How does an air freshener work
Air Freshener
What is an air freshener? When you purchase something called an air freshener, it’s usually some chemicals to mask a different odor in an enclosed space. Or it’s a cocktail of chemical odors to chemically alter the smells that are hanging in the air. Usually these smells are toxic chemicals that are carcinogens at the worst and cause headaches at the best.
There’s a better way that’s more fun and truly an air freshener. Even the “good” air fresheners may not be so great, they are simply less unpleasant. If you see the word “fragrance” it’s most likely some chemical mimicking the real thing.
Begin by freshening the air
Follow these steps
It’s always a good idea to open up your house (apartment, camper, tent, car, etc) and air it out on a regular basis. Even in Winter on the coldest day and in Summer on the hottest day, if you keep your house closed up and air conditioned. I prefer to do this when the sun is shining for the best results. Exchanging the air for fresh is good for you, your pets, plants and all of your possessions.
In the middle of Winter, when we do this, we run around the house, open up all of the windows and doors, and let the air blow out the old air and fill it up with the new air. We leave everything open for 5 ish minutes and then close it all back up. Obviously, this is much easier to do when the outdoor temperature is warm. Then you can leave the house open all day, if you prefer, or for at least for 30 minutes.
Make your air freshener
Natural is best
It’s also pleasant to add an “air freshener” after your house is filled with new air. And it’s very simple to do. Andy does this with our bar soap. Natural smelling bar soap, such as Ithaca Soap, will off gas tiny amounts of the essential oil perfume, making the air pleasant smelling without any of the potentially harmful side effects.
Store your new bar soaps in your sock drawer
Slice off a small piece
Take your next new bar of Ithaca Soap, and before you place it in your soap dish or in your shower, slice off a piece, approximately 1/4” thick or less. Put the slice back in the box and place the rest of the bar in your soap dish. Then put the box in the linen closet, between your towels, on a book shelf, on a window sill, in your sock drawer, or in with your wool yarn. It’s that simple. If you do this with every bar of soap, after a while, you will have a nice selection of air fresheners, all around your house.
Put the air freshener on a book shelf
Books can be musty
You can also store your unused bars of soap in these places, until you are ready to open and use the next one. Replace the bar with the slice back in the box and you will continue to have your air freshener. After 6 months or a year, you can use the slice of bar soap and replace it with a fresh one.
By keeping the bar in the box, it will remain fresh and good as new when you are ready to use it.
Put a bar soap slice in your car
Freshen the car
You can put a bar soap slice in the glove box, in the cup holder, in the back seat, door pocket. Cars have all kinds of little places to place a bar soap air freshener.