Does anyone use air fresheners?

[Curmudgeoness]

I do, and I always thought that they were such a waste of money. But with a cat litter box in the house, I feel the need for them.

This morning, I was doing a chore that I occasionally do and thought "people would think I was mad to do this". I use those good old Renuzit air fresheners that you can get for a buck on sale.....but I was always upset that they dried out so fast. One day, I decided to see if they can be rehydrated and continue to work when they were supposed to be replaced. I took the top off of it to see what could be done. I had a heck of a time trying to figure out how to do it---that get had turned hard as a rock.

I ended up putting the bottom part with the hardened gel in a container of water up above where the gel was stuck on the spindle. It softened up really well, and I was able to take all the gel off. I then put it in a nice vase or other container and kept water in it. I have the same gel for years, and it still works. The water that is left in the container that I soaked it in makes a nice simmering scent.

I just hate waste!

[cbayer]

1. I also use the Renuzit ones for $1.

I only open them a crack and they seem to last a really, really long time. By the time mine are done, there isn't much there.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. You would be surprised at how they rehydrate.

Yes, it does look like it is a little bit of hard stuff, but it still has the fragrance in it. And it swells right back up in water.

[cbayer]

3. I will give it a try.

It's hard to keep a container of water on the boat because, well, things fall over. But i could try a capped jar with some holes in the top.

[stuntcat]

4. I'll do that ty!

I use that same kind too, having cats and all.

[we can do it]

5. Air Fresheners Are TOXIC!

We've talked before about the hazards inherent in air fresheners. The EPA puts it quite poetically: "Air fresheners are usually highly flammable and also strong irritants to eyes, skin, and throat. Additionally, the solid fresheners usually cause death if eaten by people or pets."

Yes, these household helpers -- which became popular in the 1950s, along with perky smiles and perfect apple pies -- contain all manner of harmful ingredients, including formaldehyde, a powerful pesticide called paradichlorobenzene, and phthalates. In short, air "fresheners" actually make our air quality much worse, polluting our space and our bodies. To quote the EPA again, "air fresheners ... release pollutants more or less continuously."

http://www.grist.org/living/2012-01-02-ask-umbra-can-air-fresheners-make-you-sick

this one is good about other indoor pollution, too
http://www.silentmenace.com/-Air_Fresheners_.html

http://greentot.wordpress.com/2008/06/21/air-fresheners-toxic-dangers-and-natural-solutions/

[we can do it]

6. Make Your Own Pet and Human Safe Air Fresheners

Air Freshener: Commercial air fresheners mask smells and coat nasal passages to diminish the sense of smell.
• Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.
• Having houseplants helps reduce odors in the home.
• Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.
• Keep fresh coffee grounds on the counter.
• Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal.
• Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.
• Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.

http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

[Curmudgeoness]

12. I knew that I was opening myself up to hearing this.

And I do appreciate the information. I will consider it. I will look into natural fresheners, as long as they have nothing to do with vinegar. Ever since I was a kid, the smell of vinegar reminds me of pickled pig's feet---one of my dad's favorite foods.

[Curmudgeoness]

15. I did some research, including the sites provided.

There is no mention of the Renuzit adjustable air fresheners/gel types in any of those articles. So I kept looking.

On the site for the Cancer Prevention Coalition

http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/household/indoor_air_poll.htm

DEODORANTS/FRESHENERS

Big D Concentrated Aerosol Room Deodorant (Big D Industries)
Toxic Ingredient: Isopar (deodorized kerosene), manufacturer admits wide range of toxic effects

Safe Alternatives: Renuzit Adjustable Air Freshener; Airwick Stick Up

Fresh Para Blocks and Crystals (Fresh Products Inc.)
Toxic Ingredient: Paradichlorobenzene, toxic to liver and kidneys, carcinogenic

Safe Alternatives: Renuzit Adjustable Air Freshener; Airwick Stick Up



Also, the US Dept of Health and Human Services site shows minimal risk ratings (the lowest rating) on the Renuzit adjustables.

These may not be the safest ways to freshen a house up, but they are not one of the more dangerous air fresheners. I am sure that simmering fresh herbs on the stove is better---unless you forget they are simmering, which has often been my problem.

[RKP5637]

37. Thanks for posting this! I will try Renuzit Adjustable Air Freshener. My cat is

extremely good about his box, but still you get that lingering smell.

[Melissa G]

7. If I really want to clean smell my place

I use a cleaning product called citrasolv. I sell expensive aromatherapy products. The good stuff.
This product also gets customers asking about the great smell. Makes me laugh...

[Curmudgeoness]

8. Is this cleaner available in stores?

Could I find it anywhere?

[Melissa G]

10. Not sure where you are from

your profile. If a big town with a health food type store, probably so.

