Homemade Febreze? I Tried It So You Don’t Have To

Every so often, a reader sends me a message that begins with, “Mary, have you heard about this?” That’s usually followed by a link, a whisper of thriftiness, and a promise that the solution will both cost less than pocket change and change my life forever.

This time, it was homemade good ol’ basic Febreze Fabric Refresher spray (unscented) widely available at Target, Walmart, grocery stores, online and big-box retailers.

According to the internet, you can make your own fabric refresher using ordinary tap water, either baking soda or vinegar, and maybe a few drops of essential oil, if you’re feeling fancy. The claims are bold: It works just as well as the store-bought version, smells fresher, skips mystery chemicals, and saves money.

Naturally, I tried it. Because if there’s a way to freshen a house without paying brand-name prices, my readers deserve the truth. And if it’s nonsense, they deserve to know that too.

When people talk about homemade Febreze, they’re usually referring to a simple spray made by combining water with baking soda or vinegar, sometimes finished off with essential oils. The idea is that baking soda absorbs odors, vinegar neutralizes them, and essential oils make the whole thing smell pleasant instead of medicinal.

It sounds suspiciously reasonable.

To give this experiment a fair shake, I tested the sprays in places where fabric refreshers actually matter. I used them on a pair of running shoes that had clearly exceeded their warranty on freshness, a well-used fabric couch shared by humans, dogs and the occasional snack, and a bathroom that sometimes forgets it’s supposed to behave.

If a homemade spray could survive that lineup, it would earn my respect.

The first version I tested: 1 tablespoon baking soda mixed with 2 cups warm water. This is the most common recipe online. Baking soda does absorb odors, but it doesn’t dissolve well in water. Even after I shook the bottle enthusiastically, gritty residue settled at the bottom and repeatedly clogged the spray nozzle. On dark fabric, it also left faint white marks that required brushing or vacuuming.

As for performance, I believe it did reduce the odor slightly. Not eliminate it, not replace it with ocean-breeze freshness, but soften it. Think of it as turning down the volume rather than changing the station.

Next came the vinegar version (half water, half plain white vinegar), which made me hesitate before spraying because vinegar announces itself loudly. The good news is that plain white vinegar genuinely neutralizes odors, and stubborn smells don’t stand much of a chance. The bad news is that for a while, everything smelled unmistakably like vinegar. The sharp scent did fade, and when it did, it took much of the original odor with it. Still, this is not a spray you use right before company arrives unless you’re confident in both timing and ventilation.

Essential oils improved both versions. Ten to 15 drops added to 2 cups of the baking soda version, and then the vinegar version, made the sprays far more pleasant but didn’t fundamentally change how they worked. Essential oils mask odors rather than remove them, which is fine for light freshening but less helpful when dealing with serious smells. They also come with cautions, since oils can stain fabrics and may irritate pets or sensitive noses if used heavily.

So does homemade Febreze work? Yes, to a point.

Homemade sprays can reduce odors, freshen lightly used fabrics, and help stretch time between deep cleanings. What they don’t do is perform exactly like commercial Febreze. Store-bought versions use a compound that traps odor molecules and neutralizes them chemically, which explains why they work quickly, consistently and without residue. That’s the science you’re paying for.

Where homemade versions shine is cost. A DIY spray costs pennies per bottle, while a commercial one runs several dollars. If you use fabric spray often, enjoy knowing exactly what’s in it, or simply like a good experiment, homemade versions have their place.

My cheapskate conclusion is this: Homemade Febreze Fabric Refresher sprays aren’t a scam, but they’re not miracles either. They work best as a light refresher, a budget-friendly backup or a stopgap between cleanings. DIY in this case is less reliable for heavy odors, dark or delicate fabrics, or situations where you want guaranteed results immediately.

Personally, I’m keeping both. A homemade spray for everyday touchups, and a store-bought bottle for when company’s coming and I don’t want to gamble. That’s not cheating. That’s being practical.