Have you ever opened up the fridge, only to be greeted with an unpleasant, pungent odor? For the most part, this doesn’t happen, but some fridges definitely have those odors. Sometimes, the smell may be from last night’s takeout, garlic or onions, or something that went bad. Whatever the smell is, you don’t want it in your fridge anymore. The DIY deodorizer in this article can help quickly combat those odors. 

You don’t have to attack your fridge with all sorts of chemicals and air freshener sprays. There’s no need to pollute all your food! All you have to do is combine three all-natural ingredients and then boom, your odors will go away. Instead of that foul smell, you’ll smell a light, refreshing clean scent. You want to know the best part? You just place the combination of ingredients on a shelf in your fridge, close the fridge, and walk away. 

Baking Soda

Why does baking soda work to combat odors in your fridge? It’s a weak base that can act as an acid, depending on what it comes in contact with. The odors in your fridge are composed of food particles that float around and settle into other meals. By putting a box of baking soda in your refrigerator, you give those food particles something else to bond with. Because of sodium bicarbonate’s unique characteristics, it can attract both acidic and basic particles. When these particles bond with baking soda, the odor is neutralized. One thing to remember in regards to baking soda is that you should not cook with the same baking soda that you use to combat odors in the fridge. The reason for this is because the baking soda absorbs those food particles as part of the neutralization process, which can change baking soda’s taste. 

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is an all-natural substance made up of silica from the shells of diatoms, which are microscopic pieces of fossilized algae. Mined from the sediment deposits in bodies of water, diatomaceous earth is an available resource that has been around for centuries. Some people use it as a natural pesticide, while others use it to deodorize shoes. When it comes to your fridge and unpleasant odors, diatomaceous earth may lend a helping hand. It works to soak up the unpleasant smells because it has absorbent qualities, just like baking soda. If you use diatomaceous earth to soak up foul smells, you need to change it every one to two weeks. 

DIY Deodorizer For Your Refrigerator

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup food-grade diatomaceous earth
• 15 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions:

• Add the baking soda to a wide-mouthed glass jar. Make sure that you don’t use plastic because that won’t work well. 
• Pour the diatomaceous earth into the same jar. It has to be food-grade, not pool-grade, diatomaceous earth. Stir to combine.
• When baking soda mixes with diatomaceous earth, they work together to combat the foulest odors!
• Finally, add the lemon essential oil to the jar and mix to combine. 
• Place the jar on a central shelf in your fridge. You don’t want someone to grab it and eat it by accident. Just make sure the jar has lots of air flow! Replace every couple weeks.

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Some of you may already be clued into the amazing food grade powder that is diatomaceous earth (DE). For everyone else, we’re about to blow your mind because DE is one of the best dietary supplements in existence. What’s even crazier is that DE is essentially crushed up rock, so it’s like eating sand. That sounds unpleasant, but it’s actually a very common practice and there are numerous proven health claims to support this practice. 

What Is Diatomaceous Earth?

Food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is made up of the fossilized remains of diatoms, which are small aquatic organisms. Some of the remains date back anywhere form 100,000 to one million years ago. These small organisms collect the sediment from streams, rivers, oceans, and lakes, and the fossilized remains exist around the world. The deposits collect silica, which contains numerous trace minerals that may benefit heart health, improve immune function, enhance the pancreas’ release of insulin, and nourish the hair, skin, and nails. DE happens to be one of the most concentrated sources of silica. 

DE typically comes in the form of a white powder and it has many uses. Some people put it on pets to get rid of fleas, while farmers use it on plants as a natural pesticide. DE also has its place in beauty products, food manufacturing, and water filtering. Food grade DE is available in many health stores, but online retailers sell it as well. There is compelling research and proven studies on the benefits of consuming DE, and we’ve detailed some of them below. 

Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth For The Body

Improves Joint Health

The silica in DE works to enhance regular joint function and bone metabolism. A 2007 study found that dietary silicon actually worked to prevent bone loss (osteoporosis) and improved the connective tissue in joints. Since osteoporosis is considered one of the largest “silent epidemics” of the 21st century, improving bone health is paramount these days. The silica in DE helps improve bone density, but it also works to synthesize collagen, which aids with joint formation and healthy connective tissue development. 

