Air fresheners blow. Seriously. They don’t actually freshen your air, they just fill an obviously toxic indoor atmosphere with more chemicals than you can shake a stinky sock at.
The Natural Resources Defense Council’s study on air fresheners found 86% of air fresheners tested contained phthalates: “Most phthalates are well known to interfere with production of the male hormone testosterone, and have been associated with reproductive abnormalities.” These included brands that were ‘non-scented’ and ‘natural’.
According to the EPA, air fresheners contain four main ingredients: petroleum distillates, aerosol propellants, formaldehyde and p-dichlorobenzene. Yum. I don’t need to tell you how bad these are, so let’s ditch the spray and make a natural DIY organic diffuser for your home.
What you need:
- Small glass jar
- Bamboo skewers
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 3/4 cup water
Choose from three or four items from this list:
- 7 drops essential oil of your choice
- Lemon or orange peels
- Cedar
- Cinnamon sticks
- Pine cones
- Lavender sprigs
- Rosemary sprigs
Mix them in your bottle, stand the skewers in and place in the room that is in need of a little fresh air.
Want to get more ideas for your home, garden and office? Check out our Greenmoxie Book!