How to make an air freshener for a car

Nobody likes to ride in a smelly car. Make your own car air freshener with simple items and your favorite scent to keep your car smelling fresh.

No matter how carefully you take care of your car, odors can contaminate the interior of your car and linger for days or weeks. A car air freshener can mask and even eliminate many of these odors and leave your car fresh and clean.

While you can purchase air fresheners from auto parts stores and other stores, it's often better to make your own. If you or your regulars suffer from allergies, then a homemade air freshener is the best solution. By using essential oils, you can choose a fragrance that suits you and that you can hang on your rearview mirror like store fresheners.

Part 1 of 4: Create a car air freshener template

Necessary materials

• cardboard (small piece)
• Non-toxic cardboard and fabric glue
• Scissors

This is where you can get creative by designing your own air freshener design. It can be as simple or complex as you like.

Step 1: Draw or trace your drawing on a piece of paper.. If you plan to hang your air freshener on your rearview mirror, keep it small so it doesn't obstruct your view.

Step 2: Cut and copy the design. Cut out the drawing and copy it onto cardboard.

Step 3: Cut out the template. Cut out the template from cardboard.

Part 2 of 4. Choose your fabric

Necessary materials

• the cloth
• Non-toxic cardboard and fabric glue
• Scissors

Step 1: Select a fabric pattern which fits your design. It should be large enough to make two pieces of the pattern.

Step 2: Fold the fabric in half.. This way you can make two identical fabric cutouts at the same time.

Step 3: Attach the template to the fabric.. Make sure your pins don't go over the edge of the template.

You can damage the scissors or get a bad cut line if you have to work around the pins.

Step 4: Cut out the pattern on both pieces of fabric.. Carefully cut out the pattern from the fabric so that the finished product looks as flawless and professional as possible.

Part 3 of 4: Glue the Pattern Together

Required material

• Non-toxic cardboard and fabric glue

Step 1: apply glue. Apply glue to the back of the fabric pieces or to one side of the template.

Follow the instructions on the glue to make sure it sticks to the cardboard properly. As a general rule, you need to apply the fabric while the adhesive is still wet.

Step 2: Position the fabric so it's smooth. Lay a piece of fabric on the cardboard and smooth it out so that there are no wrinkles or bumps.

Step 3: Apply the second part. Turn the cardboard over and attach the second piece of fabric in the same way.

Step 4: Let the air freshener dry. It is best to let the glue dry overnight or longer. Do not continue until the glue is completely dry.

Part 4 of 4: Apply essential oils to your air freshener

Necessary materials

• Essential oil
• Hole puncher
• Yarn or ribbon

Step 1: Choose an essential oil you like. Common scents are citrus, mint, lavender, lemongrass, and floral scents, but the options are almost limitless.

Step 2: Apply essential oil to the air freshener. Do this by applying 10 to 20 drops on each side.

Be sure to move the freshener and do not apply all the oil in one place. Allow the oil to soak into the fabric on one side of the air freshener before flipping it over and applying it to the other side.

Step 3: Lay the air freshener on a table or shelf to dry.. A brand new air freshener scent will be quite strong, so you can let it dry in a well ventilated area like a garage.

Step 4: Make a Hole. Once the air freshener is dry, cut a hole in the top to hang the air freshener.

Step 5: Pass the thread through the hole.. Cut a piece of yarn or ribbon to the desired length and thread it through the hole.

Tie the ends together and your air freshener is ready to hang over your rearview mirror. A homemade air freshener is a great way to make your car smell nice and also add some personality. If you don't want to hang the air freshener on the rearview mirror, shifter or turn signal lever, you can place the air freshener under the car seat. Also, if the smell in your car is too concentrated, place the air freshener in a zippered bag with only part of it exposed. Be sure to have a mechanic run a smell check if your car smells like exhaust, as this can be very dangerous.