Works To Fight Parasites

One of the benefits of consuming DE is that it helps to regulate bowel moments. In fact, the silica in DE works to detox the digestive tract and increase collagen production, which can support the digestive tract’s lining. It actually helps the body absorb more nutrients while simultaneously flushing out unnecessary waste. A 2011 study that was published in the Oxford Journal of Poultry Science found that DE is an effective treatment to control internal worms (parasites) in hens. Giving hens DE helped improve egg production and quality, and cleaned out parasites in the process. 

Helps Protect The Hair

Did you know that silica is the primary ingredient in many high-quality hair supplements? Many people with thinning hair often use these hair supplements to improve hair growth or prevent hair loss. Several studies examined people who ingested DE every day for several weeks. The results indicated that DE helped to improve fullness and enhanced scalp health. 

Purifies Water

Many filtration products use DE because of the chemical composition. From water purification to fish tank filters, DE helps to prevent tap water toxicity. The fine powder helps to filter tiny particles that regular paper filters cannot catch. One study found that DE works to kill viruses in drinking water, thereby making the water potable. This is great news when you consider that drinking contaminated water causes viral and bacterial infections. Additionally, another study examined a filter containing DE to see how effective it was at filtering tap water. The results indicated that the DE absorbed 80% of the viruses and heavy metals present in tap water. 

Detoxifies The Body

We saved the best benefit for last! As we’ve covered in this article, DE helps to regulate bowel movements and eliminate/kill parasites, which contribute to numerous health conditions. The great thing about DE is that it is inexpensive! It helps to reduce gas and bloating and boosts liver function. Researchers also found that DE works to clean the blood by absorbing harmful toxins that exist in the blood. The silica in DE behaves similarly to antioxidants, fighting free radicals in the body that contribute to oxidative stress. It does so by neutralizing the charge of free radicals and helping the body eliminate them via urine, stool, and sweat. Finally, one study indicated that DE encouraged the elimination of heavy metals from the body. 

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Sometimes fleas attack your pets and you have to resort to some pretty potent chemicals that are not good for them. The fleas go away, but at what cost? The chemicals hurt your pet’s skin, even if you don’t think that they do. You don’t have to use these chemicals because you can make your own flea powder with natural ingredients.

The homemade flea powder is composed of several ingredients that work to naturally repel insects. Most of these ingredients are actually recommended by holistic vets as killer flea treatments.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth

This powder is comprised of fossilized remains of aquatic organisms (this includes coral) known as diatoms. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is very sharp, when inspected under a microscope, which helps to puncture insects and ultimately kill them. Food grade DE is harmless to humans and pets, but deathly to insects.

Yarrow Powder

This has famously been used to help heal wounds in herbal medicine because it has amazing anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe irritated skin. It also has antimicrobial properties, which help to remedy the flea bites or secondary infections that pets can get.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

This natural insect repellent has some pretty potent antiseptic properties, which help to accelerate the healing process after your pet is bitten by insects.

Neem Powder

This classic, Ayurvedic medicinal herb has been used as an insect repellent for centuries. It can help ward off ticks, lice, mites, mosquitos, and fleas. There are compounds in neem that kill larvae, if insects breed on your pet’s skin. It also has moisturizing properties that help to keep your pet’s skin from becoming too dry.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup food grade Diatomaceous Earth
• ½ cup neem powder
• ½ cup yarrow powder
• 20 drops eucalyptus essential oil (omit this if you are using on cats)

Instructions:

• Mix all of the ingredients in a mason jar and shake to combine. Put a shaker top on the jar when you are ready to apply it to your pet.
• Starting from the head, apply this powder on your pet’s back all the way to the tail. You should also rub it on the belly and legs. Cover as much area as possible.
• It can be beneficial to brush the fur in the opposite direction to allow the powder to penetrate the fur to the skin.
• Use this once a month, but reapply if you give your pet a bath. You may need to apply more frequently if there is a flea infestation.

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