How to Make a Deodorizing Sachet with Baking Soda and Socks

Clothes and items kept in storage and areas such as attics, basements or unused rooms can get musty fast. The following project involves using inexpensive items such as baking soda, clean socks or knee high stockings to make sachets that will freshen drawers, rooms and even smelly shoes. You can use plain socks or stockings or if you wish you can use ones made of pretty or interesting fabrics. These sachets can also be used in the bathtub to soften skin. Most of us have seen sachets for sale, they are usually high priced and often have tons of smelly additives in them. Many of us find those additives pleasant but for those who are sensitive to scent this project is right up their alley as the recipe contains no scent to irritate sensitive noses. However, if you like scents I will include ideas for you to easily add scents to the sachets if you wish. The process for making the sachets is quite simple. Simply take a sock ( a small ladies sock or a large child's sock are just the right size) and fill it with 4 to 5 tablespoons of baking soda. Generic baking soda will work just as well as brand name baking soda for this project so feel free to save some money that way. Depending on your needs you can finish the sachet right now by twisting the bottom of the sock just above the bulge of baking soda and then tie a knot in the sock at the twist you made. this method is the quickest way to simply deodorize rooms, storage bins and shoes without any accompanying scent. If you like this method then all that is left for you to do is to place the sachet anywhere you wish to deodorize. You can wrap the top part of the sock around the bulge as well so you can easily tuck the sachet away. If you like the idea of adding scents to your clothing, shoes or rooms you have several options for adding scent to the sachets inexpensively. One way to add a scent that you like is to put the baking soda in the sock and then spritz a little of your favorite perfume inside, then your clothing or rooms will smell like your favorite scent. You can also easily concoct many yummy scents for your sachets from items you can often find in your kitchen. You could grind some of your favorite smelling coffee beans and add the fresh grounds to the baking soda, then mix them before putting them in the sock. You can also use spices such as cinnamon, cloves, or extracts such as vanilla or peppermint to scent the sachets. Mix any of these items with the baking soda before putting it in the sock. Finally, you can grind items such as lemon, orange or lime peels and add them to the baking soda also. However, if you choose to use fruit rinds I recommend that you mix them with the baking soda along with 2 tablespoons of salt for preservation. The sachets can be used for more than just simple fragrancing. If you have any moist areas in your home add several tablespoons of salt to your mixture before putting it in the sock. The salt will soak up some of the moisture in the area while the baking soda freshens it and any additives you chose fragrance it. You can also use these sachets in the bath tub. If you choose to do so then avoid additives such as cinnamon, vanilla and peppermint or cloves. These additives can easily irritate your skin in large doses. You made add a miniscule amount of these items if you would like, but please take care. For sachets used in the bath, salt makes a wonderful skin softening and soothing addition to the baking soda. To use one in the bath, simply run warm or hot water and then tie the sock around the faucet or just place the sachet in the tub. After the tub has filled you can enjoy your soak and use the sachet as an exfoliating scrubby for your body.