Are you a member of Frontier coop?

If you are out in the boonies, and like natural food stuff and have a large size family (more than 2) it might be worth it to join. I know Frontier sells citrasolv.

[Curmudgeoness]

47. Not a large family size here.

It's me and the cat, and he doesn't eat much.

There are no coops close to me. I am half way between Pittsburgh and Erie in western PA. I only get to Pittsburgh once or twice a year to get things I can't get in small town. There are a few health food stores, I can check them for it. Thanks.

[uppityperson]

46. I've found it at a Cenex and in grocery stores. It is great, concentrated orange.

[onestepforward]

19. I use essential oils for fragrance

Love them! I have a box fan in my bedroom with an air filter strapped to the back. I'll spritz the filter with a mixture of lavender oil and distilled water and turn it on. It roughly filters the air plus the scent fills the room. It's relaxing to use it before bedtime.

To avoid synthetic chemicals on my skin, I also make my own perfume with essential oils mixed with EverClear in a spray bottle. I make my husband's cologne too.

[Melissa G]

20. Try some bergamot or orange during the day to enliven

and refresh your environment. Lavender is good for cleansing and calming, but a little citrus zest can be a nice energizing change.

[onestepforward]

21. I will!

My favorite oils are citrus and peppermint. The perfume I make is lime, lemongrass, and a touch of lavender. My husband's is lime, lemongrass and sandalwood.

I also put peppermint in my homemade cleaning solutions. I need all the energizing I can get

[Melissa G]

22. Good choices!

Bergamot can have reactions with sunlight, but it is a nice male fragrance. Might be a nice variation in your mix for him in the winter.
Maybe sometime if you can find it, try subbing a dash of blood orange for the lime in your perfume and maybe add a drop of sandalwood. yummy!

[onestepforward]

23. Good to know!

Thanks!

[pinto]

9. Yeah. Windows.

Snark aside, it's doable for me. Live on the CA coast, so open windows are fine most days. Other than that, I keep fresh cuts of herbs- chives, rosemary, thyme, etc. - in water on the counter.

Sometimes I'll simmer cinnamon on the stove if friends are coming over.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Yeah, my house is freezing with all the windows locked tight.

Smarty panty! I think it is in the teens or single digits here. And don't you know that fresh cut herbs are out of the question at this time of year too.

But, I get your drift. I also will use cinnamon on the stove sometimes too.

[Sherman A1]

13. Good advice on rehydrating

I had never considered that as an option, but will give it a try.

[cyberspirit]

14. Non Toxic Air Freshners

I have birds and a dog that share my house, so I have to be really careful about using chemicals. I use Mosa Air Purifying Bags in my bird room and the Bad Air Sponge in the rest of the house. Both work great.

[stuntcat]

16. I'm gonna look those up

I don't have to use much air fresheners anyway, I could go totally non-toxic.

[Underwear bummer]

17. Odd that you brought the subject up as i was just thinking of this

I won't usually buy those things, but for some reason when I date a new girlfriend i like to buy a few of those those strawberry "Car Freshners". is a smell that never fails to make me happy.

here: http://www.shoprite.com/pd/CarFreshner/Air-Freshener-Strawberry/3-ct/076171320124/


Sure they've probably got terrible chemicals in them but I haven't developed a truly bad reaction to them yet. And if the new relationship works out it keeps a nice memory of our first date. Scents tend to activate long term memory.

Now that i don't drive I just keep them at home.

Besides that i am very thrifty. A one room studio apt when in the city. And live off the grid when i go to my country land which is mostly undeveloped. Low impact construction. i do wish the coyotes would pay some rent to me however.

My first post btw.

[Curmudgeoness]

18. Woohoo! Your first post, and to me!!!

I am honored. Welcome aboard.

I don't think that my solution to the dried out gel fresheners will be helpful to you with the car fresheners, but we never know if you can devise a way to get more mileage out of those too. Personally, I don't really like those ones since they seem to be too strong and they overwhelm me, but we all have different tastes. If you can find a way to save us all money on those types, do let us know.

[otohara]

25. Walgreens Stopped Selling Those

because they agreed, they were too toxic.

[otohara]

24. I Just Hate Fragrances

even those without carcinogens.
I think they should be renamed - as they do nothing to freshen the air.



POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS
NOTE: The acute health effects described below are those which could potentially occur for the finished product. They are based on the toxicology information available for the finished product and/or each hazardous ingredient, and are consistent with the product type and the likelihood of a specific route of exposure. Known chronic health effects related to exposure to a specific ingredient are indicated.
EYE CONTACT: May cause irritation.
SKIN CONTACT: Repeated or prolonged excessive exposure may cause irritation and allergic contact dermatitis.
INGESTION: Not an anticipated route of exposure given the nature of the finished product. Nonetheless, ingestion may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and lethargy. Ingestion of large quantities may be harmful.
INHALATION: Vapors may cause irritation of the nose, throat, and respiratory tract. Breathing high vapor concentrations may produce anesthetic effects, nausea, dizziness, headache.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS BEING AGGRAVATED BY EXPOSURE: Persons with preexisting respiratory conditions.

