Chances are you’ve seen and maybe even used those special “before-you-go” sprays that boast taking care of embarrassing odors, particularly in public restrooms. The commercials are clever and downright hilarious. The sprays work, but they can be expensive and you may wonder, like I did, if you couldn’t just make a similar spray at home.
Like for many of the DIY projects here at Hello Nest, the answer is “Yes, you can!”
The idea is a simple one. Essential oils are combined with a few other common ingredients to create a spray that coats the surface of the toilet water to trap odors beneath. Not only that, but you’re also ensuring no nasty chemicals fill the air in your home, which would likely be the case with commercially available products.
Ingredients for Before-You-Go Spray
Essential oils. They help mask odors and create a pleasant alternative. Depending on what essential oils you use, you can also get antibacterial or germ-fighting benefits. You might want to take a look at our list of the best essential oils for green cleaning before getting started.
Distilled water is a must to help disperse the oils effectively, and it will be the base of your spray.
Glycerin is added to the solution to help thicken the spray.
Isopropyl alcohol and witch hazel help the oils to stay dispersed in the water.
Essential Oil Blends for Before-You-Go Spray
It’s fun to create your own special blend! You will need a total of 30-40 drops of essential oil to make a spray, so it’s best to start with less and build up as you go. Here are five custom blends to get you started.
Citrus
- bergamot
- orange
- lemon
- lime and/or grapefruit
Freshly Cleaned
Floral
Herbal Blend
Winter Spice
Before-You-Go Spray
Materials
- 4 ounce spritz bottle with pump
- 1 ounce isopropyl alcohol
- 1 ounce witch hazel
- 2 teaspoons vegetable glycerin
- 30-40 drops essential oils see notes for variations and amounts
- 2 ounces distilled water
Instructions
- Combine the alcohol, witch hazel, glycerine, and essential oils in the spritz bottle. Swirl and gently shake to combine. Add distilled water. Place pump in bottle and shake vigorously. Store near the toilet and shake before using.
Notes
Before-You-Go Spray
Ingredients:
4 ounce spritz bottle with pump
1 ounce isopropyl alcohol
1 ounce witch hazel
2 teaspoons vegetable glycerin
30-40 drops essential oils (see notes for variations and amounts)
2 ounces distilled water
Instructions:
Combine the alcohol, witch hazel, glycerine, and essential oils in the spritz bottle. Swirl and gently shake to combine. Add distilled water. Place pump in bottle and shake vigorously. Store near the toilet and shake before using.
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