Air Freshening Tabs – Make these tablets with only three ingredients and then place anywhere that needs some freshness like the bottom of garbage pails or in closets. After about a month, crumble them into your laundry for another boost of scent!
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Raise your hand if you’re getting tired of this cold weather. If you could see me through your screen, I have two arms up in the air right now! Cold weather is not my thing. Why do I live in Wisconsin, you ask? To be close to family. Oh, and the other seasons here are absolutely stunning. But winter, nope, I’m not interested.
One of the problems with winter is the stale air. It’s been so cold lately that you just don’t want to be opening windows throughout the house if you know what I mean. We’re paying a pretty penny to heat this baby! The only way I would open a window at this time of year is if we had a horrible sickness in the house or I set our home on fire while pretending I was a contestant on the TV show Chopped. Who else adores that show? Love.
Okay, so back to where I was going with this. . .I’m the type of person who needs my home to smell nice. . .all the time. I have more scent warmers, candles and deodorizers than probably my entire neighborhood combined. Just ask my husband. I can’t help it. It’s a bit of a weakness.
What do you do with these tablets, you ask? There’s a ton you can do with them. . .place them in a closet, put them under a sink, hide them at the bottom of garbage cans, throw one behind the toilet in the bathroom, place one in a bowl under your the seats of your car. Put them anywhere that needs a bit of “freshness.”
These tablets are super easy to make, with only 3 ingredients! Do you already use the Downy Unstopables in your wash? I use way more than I should in each and every load because I love them so much. The “Fresh” scent is my favorite but you can use whatever scent that appeals to you. If you don’t have the scent booster, you could always use essential oils as well.
Let’s get started!
Ingredients & Materials
- 2 cups baking soda
- 2/3 cup distilled water
- 1 cup Downy Unstopables In Wash Booster
or 8-10 drops essential oil
- Silicone mold
- Begin by combining the baking soda and the water until the consistency of the paste gets pretty thick.
- Stir in the scent booster or essential oil.
- Spoon the mixture into the silicone mold. I filled each of the cups about 1/4 of the way.
- Allow tablets to dry for 48-72 hours.
I know, I know. The last step is brutal, isn’t it? Who wants to wait? Well, you do. You’ll need to. The tablets need to dry out completely before you can use them.
Here’s what the tablets looked like when I popped them out of the mold. I ran around the house placing them everywhere. Don’t take too big of whiff up close, they are pretty strong – they need to be in order to scent a larger room.
I’m able to keep my tablets in place for about a month. After that, you know what I do? I crumble them up and throw them in the wash with a load of laundry. Brilliant? Yes. I love that I’m making those little scent boosters do twice the work – first as an air freshener and then as a scent booster in my laundry! BONUS!
I would love to hear how you plan to use your air freshening tablets in the comments! It’s so much fun to share ideas and I always seem to learn something new from all of you!
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Awesome idea. Found you on a bowl full of Lemons. Pinned!
Thank you!! Love that link party!
This could be an answer to prayer for me 🙂 With six kids a dog and four cats my home daily has an “interesting” odor that I am always fighting! Thanks for taking the time to post!
I hope they work for you! You may want to put even more scent “beads” to yours if you’re trying to fight some stronger smells!
This is a great idea! I’m definitely making these for our trash cans. And the fact that I can use them afterwards in the laundry is just icing on the cake! Thanks for sharing on Inspire Me Mondays. Have a great weekend!
I love how simple these are to make. Thank you for linking up to Party Time and we hope to see you again next week!
This is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing this with the Tips & Tricks Link Party. Pinned!
Can’t wait to see what you link up at tonight’s party!
Thanks, Brenna! Just linked up!
Brilliant-Brilliant-Brilliant! Can’t wait to make these today! And I’m with you on ‘Chopped.’ It’s even a family game. Thanks for the post!
i plan on putting them in crocheted hangers and hang them in the closet
What a creative way to use them, Valerie!
Awesome. Going to make some for myself and family
Genius! Could also crumble them and use them as a carpet fresh before you vacuum. That’s what I plan on doing!
Great idea, Becky!