[roody]

26. No. They are toxic.

[NYC_SKP]

27. "cat litter box in the house"???

get rid of it....

[Curmudgeoness]

28. Huh? And what do you suggest that I do?

This is much easier than cleaning up urine and feces all over the house.

Or are you suggesting that I get rid of the cat? Forget about it.

[MH1]

29. From someone with a picture of a DOG as their avatar???

Harumph.

But, I find "World's Best" cat litter is very good at odor control.

[farm 2 table 2toilet]

30. I never use Glade or Renuizit-type ones

The very best are from the health store and made with essential oil. I have one that is 12 years old and it still has lots of sprays in it! And it's non-toxic and very effective.

[NMDemDist2]

31. although this poster has been served a Pizza

I thank him/her for the suggestion, I never thought to look there!

[kestrel91316]

32. I have a litter box and NEVER need air fresheners. I help my clients all the time

with this sort of issue so I do know whereof I speak. I recommend a good quality UNSCENTED scoopable cat litter - PetSmart's Exquisicat is my fave, Petco's house brand my second - and I scoop at least once and often twice a day (2 cats).

Poor quality cat litter is a leading cause of litter box odor, in my personal and professional experience.

[Curmudgeoness]

33. Thanks for the tip.

I don't have a PetSmart or Petco nearby. The closest thing I have to a pet supply store is Pet Supplies Plus, and to be honest, I use the mid-range scoopable litter. I have had problems with low priced litter, because it seems to break apart too much, but I really hadn't noticed a difference between what I use and the expensive ones like Tidy Cat. Maybe it is time to experiment with some of the pricier brands.

May I ask, why unscented? That is what I use now, but I find that the more expensive brands all tend to have some sort of gimmick like special scents, etc.

[kestrel91316]

34. Cats LOATHE scented litter and often avoid the box due to it.

IMHO Tidy Cat Scoop is one of the worst litters out there for giving you a smelly box.

[RKP5637]

38. I've been using the Tidy Cats Scoop for multiple cats with great success. It's

the clumping type. I use an auto cat box so it's up and outta the box each time. I've tried the non-clumping Tidy Cats before and it was horrible, had all kinds of smells from it ... why they make two brands similar in price here, I have no idea.

The only smell I get is just after he uses the box, but the HVAC system picks up the smell and circulates it around, so that's why your use of the Renuzit Adjustable Air Freshener was interesting. I'm thinking of trying one in the bathroom where he keeps his box.

[Curmudgeoness]

40. LOL. Let me make a disclaimer......

NOTHING will help with that "just after he uses the box" odor!!!!!! Whew!!!!! That is when I have to just run with the scooper and get rid of it-----fast.

[RKP5637]

41. Yeah, it's pretty bad. If in the next room I run in and turn on the fan in his

bathroom.

[RebelOne]

35. Febreze is my friend.

I am a smoker and nothing kills the smoke fumes like Febreze. Plus, I have two little dogs and one shits where I can't see it, but I smell it. I love Frebreze. I have used Renuzit and other air fresheners, but none do the job like Febreze.

[Curmudgeoness]

36. I think that it has been considered a hoax,

but I remember when Febreze was first on the market, and they said it was harmful to pets. I have never tried it, and that little nagging item about it is always what I think about. Anyways, I am too cheap for a spray.

[RebelOne]

55. I love Frebreze. I have tried many air fresheners,

but none of them have killed odors like Frebreze. I have two little dogs and it has not affected them and I have used it for years.

[RKP5637]

39. I tried the oil plug-in ones before and they were a waste to me. Way too expensive and

I didn't like the idea of a heat source plugged in all of the time. And some of them really stunk. Then, I saw others had caused fires. I like what you were saying about the good old Renuzit air fresheners that you can get for a buck on sale, etc.

[Curmudgeoness]

42. And don't forget the part where you can rehydrate them

and keep them going for a long long time.

I know what you mean about the oil plug-ins. One of the women at work uses one in her office and I find it offensive---too strong.

[RKP5637]

43. Is there a particular store chain where you see them on sale from time to time? Yep,

your post about rehydrating them was interesting and sure sounds good to me. I'll do the same.

