Homemade Linen Spray With Aloe

Find the Right Spray Bottle

• Linen sprays work best when they're misted onto sheets or upholstery. Look for a small metal or plastic bottle with a misting spray option. If you are recycling a spray bottle, clean it well. Scrub the inside with a bottle brush, liquid detergent soap and hot water. Rinse until you no longer smell soap or other product residue.

Add Water

• The amount of water you use depends on the size of your spray bottle. Fill your spray bottle a little more than halfway. It will last for months if stored in a cool, dark place. The best water for linen spray is filtered or distilled water. Softened, hard or mineral water may leave mineral deposits behind. Avoiding mineral deposits is particularly important if you plan on ironing right after applying the linen spray.

Add Aloe

• The best source of aloe for linen spray is straight from an aloe plant. Simply cut a section off of the leaf. Cut away the green, leafy exterior to expose the gel in the interior. The more aloe you add to the linen spray, the stronger the smell will be. For your first batch of linen spray, it's best to start small. Add 1 tsp. of aloe vera gel for every 2 to 3 cups of water in the spray bottle.

Add Alcohol

• The alcohol in linen spray acts as an emulsifier. It will help the aloe mix readily with the water. If you don't have any alcohol, you can make the aloe spray without it. However, you must mix the spray vigorously before each use. If you choose to add alcohol, use either isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or unflavored vodka. The amount of alcohol that you need depends on the amount of aloe that you used. Add as little as 1/10 the total volume of aloe and water or as much as 1/5. You know you have the right amount when the aloe dissolves readily into the water after vigorous mixing.