Today we have a guest post! I'll let Patricia get right to it with her gel air freshener DIY:
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For the past few years, air fresheners have been real pop stars in our homes. We use them to kick away bad and pungent smells from our living spaces, shoes and beds. But have you ever wondered what goes into these products and how a bottle of air-freshener can smell like honey and lemons when it doesn't even contain honey and lemons at all?
The reality is that store-bought air fresheners are loaded with unregulated amounts of dangerous chemicals and toxins that do nothing more than cause fatigue and damage your health. Of course, you are unaware of this because you don't start feeling bad as soon as you smell the toxic particles (well, unless you have chemical sensitivity). They accumulate over time and little by little they attack your immune system. There are two things you can do about it: stop using air fresheners or make your own air fresheners from scratch. And by the way, the same applies to your household cleaners because, you know, air fresheners are not the only thing on earth that is chemically-laden.
So, to start your new day fresh, make sure to give this DIY gel air freshener recipe a try.
Here is what you will need:
Spoons, pan and whisk
4 jars
1 tablespoon salt
1-oz box of gelatin (unflavored)
1 to 2 tablespoons of essential oils of your choice
Food coloring (optional)
2 cups water
Preparation:
Into each and every jar, add a few drops of food coloring. Follow up with a few drops of essential oils; one teaspoon is an absolute minimum (after all, it's an air freshener you are trying to make, it's supposed to emanate a strong scent). Next, add a cup of water to a pan and bring it to a boil. Add four envelopes (a box) of gelatin. Grab a whisk and stir until the substance is dissolved into the water.
Now, add another cup of water and stir. Finally, add the salt. Remove the pan from the stove. Transfer the concoction into the jars. Do this as soon as possible. You don't want the gelatin to solidify before you have poured it into the jars. If necessary, use a funnel. It will make things easier.
Stir the substance with a spoon. Let it sit 24 hours or more. Your DIY air freshener is now ready to use. Place the jars in the bathroom, in your kitchen or even in the car. Don't close with a lid. If you want a strong smell, you need to add more than one tablespoon of essential oils. Be careful when choosing essential oils. Make sure you like their scent in the first place. Some essential oils have unpleasant odors. Not to mention, a number of them are toxic to pets. Familiarize yourself with these things before you incorporate essentials oils into a homemade air freshener.
This gelatin air freshener should last about a month or more. As you can see, it is an easy recipe and you probably have most of the ingredients at hand.
Tips and further notes:
Never use a plastic container to hold your gel air freshener. Essential oils have chemical compounds. That's right. The latter may react with plastic. Metal containers aren't a good idea either. Always use glass jars.
Don't worry about the jars after the gel air freshener is finished. They can be cleaned quickly and easily with some dish soap and boiling water. Or if you are a little bit more patient, just fill the empty jars with water, add some dish soap and let sit for a few hours and even overnight. In the morning, you will only need to wipe them down with a sponge. The gelatin thing will be gone.
Note that you don't necessarily have to use food coloring. It's just for laughs. Your air freshener will look cute and presentable if it is colored. Think about gathering your children and making this DIY gel air freshener together. They are going to have so much fun.
We hope you enjoy making this recipe. Here is to hoping it works for you and makes your home smell much better than before.
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The article is contributed by Patricia Cornwell. She runs a small company called Stockwell Tenancy Cleaners.