The Nest – Buying a Home, Money Advice, Decorating Ideas, Easy Recipes

Message Boards | Recipes | Nestie Blogs
Decor Ideas | Tools | Buying Guides

community

all boards

my blog

my photos

my boards


200+ Easy Weeknight Meals!

Green living: Eco-friendly tips & tricks!

All Boards > Cleaning & Organizing

This thread is no longer active. See our most recent posts and join!
12-01-2010 at 8:43 PM
kaysi82
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-03-2005
Raleigh, NC
476 Posts
746 Points
kaysi82 is not online. Last active: 05-21-2012, 8:00 PMNewbie

talk to me about plug-in air fresheners.

i remember hearing they can cause house fires.
i don't want to have to remember to unplug it when we aren't here.

i have an airwick mini that i have used for a while now. the problem is that the refills that they sell in stores are scents that i hate but ordering online leaves me paying insane shipping costs for a tiny piece of plastic!

what are other options out there? don't want anything overpowering.
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
12-01-2010 at 9:52 PM
mlee116
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-21-2009
1,379 Posts
237 Points
mlee116 is not online. Last active: 06-12-2013, 8:51 AMBronze

I've been using plug-in air fresheners for awhile now, although I've heard the same thing.  I probably should unplug them. 

I'm horrible at replacing them though, so what I use more often is candles.  I just burn a few of them at a time at different points and the smell actually lingers awhile after I blow them out.

I've also used Febreze Set and Refresh things and they are ok.  Very light scent, better for a small bathroom or something. 

Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
12-01-2010 at 9:53 PM
mlee116
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-21-2009
1,379 Posts
237 Points
mlee116 is not online. Last active: 06-12-2013, 8:51 AMBronze
Or reed diffusers!  I like them because they last a long time, highly scented and you never have to worry about them.  I've tried Woodwick's Vanilla and it smelled good, but not overbearing.
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
12-02-2010 at 5:57 AM
Jkip0705
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-12-2007
New York
828 Posts
2,015 Points
Jkip0705 is not online. Last active: 06-17-2013, 8:28 PMBronze

I have the wallflowers from Bath & Body works that I like but they can be very powerful. I too am afraid they will cause fires so I usually only plug it in when people are coming over to give the house a quick overall good smell.

Most of the time I just keep them unplugged...I don't buy them anymore because I think they are a waste of $

I will have to look into reed diffusers.
 
12-02-2010 at 2:25 PM
Bathlove
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-14-2010
Florida
610 Posts
3,810 Points
Bathlove is not online. Last active: 04-12-2012, 11:08 PMBronze
I just burn candles. No risk of fire there (ha ha!).
Anniversary Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
12-02-2010 at 3:23 PM
crissy89
Not Ranked
Joined on 04-19-2008
Redding, CA
598 Posts
369 Points
crissy89 is not online. Last active: 02-05-2013, 3:06 PMBronze
BBW Wallflowers all the way! We have one in every room in our apartment and I LOVE them! They aren't a waste of money because they last forever and when you can get them for $4-$5 during sales... stock up and you're good for the whole year! :) DH and I recently went out of town for Thanksgiving for 5 days and we left ours plugged in. Guess what? We came back... and no fires! :) If you find a scent at BBW that you don't like, you can return it even without a receipt and even if you've used it for one that you do like! Good Luck! :)
~Mrs. K~ My Married Life & Cooking Blog 
12-02-2010 at 4:23 PM
justmarrie...
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-24-2010
517 Posts
10,311 Points
justmarried2010 is not online. Last active: 03-18-2011, 5:54 PMBronze
agreed- wallflowers are amazing! right now I have mint chocolate chip and my house smells like I've been baking 24/7! I also love moonlit path, kitchen lemon, whatever the apple one is, and clean linen. I have been using them for years and no fires. Read the directions, when you change the scent you're supposed to wait 24 hours or so...
 