[Curmudgeoness]

44. Usually, there will be sales on them

and even coupons in the paper. I see them for under $1 all the time. I see sales in flyers for Walgreens and other drug stores all the time. And I don't go to Dollar Generals often, but I bet they are there too. I think $.89 is a good price to find, and I saw them advertised at one of the chain drug stores in 3 packs---2 for $5, which would be about $.83 each.

But I really don't have to buy them often. Really.

[RKP5637]

45. Thanks!!! n/t

[NMDemDist2]

51. Dollar General has them for $1 every day i think n/t

[RKP5637]

52. Thanks!!! n/t

[xmas74]

48. I just saw this thread.

I read somewhere online about pouring a bit of white vinegar in a small bowl or lid and setting it out in an area that it won't get nudged or knocked over. That's it.

It actually worked. No perfume-y smells, just no odors. The cat decided to use a closet as a litter box one day and this removed much of the smell.

[Curmudgeoness]

49. I am willing to try this.

It certainly can't hurt, and I have white vinegar right here in the house.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[xmas74]

50. Not a problem.

That's why I tried it-because it was in the house and non toxic.

[pennyfor]

53. white vinegar is really helpful

white vinegar is really helpful when it comes to removing smells. It helped me to get rid of a cat's smell on my favourite shoes.

[Curmudgeoness]

54. Ewww, I won't ask what happened to the shoes.

Someone else suggested white vinegar upthread, and I intend on trying it when my Renuzit dies. I will say that years ago, I did try it on a spot on the carpet that was an accident from a sick cat, but I didn't have much luck with it....of course, I didn't have luck with anything else either. Oh well. But I will be putting out a bowl of white vinegar next and see how it works.

[Deuteros]

56. Wierd idea, clean.

I have this weird way of making my house smell better. I clean it.
It's amazing how smelly things like vinegar and ammonia can make your house smell better when used properly.

And sometimes, when I'm feeling really off the wall, I'll open up all the windows and let the breeze blow through the house for a couple min. Yes, I do this even in the winter. The objects in the home and the thermal mass of the house hold most of the heat energy, not the few pounds of air your blowing out so your really not going to use a lot of energy re-heating the air. If your house is well insulated and sealed like mine, you should probably do this anyway for health reasons. Radon accumulates this way. Household air quality can be worse than a smog filled city, so unless you live in China it's a good idea to do every once and again. So when that warm winters day hits,clean the house, turn off the heat and open the windows for a few. Chances are after a vigorous clean your heart is moving and your feeling hot anyway.

Air "fresheners" just contaminate your air. They contain VOC's.

Baking soda works well as a deodorizer and is cheap. That box in the fridge can be re-cycled by emptying it onto a cooky sheet and baking it. Next time you make some cookies, re-fresh your baking soda. then use it on the carpet or put it back in the box and back in the fridge.

[cbayer]

57. Although I do all the things you suggest, I have a holding tank and need some additional *help*

from time to time.


Welcome to DU by the way.

[Curmudgeoness]

58. No comment on the cleaning, but

I have never heard that you can refresh baking soda. Tell me more. What temp for how long to get it refreshed? I use baking soda a lot for odors so that could be very helpful (also very frugal! )

I will agree that cleaning is one thing that does help with the stale odor in a house, but for me, it isn't all that easy. I don't have the energy to clean the whole house as well as it should be done----scrubbing walls and carpet and curtains and furniture. I work full time, and I end up getting it cleaned just one room here and one room there---it never seems to be all clean at once. And there is just no other way for me to get it done.

As to airing out the house---yippee, it was a beautiful day yesterday and I had all the windows and doors open. All summer long, my house gets aired out, since I don't have a/c so have it open all the time when the weather is nice. Winter, there is no way I am opening my windows---just opening the door to go in and out freezes the house. But don't worry, this old house has more drafts than the US in the 1960's, so I do have fresh air getting in anyways.

Thanks for the suggestions though, and let me know more about the baking soda.

[RKP5637]

59. Thanks!!! I picked up a Renuzit air freshener at the local Dollar Tree and

tried it out with my cat's box. It works perfectly, it took the edge off the lingering smell even when his box is very clean. I had forgotten all about the old style Renuzit air fresheners over the years. When it's run down, I'll rejuvenate it as you described. Thanks again!

[uppityperson]

60. I got a new one a bit ago.

Our puppy got in a bad cycle of barking so we got one of these for her. For a day it was like having a walking air freshener.

[Curmudgeoness]

61. Oh my.

So, did it run out of spray after a day, or did the dog stop the barking after a day?

Did it work????

[uppityperson]

62. She learned quick fast that barking made it go poof in her face.

She's sitting next to me now going yap yap yap yap yap. Time to go play with her.

The first day she poofed herself quite a few times, now settles right down when she has it on. Double purpose device. Anti-bark training AND an air freshener.