DIY Garbage Can Deodorizers

If you’re looking for a way to keep your home smelling a little fresher, these DIY garbage can deodorizers might do the trick! They are easy to make and take just a few household ingredients. Just toss one into the garbage can to keep odors away.

For this recipe, I used lemon essential oil, although you can use whatever essential oil you’d like. I also used silicone baking cups, but you can use disposable baking cups as well.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 – 5 drops essential oil (each)
  • baking cups

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix 2 cups baking soda and 1/2 cup water in a bowl.
  3. Spoon 1 -2 Tbsp. each into the baking cups.
  4. Bake the deodorizers for 20 min. on a baking sheet.
  5. Once they are done baking, add 3 – 5 drops essential oil to each baking cup.
  6. Allow the deodorizers to cool and remove them from the baking cups.

DIY Hand Sanitizer Spray with Essential Oils

In an earlier post, DIY Hand Sanitizer, I made hand sanitizer in a plastic squeeze bottle with just three ingredients. Since then, I have found a way to make a hand sanitizer spray with essential oils. This recipe is a little more complex and uses a few more ingredients. I used orange essential oil, but which essential oil you use is up to you. Please see the earlier post, DIY Hand Sanitizer on April 11, 2020 for a list of essential oils and their properties. This recipe also calls for a carrier oil. I used sweet almond oil, although you can also use fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 tsp. Carrier Oil: fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil
  • 2 – 3 drops vitamin E
  • 10 – 15 drops essential oil
  • 1/2 tsp. vegetable glycerine
  • 2 tsp. Aloe vera gel
  • Isopropyl alcohol 90%+
  • 2 oz. spray bottle

Instructions:

  1. Add 1/2 tsp. carrier oil, 2 – 3 drops vitamin E, 10 – 15 drops essential oil, and 1/2 tsp. vegetable glycerine to the spray bottle.
  2. Next, add 2 tsp. aloe vera gel. This can be a little tricky. If you’re using a funnel, you might want to scoop the aloe vera into the bottle instead.
  3. Fill the rest of the bottle with isopropyl rubbing alcohol 90%+.

Finally, place the spray pump back on the bottle and give it a good shake to mix all of the ingredients. If you’d like, label the bottle with a sticker.

Easy ways to celebrate Earth Day at home

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Earth Day is a day that is dedicated to raising awareness and appreciation of the earth and its environment. This April 22nd, 2020, is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day first began in 1970 as a day to educate people about environmental issues.

Earth Day can be celebrated many different ways. Here are just a few simple ways to take part in Earth Day at home.

  1. Re-use plastic bags: Save plastic grocery bags instead of throwing them out. They can be re-used for an endless number of reasons, including small trash bags and lunch bags.
  2. Use re-usable tote bags: In addition to re-using plastic grocery bags, using a re-usable tote cuts down on waste that goes to the landfill.
  3. Spread awareness about Earth Day: Let people know about environmental issues that are important to you. Share with others on social media what you are doing for Earth Day.
  4. Use eco-friendly household products: There are more and more products available at the grocery store that are eco-friendly. Recycled paper products, including paper towels and toilet paper, and household cleaners that are sold in recycled plastic bottles and refill containers are just a few.
  5. Stop using disposable plastics: While it might not always be practical to avoid using plastics, every little bit helps! Re-usable plastic or metal straws, re-usable water bottles, and travel mugs cut down on waste.
  6. Recycle at home: Dedicate and area in your house or garage to organize things to be recycled. Look to see if your city provides pick-up for recycling or if there is a drop-off location. Plastic bottles and cans can be returned to the grocery store.
  7. Look for ways to volunteer: Schools, parks or your local community might offer ways to participate in Earth Day, or just to help the environment any day.
  8. Plant a tree: Not only do trees create clean air and filter pollution, they are a symbol of Earth and the environment.
Photo by ready made on Pexels.com

DIY Hand Sanitizer

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with shortages on essentials at the grocery store and a more urgent need to keep things clean, I found an easy way to make your own hand sanitizer using just a few ingredients.

For this recipe, you can use any essential oil you like. Although some are better for their cleaning your hands than others. I used tea tree oil, which has antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic therapeutic properties. Below, I have listed other essential oils that are great for keeping your skin clean.

Essential Oils

Chamomile: antibacterial, anti-infectious

Lemon: anti-infectious, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, astringent

Lemongrass: anti-fungal, anti-infectious, antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent

Lavender: antibacterial, anti-infectious, antimicrobial, antiseptic

Peppermint: antibacterial, anti-infectious, antiseptic, antiviral

Sweet Orange: antibacterial, antiseptic

Spearmint: antiseptic

Tea Tree: antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, antiviral

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 c. aloe vera gel
  • 2/3 c. Isopropyl Alcohol 90% (or more)
  • 5 – 10 drops essential oil of choice
  • 2 3oz. plastic bottles

Instructions:

  1. Combine aloe vera gel, isopropyl alcohol, and essential oil in a bowl.
  2. Pour mixture into 2 plastic bottles.

These hand sanitizers are small enough to carry with you in your purse or bag. The bottles shown in the photo are 3 oz. silicone bottles.

Back to Blogging

Hello everyone! It’s been some time since my last blog post and I decided it’s about time to get back to blogging! Check back here soon for more posts about easy diy, crafts, recipes and more! While I’m busy getting ideas together, feel free to share any ideas on what you would l

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