DIY Essential Oils in the Home: Make a Simple Trashcan Deodorizer

Gorgeous garbage: Enameled steel kitchen pedal bin trash can from Garden Trading in Michelle McKenna's London townhouse. Matthew Williams photo.

For our new DIY series on essential oils, we asked Dawn De La Fuente, owner of herbal apothecary S/he Studio, for smart, simple ways to use essential oils around the house, from disinfecting to keeping bugs at bay. Today’s installment: how to make an all-natural deodorizing blend for the trashcan and beyond.

Above: Add a few drops of this essential oil blend to problem areas like the kitchen bin. (To source this trashcan, see Design Sleuth: Gorgeous Garbage, A Pedal Bin from the UK.)

When used cleverly, just a few drops of essential oils combat unpleasant household odors. “Tough odors exist all over the home, from garbage cans to closets and bathrooms, as well as pet beds and carpets,” De La Fuente says. Remodelista editors have been known to put a few drops at the bottom of our kitchen trashcans, but the below mixture can also be dabbed on cotton balls and placed in problem areas, or added to a diffuser for full-room coverage.

To make a household deodorizer:

Add to a small glass bottle and shake well.

N.B.: Take care before using essential oils, and always test in a small, discrete area before applying to skin, fabric, or furniture. “Essential oils are the most potent form of plant medicine and must be respected and handled with care. Some essential oils may have contraindications for use when pregnant or for people with health conditions or skin sensitivities,” De La Fuente says. Consider consulting your physician (and your vet) before using.

Check out our other DIYs with essential oils: