DIY Clean-Green Hack: Make Potpourri with Dry Flowers, Citrus and EO’s
Your Space: The Living Room & Boudoir
Wait! Before you toss out those drying-out flowers, recycle the petals into a homemade pretty potpourri — a simple, low cost way to keep your home smelling fresh. Mix and match old petals with slices of citrus and spices for filler (try sprigs of rosemary, lavender or thyme) on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Grab a spray bottle and mix 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil to 2 tbsp of water. Spritz the flower mixture and bake at 200 degrees. Dry in the oven for at least two hours, until brittle but not burnt. Remove and spritz again with your essential oil mixture. Let cool to room temperature and voila! They’ll be ready to showcase in a pretty bowl or vase. (Hint: Try one of these 15 DIY recipes we love by Brit + Co to inspire your next potpourri session.)
DIY Clean-Green Hack: Wipe the Dash and Freshen with Flower Water
Your Space: The Car
From coffee-spills to pet odor, it’s tough to keep your car clean and smelling fresh — no matter how often you’re at the car wash. And truth be told, most gas-station air fresheners are overbearingly strong and use chemical fragrances. Instead, try Flower Water, (think: a lite version of concentrated essential oil) which you can use to brighten your auto ambiance in a couple of ways. To cut down on odor, spritz several times into the air for a natural, botanical freshener. To eliminate dust, dirt and other allergens, mist onto your dash and wipe with a dry, clean rag. No chemicals, no toxins. Just a natural way to keep your car smelling fresh. (Try vanilla for a neutral crowd pleaser!)
DIY Clean-Green Hack: Tackle a Stinky Kitchen Sink with Vinegar and Baking Soda
Your Space: The Kitchen
Can’t seem to get rid of that stale food smell in your kitchen sink, no matter how diligently you run the garbage disposal? Fret no further. With an at-home mixture of baking soda, vinegar and hot water you can eliminate odors in no time. Pour a cup of baking soda into your drain and let sit for 15 minutes. Then add two cups of white vinegar over top of the baking soda (note: it will bubble up). Let sit for 15 minutes, and then run your tap as hot as it goes for a minute, or pour a few kettles of boiling water down your drain. If you think your disposal is strong enough to handle ice cubes and lemon peels, check out The Kitchnn for more DIY solutions to unwanted sink odor.
DIY Clean-Green Hack: Bury Botanical Sachets and Mist Flower Water
Your Space: The Linens & Clothes Closets
Whether you rock a spacious dream closet or a tiny make-do, there’s no denying it: the lack of airflow can cause unworn clothes to start smelling musty, old, or just “unwashed”. Grab your favorite scent of Flower Water (we love rose, for clothes) and spritz above your garments for a natural flower smell that beats chemical-filled fragrances. Similarly, mist onto your linens before making the bed to freshen after they’ve been stored in the linen closet (try lavender, before bed). Keep your clothes in a dresser? Make your own botanical sachets with small cotton muslin bags and dried lavender flowers. You can tuck these into the drawers and they will keep the contents smelling fresh. (Hint: these also make great gifts!)
