recipe. It’s also advised that pregnant women in their first trimester should avoid the use of essential oils altogether. Lavender oil is believed to be dangerous for cats, so just be aware of that if you have indoor cats.

Instructions

Step One: Place 20-30 drops of essential oils into the spray bottle. You can have fun with this step by experimenting with different scent combinations and combine the essential oils according to your preferences.

Some people prefer “blends” for their linen sprays (i.e. chamomile, lavender, orange together in one bottle) while others prefer a pure, one-scent approach. Both options work. 

Step Two: Fill the rest of the bottle with the alcohol or witch hazel base until the bottle is nearly full but leave ½ inch of space at the top. 

Step Three: Cap the bottle and shake well to combine for the perfect essential oil fabric spray.

Note: Shake well before each use and spray on various linens and fabrics to your heart’s content. Since there are no chemicals or harsh ingredients in this spray you can use to the scent-strength of your preference. It is rare that the linen spray would destroy or stain fabrics, but use with care on delicate surfaces.

How to Use

This spray is easy to use. If you’re making multiple bottles, we recommend labeling them with the scents/essential oils you used in each one so that you know which one you need for various purposes. 

To use the spray:

1. Shake the bottle well before each use to ensure that the alcohol and essential oils are properly combined.
2. Spot test the fabric or surface that you wish to spray in an inconspicuous space, just to be sure that the fabric isn’t affected. 
3. Stand at least two feet away from the surface you wish to spray and then mist the spray onto the fabric. 
4. Allow the fabric to air dry.
5. Enjoy your fresh-smelling, yummy-scented fabrics! 

Where to Use

Here are some options to use this spray that you might not think of:

1. Spray a little lavender and chamomile on your sleeping mask and pillow cases before going to bed.
2. Spray entryway rugs before guests arrive or to freshen up the smell of rugs that haven’t been washed in a while.
3. Use it as a car seat deodorizer, this is a great car hack for anyone with kids or pets.
4. Use it as a room spray. Spray in the air or on furniture around the room whenever the air could use a little refresh.
5. Spray furniture, lamp shades, couches, and carpets. These types of surfaces don’t get properly cleaned frequently, but spraying helps keep them refreshed and pleasant smelling.
6. Freshen towels with a few spritzes. Hand towels in bathrooms tend to get used a lot between washes, so this linen spray helps keep them smelling fresh.
7. Spray curtains and draperies. 
8. Spritz sheets and blankets in between washes for that just-washed scent effect.
9. Spray clothes and socks. This is especially great for refreshing jackets and other larger clothing items that don’t get washed in between each use. 
10. Use on pet bedding and blankets for the perfect fabric deodorizer spray.

To make these as a gift, I recommend using a good quality glass spray bottle, labeling it in nice handwriting, and finishing it off with a bow. Viola! 

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