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You might be thinking what?? What is a homemade deodorizing trash can spray?
Today, I will share with you how to make one and WHY to make one.
Many years ago, I was using essential oils in the trash can to help it smells fresh and clean, but I didn’t like how it wasn’t spread out.
I started making a spray instead with some other ingredients to fight odor, and I like it better.
This is a spray I have used for many years, but I am finally sharing it with you today.
Homemade Deodorizing Trash Can Spray
Just a heads up, I use Now Brand, Gya Labs, or Plant Therapy for all of our recipes. In the photos you see Now brand because that is what I had on hand, but they are hard to find sometimes.
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp citric acid
- 1/2 cup water **
- 10 drops tea tree oil
- 20 drops of pine essential oil (or purify oil)**
- Misting Spray Bottle
Directions:
- Add ingredients to a spray bottle.
- Shake well before each spray.
** Ingredient notes: You can use up to 1 cup of water for this solution if you don’t want the scent to be as strong. The pine essential oil or purifying essential oil for this is strictly the scent. You can add more drops to make it stronger or less. It is up to you on that! The tea tree oil is important for the odor, so I would keep it this same.
How To Use Homemade Trash Can Spray?
After taking out the full trash bag, lightly spray inside of the trash can. Replace the trash can liner.
You can spray periodically too or as often as you’d like! It is also helpful to spray around the area and outside.
Why Would You Use A Trash Can Spray?
Even after you change your trash, malodors can continue to linger on plastic surfaces and even in the air. The combination of ingredients in this mix deodorizes, neutralizes, and also kills bacteria.
You don’t realize how nasty trash cans get, even if you clean it out often, they get dirty everyday. This spray keeps it fresh and deodorized. Anytime someone walks into my house, they always comment how fresh it smells. I think part of this is keeping areas like trash cans neutralized and clean.
What Else Can You Use This Homemade Deodorizer On?
You can use this around toilets, bathroom trash cans, kitchen sinks, or any small surface like that! It deodorizes really well in a small area. Especially areas that have constant odor causing sources. This is also really great for diaper pails!
The Science Behind Deodorizing Trash Can Spray
Each ingredient in this recipe has a specific purpose to eliminate odors and leave a pleasant scent behind.
Citric Acid
This showed up in our DIY toilet bowl cleaner, and it has other uses besides cleaning. Citric Acid is a great odor neutralizer! Citric acid can also come from using lemon juice, but using it in this concentrated powder form allows for zero residue to be left plus it won’t go bad. When you use fresh lemon juice for recipes, it needs to be used right away. It can also leave a residue on surfaces, so I love to keep a jar of citric acid on hand for things.
Will this recipe work without the citric acid? Yes, the essential oils used in this recipe work alone. BUT I have found that using the citric acid helped this spray cut odors better and for longer. I have used this spray with and without it, and it works better with the citric acid addition.
Tea Tree Oil
Of all the essential oils, tea tree oil is one of my favorite and most researched oils. It is a great anti-microbial, so it works on surfaces with mold or mildew like in this homemade recipe. It also kills odor causing bacteria, so it neutralizes the odors as well. It has a pungent scent, so this is why I use it with another oil like pine oil or purifying oil which smells so clean and fresh.
Water
I am using water in this recipe instead of witch hazel just out of convenience. If you are using a homemade spray for things like fabric, witch hazel is a good choice because it evaporates quicker. This means it won’t make your fabrics wet. For room sprays, I use things like vodka or witch hazel for the same reason. But for the trash can, it isn’t as important for evaporation, so water works just fine in this. You are welcome to substitute the water for witch hazel though!
Why Do I Use A Mister Spray Bottle?
I love using a mister spray bottle for this recipe because it gets everything sprayed evenly. You can also use a pump sprayer or something like that. If you are making something that will store an essential oil for a long time, glass bottles are best. For this solution, it doesn’t make enough to be stored long (which we do on purpose), so it shouldn’t matter if the bottle is not glass. Just a little information on that for you. The picture above shows the different spray bottles I use most often.
How Often Should You Deep Clean The Trash Can?
This solution is great for odors and killing bacteria, but it is also a good idea to deep clean your trash can once a month or if something spills. I typically do a hot water and dish soap clean once a month for the kitchen trash can.
I hope you enjoy making this spray and using it for things! It is a great cleaning hack, and it will keep your home fresh, clean, and deodorized.
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Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
Thank you for this
It is such a great recipe!
Is there an ingredient you can use in place of citric acid. I can’t seem to find mine. Thank you for sharing!
You can use vinegar, but it will make the smell a little different. Baking soda might be another option as it has odor absorption properties too!
Thanks a bunch! With 4 kittens in the house, the garbage tends to get a little smelly (quite similar to a diaper pail).
Just keep in mind, it won’t absorb odors as well as the citric acid, but can still work 🙂
I am definitely going to try this one. I have several cats and have not found any commercial product that can neutralize cat urine smell. Even if the product(s) would work, I can’t tolerate the smell of the chemicals!
Do you have a recipe for cat urine smells (and cleaning).
Thanks for everything you share!!
I don’t have any specific for them, but we have a few things that you can try. First, I highly recommend using zeolite rocks around your home for pet odors! For any type of carpet cleaning or carpet stains, you can use our homemade carpet cleaner which is great for pet stains or odors.
Can you share a link for the mister bottles & spray bottles you use?
The mister for this recipe is listed under the ingredients. Click spray bottle in the ingredient list to the one I am using. For spray bottles, here is a post I shared awhile back with all of my go to options.