I don’t have silicone molds. Can I use cupcake liners?
I think the tabs would stick to cupcake liners. What you could do try is a muffin pan and then pop the tabs out carefully by inserting a butter knife on the side of each tab and lifting up.
I love the idea of these. They smell great. I have tried making them in metal cupcake pans, with and without liners. I’ve only had one come out of the pan easily. Many of them are still damp on the bottom and inside when i check after 3-4 days. Today I got a silicone ice cube tray to try — i’m hoping it will be easier to get them out without them shredding. I was wondering if you’ve had to wait 4-5 days or longer? I don’t live in a super humid environment. Also, somehow i am getting a lot of air bubbles. Maybe i’m making mine too deep. Just curious, how many inches tall are yours? I can’t wait to start sticking these all over the house, in closets, in the car, etc. I’d never gotten downy unstoppables before, but i’ve been loving them! Thank you!
Mine are maybe about an inch thick. What you might want to do is flip them over after two days and let them dry further? The silicone tray should work better for you if you were having some problems getting them out of your metal pan. Good luck and let me know how things go. I love the unstoppables, too!
Great idea minus the poisonus Downy booster. I’m going to be making these the certified organic way.
good for you
A bit harsh considering this is her blog and her recipe. You could kindly just say “Thanks for adding a natural substitute vs. Downy.” Not very respectful is all.
Can I use regular water?
Can you use these in the new he washers?
You shouldn’t have any problems using these in an he washer. I don’t have an he washer, but I’ve heard traditional washing methods are just fine for them (baking soda, etc.).
Hi thanks for the great idea!
I do have one question though: if I use an essential oil to scent the tablets will I still be able to use them in the wash or will the oil stain my clothes?
Thanks!
Lori
The amount of oil you put in the tablets will not stain your clothes. You should be fine, Lori!
I just made a batch of the air freshener tabs. My home smells great already but why do have the feeling that I did something wrong as I needed 3 molds to empty the bowl with the mixture and there are still whole “beads” visible. Unfortunately I cannot show the picture I took. Still I hope for the best! Time will tell if it all works out?.
Maybe next I make just half of the recipe.?
do you have a fridge freshener idea
Have you tried an open box of baking soda in the fridge? Another idea would be to soak a piece of paper toweling in vinegar, place it in the bowl and put it to the back of your fridge. The vinegar should neutralize the odor in the fridge. Good luck!
Ahh!! You, my friend, are a GENIUS. First- they look like those toilet tank bleach tabs lol. 2nd- love that you gave a natural option for those who prefer it. 3rd- LOVE the 2nd life idea for them!! So smart, and last I love that you are addicted to “smelly-good-things” like me. I can’t get enough. I-HAVE to make these ASAP. But first need the mold. Darn it. I guess I have to wait 2 whole days. Thanks for this AWESOME idea!
BTW do you have an HE top loading washer with low water by chance? Or any of those combos? Do you put the disk in first before any clothes, or break it up on top of the clothes like you would sprinkling regular baking soda in a load of laundry? Maybe I missed thsy part bc I was so excited. Thanks!!
Hi Tara! Thanks so much for the sweet comment! I do have a top loading washer but it’s not HE. I usually break the disc up and sprinkle it over the clothes before starting the cycle. Good luck to you!!
Where do I find a silicone mold? Can I form them in an ice cube tray?
I linked to the silicone mold I used right in the blog post. Just click on the link. I would recommend a silicone mold over an ice cube tray because the tabs will be easier to pop out of the silicone mold when they’re dry and ready.
wow, this is nice. I cannot stand a stale room but I live with a person who is allergic to cold air. I will definitely try this out
Thanks for the natural way. Have found what I was looking for.
hi, can you put the air freshener tablets in a ice cube tray
Sure! They may, however, be a bit more tricky to get out of the tray and because of the smaller size, you may need a couple to be effective.
hi, lot of thanks for your thoughtful and clever diy idea!
can make the tabs in colors?
thank you again 🙋
I suppose you could potentially add some color to the freshening tabs however you’d need to be careful that whatever dye or colorant you add doesn’t transfer to surfaces.