12-02-2010 at 6:06 PM
ericandmar...
Not Ranked
Joined on 01-03-2009
✈
4,552 Posts
11,474 Points
ericandmarie is not online. Last active: 02-19-2013, 10:24 AMSilver
Another vote for Wall flowers. I LOVE creamy pumpkin, kitchen spice and Vanilla Bean. Though, I just got the Glade scented oil candles and love them.
3/?  
12-02-2010 at 6:26 PM
MrsLele
Not Ranked
Joined on 07-11-2009
2,225 Posts
4,267 Points
MrsLele is not online. Last active: 06-17-2013, 7:53 PMSilver
I'm not a huge fan of artificial smells in a house.  I don't mind a nice candle, and we have reed diffusers in our bathrooms, but otherwise I think a house should smell like your house.  Clean.  or whatever you are cooking/baking.
BFP#1: 1/24/12, MC 2/5/12 @6 wks BFP#2: 4/3/12, EDD 12/11/12 Baby Girl born 11/23/12!!
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
Henri and Charlotte, Christmas 2012 Image and video hosting by TinyPic 
12-02-2010 at 10:01 PM
leoness117
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-03-2010
1 Posts
21 Points
leoness117 is not online. Last active: 12-02-2010, 10:03 PMNewbie

Fires should only be the beginning of your worries with air fresheners. They contain some of the most carcinogenic ingredients out there and can also interfere with proper brain development. Please do your own research! A wonderful reference is Easy Green Living by Renee Loux

Some great alternatives include:

Air Scents (Shadow Lake)
Ecos Air Freshener
Pure Ayre Odor Eliminator
Simple Pure Clean Essential Oil Air Fresheners

Home-made:

Distilled water and essential oils in a spritzer bottle!

PLANTS, plants and more plants

Potpourri









 
12-02-2010 at 10:59 PM
belovedbri...
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-12-2008
California
3,272 Posts
2,733 Points
belovedbride07 is not online. Last active: 01-17-2013, 6:22 PMSilver

leoness117:

Fires should only be the beginning of your worries with air fresheners. They contain some of the most carcinogenic ingredients out there and can also interfere with proper brain development. Please do your own research! A wonderful reference is Easy Green Living by Renee Loux

I'm not a fan of air fresheners for "green" reasons either, but "the most carcinogenic ingredients out there?"  I doubt the validity of that statement.

Anyway, I have several firefighters in my family and so I thought this topic was interesting.  I searched and found Snopes' write-up on the topic.  They didn't find any proof that plug-in air fresheners are any more likely to cause a fire than other electrical devices. 

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/glade.asp


 
12-03-2010 at 1:31 AM
kimfoley88
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-31-2009
Gresham, OR
1,431 Posts
1,348 Points
kimfoley88 is not online. Last active: 08-30-2012, 1:34 AMBronze

I use Scentsy plug-ins. They are "flameless candles" it heats the wax with a light bulb, and they smell so good. There are sooo many different scents to choose from and it's not overpowering at all.

www.scentsy.com
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker  
12-04-2010 at 10:49 PM
Wahoo
Not Ranked
Joined on 02-17-2001
Bergen County, NJ
3,668 Posts
1,165 Points
Wahoo is not online. Last active: 06-08-2013, 4:48 PMSilver
I use glade plug-ins - - - the gel kind.  Mine are part night-light, too, but you can get some that are not night-lights.  I like the "clean cotton" and "linen" scents - scents that do not really smell like anything.  IMO they don't last a long time, but I do have peace of mind vs. scented oil plug-ins or candles.
"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.” -William Gibson 
12-05-2010 at 8:10 AM
DeweyGirl2...
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-27-2009
55 Posts
948 Points
DeweyGirl23 is not online. Last active: 09-14-2011, 10:20 PMNewbie

My little baby boy is almost 2 as well!!  I used to use air fresheners, but I came across this info, and thought --  its not worth it for me.

"The Endowment for Medical Research has suggested "air fresheners" should be called "air pollutants." Many brands contain known toxic chemicals. A 2002 EPA study testing plug-in air fresheners found that the fragrance chemicals in these products react with common indoor air pollutants to produce serious health hazards. Air freshener chemicals have been implicated in cancer, neurological damage, reproductive and developmental disorders. They can also aggravate or trigger asthma attacks.

