5 Oh-so-simple DIY Mouthwashes

We can avoid so many purchases by getting creative and making our own products at home. Freshen up with these homemade natural mouthwash recipes that are a great alternative to store-bought varieties.

I was recently in the supermarket, wandering down the cosmetics aisle, when a wall of luminous green caught my eye – the mouthwash section. Blinded by that emerald green light I immediately switched into mindless consumer mode and found myself thinking, “You know what I really need? Some mouthwash!" I stared at all those bottles in their varying degrees of fluorescent green for a solid 5 minutes, weighing up the pros and cons of each brand, before my rational mind finally rescued me from my consumer coma and I realised - I can make my own mouthwash!

Here are some of our favourites that you can try!

For each of these recipes the instructions are the same - mix ingredients in a recycled bottle or jar, shake it all about, swish it in your mouth and spit it out. Done. If you have leftover liquid store it in a sealed jar in your bathroom. It will keep for more than a week.

Not only will making your own products save you money and save you from toxic chemicals and preservatives, avoiding impulse buys will also reduce waste drastically.

Oh-so-simple mouthwash:

1 cup of water

1tsp of baking soda

A few drops of essential oil (tea tree or peppermint are great)

Freshening mouth wash:

1 cup of water

20 drops of essential oil of your choosing (this will have quite a strong perfume from the oil, so choose one that best suits your mood. Soothing lavender, energetic orange and calming cinnamon are a few good options.)

Sweet-n-fresh mouthwash:

1 cup of water

1 tsp organic honey

2 drops of peppermint oil

2 drops of spearmint oil

1 drop of aniseed oil

(If you don't have all these oils it's fine to mix and match or leave some out.)

Tangy mouthwash:

1 cup of water

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Antiseptic mouthwash:

1 cup of water

2 tsp of baking soda

4 drops of tea tree oil

1 tsp of vodka (optional, and only if you're over 18!)

Which homemade mouthwash recipe do YOU love? Let us know in the comments below!

READ THIS NEXT: How to make all your own toiletries

Images: Pixabay and Shutterstock

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