Another Q About Plug in Air Freshners

If I walk into a home that is "artificially enhanced" with air fresheners, I have to leave, immediately. If I try to be polite and stay even a few minutes to explain to the host(ess) why I can't stay, I end up with a sick headache, dizziness, and wheezing. One good blast of those toxic chemicals can have me unable to sleep for up to three days with central apnea.

I hope you'll google "air freshener dangers" for the many, many links explaining how genuinely toxic they are, especially for children. Here's just one link, that suggests healthier alternatives: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/air-fresheners-easy-gree...

I never use air fresheners. I either grind an orange peel in the garbage disposal or light a vanilla candle.

I read your question about your son being sick all the time with ear infections and runny nose before I read this question. Plug-in air fresheners are all chemicals and they could be the reason your son is sick all the time. He could be having an allergic reaction to the air fresheners.

btw -- Antibiotics WEAKEN an immune system. His body needs to be able to fight infections. When you keep him on antibioics the medicine is fighting the infection not his own immune system.

Also if you keep your home too clean. As in always using anti-bacterial cleaners his immine system will also be weakened. The body is a wonderful thing is being able to fight disease and infection but small amounts of bacteria are necessary to start the process.

I don't use them at all. We don't care for the artificial smells or the nasty chemicals.

I never use them. They are chemicals that you are unneccesarily pumping into your air. Take it out and leave it out.

I would never use those things! not good for your health. Do you use these? if you do that is the first thing that needs to go for your son...I'd bet that is why he is having issues with breathing and colds. They are not good to inhale.

At B...even chemist don't know for sure what is good for us and what is not...until the bad comes out!

Never. My husband is a firefighter and won't let them in the house. Big fire risk he says.

Never. They irritate our sinuses.

Please look into what is in those things. Air fresheners are horrible for your health, especially kids. As far as I know the ALL contain harmful chemicals, why would you want to breath that even 1/2 the time?
You can google it for more info, there are natural ways to keep your house smelling fresh.

Before I knew how bad they are, I left them plugged in 24/7. Now that I have 2 kids with asthma, I use 100% essential oils mixed with water as a natural air freshener.

I used to until my son became allergic to them and we stopped using them altogether. When we were using them, I was concerned because they got really hot.

Well I just have to beg to differ about the idea of not seeing an epidemic of sick people. Sorry B, but you are mistaken. Asthma is on the rise, skin conditions are on the rise, sinus infections, colds, and just about all kinds of sicknesses are on the rise. I believe that way more people are affected badly by chemicals than will ever know it. People are misdiagnosed all the time, or they just ignore symptoms. The chemicals that we are all breathing in is slowly but surely bringing this world to it's knees. We will pay for ignorance.

I don't use them at all, the chemicals are one reason. Really, your senses acclimate to the smell, so there isn't any point in keeping them or any kind of scented item on all day. I prefer to use a candle warmer or like another mom said, grate in orange peel in the garbage disposal or boil cinnamon sticks or something.

They are banned at nursing homes and places with handicapped people because they catch fire when left on.

Don't use 'em either.
They cause me to start having an asthma attack.
DH too, and he has not had real asthma issues since boyhood.

I don't use them because I think they are toxic. I use real essential oils in a diffuser. This gives the added health benefit to the wonderful scent. I just feel like my lungs are being coated with the air fresheners. But, if I did use them, I don't think I'd leave them plugged in all the time. They are probably safe though, or else I'm thinking that the government would be involved...
They do sell essential oils diffusers that you can plug in like that though, just FYI. :)

My husband works for a company that makes them. I never buy them and we can get all that stuff cheap.

It gets in my mouth and gives me an instant headache.

You CAN leave them in 24/7 but when they are dry I'd pull them out ASAP!

I use them with no problems and I leave them in until the oil is used up.
There was an urban legend about them being fire hazards that was proven false.

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

As for believing they are toxic, I react badly to cigarette smoke and some perfumes but have not had a problem with air fresheners (but I'm picky about the scents I like - I don't like all of them).
I'm not a chemo-phobe.
Most people don't know enough about chemistry/biology to know what is dangerous and what isn't.
What works for one person may not work for another and anyone can develop an allergy to anything at any point.
The products are popular and they sell a lot of them.
A lot of people use them and I'm not seeing an epidemic of sick people.

I have 3 going 24/7... no repercussions that I'm aware of.

We have them in every room in the house, and never unplug them. I also use Scentsy burners, but only when I'm home and then not all the time. I love the smell of cinnamon and vanilla, so those are the scents that I use. We haven't noticed any change in our health from using them, but none of us have asthma.