Harmful Chemicals

  • According to the Global Campaign for Recognition of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, these harmful chemicals have been found in air fresheners:

    Benzyl alcohol: "causes respiratory problems, nausea and vomiting, a depressed central nervous system and a drop in blood pressure."

    Camphor: "currently on the EPA's Hazardous Waste List ... readily absorbed through bodily tissue... irritation of the eyes, skin, nose and throat ... dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions ... avoid inhalation of vapors"

    Dichlorobenzene: "extremely toxic, a central nervous system depressant, kidney and liver poison. One of the chlorinated hydrocarbons that is long-lasting in the environment and stored in body fat. Banned in California."

    Ethanol: "derived from petroleum and is carcinogenic ... toxic to the skin, respiratory, cardiovascular, developmental, endocrine, neurological and gastrointestinal systems."

    Formaldehyde: "toxic if inhaled, poisonous if swallowed. skin and eye irritant."

    • Read more: Dangers of Plug-in Air Fresheners | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5421665_dangers-plugin-air-fresheners.html#ixzz17FJuUxl5"

     

    This was from ehow.com... which I consider to be a "standard" site.... one with no bias or agenda.  So... how to make your house smell nice?  One of the best ideas I've seen is to put pure essential oils (maybe, 2 drops) in your vaccuum cleaner bag... or, if you are bagless, you can use your stovetop to make a mixture of cinnamon sticks, cloves, etc.  -- there are lots of recipes online....

    The health of my little guy is more important to me than having my house full of an artificial smell.

    Good luck!
     
    12-05-2010 at 10:00 AM
    jobiann
    Not Ranked
    Joined on 10-09-2007
    Iowa
    7,176 Posts
    52,339 Points
    jobiann is not online. Last active: 06-17-2013, 9:12 PMGold
    I stopped using plug ins a few years ago because of the fire hazard.  Not sure how likely it is, but there is still a chance.  So we use the reed diffusers.

    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
    Anniversary
     
    12-05-2010 at 9:56 PM
    htwedding
    Not Ranked
    Joined on 10-22-2008
    Chester County, PA
    47 Posts
    264 Points
    htwedding is not online. Last active: 02-03-2013, 3:04 PMNewbie
    I use wallflowers from Bath and Body Works and I am one of those people that are paranoid of fires. We have a one-bedroom apartment so I use it in a place that I pass often so I don't forget to unplug it. If you don't want a plug in, I've used the Glade flameless candle thing before. I think Bath and Body Works has those "scentbugs" that are air fresheners that you don't have to plug in.
    On Oct. 2, 2010, I will marry my best friend!

    <imgsrc="http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/4868:857093317209/jpeg/SM"width="180px"> 
    12-07-2010 at 3:30 AM
    SueBear
    Not Ranked
    Joined on 09-13-2001
    Central NJ
    3,904 Posts
    988 Points
    SueBear is not online. Last active: 05-15-2013, 5:22 PMSilver

    I'm not sure about where you live, but I live in the NE.  Almost every supermarket has a cinnamon broom.  You can put it in your living room / den and the whole den smells like cinnamon.  It's great!

    I purchased one when fall started for around $6.  Now the smell is beginning to fade, but I figure my Christmas tree will be in the house in a week, and that will leave the room smelling like pine! :)
     
    12-31-2010 at 6:46 PM
    sally_ruth...
    Not Ranked
    Joined on 12-01-2009
    Colorado
    49 Posts
    798 Points
    sally_ruth7 is not online. Last active: 03-11-2011, 7:09 PMNewbie
    I use a combination of everything mentioned, but my favorite is candles...just love the ambiance more than anything.  They are also the best (for me at least) for large rooms like our living room.  The BWW wallflowers work good for bedrooms/offices that we don't use a lot, I never unplug them and then it smells nice when you open the door instead of like a room that isn't used.
    Anniversary 
    hot topics

    "When did you start feeling married?"
    MindyMWM2012 on Married Life

    "Do you have joint or separate bank accounts?"
    JustinandHaley on Money Matters

    "Severe problems with the in-laws. Help!"
    epco33 on Relationships

    search boards

    choose another board