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AIBU?

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Original poster

to not understand why people spend money to pollute their homes with pointless chemicals?

563 replies

tomorrowisanotherdate · 30/03/2024 19:26

scent boosters, to go in laundry, air fresheners that squirt puffs of pollutants at you - the tv is full of adverts for these things, so presumably someone is buying them. I just don't get it though. Loading your family's home atmosphere with a load of unnecessary and unpleasant air pollutants, and paying for the privilege? Why?

OP posts:
KeinLiebeslied54321 · 31/03/2024 09:06

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 09:05

Which I rarely use.

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....you ARE using a scent on the rare ocassions you use it though. Lavender oil is a scent and you claimed not to use scents.

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 09:06

fieldsofbutterflies · 31/03/2024 09:05

I don’t use any scents, very occasionally I will put some drops of lavender oil in hot water.

You don't use any scents but you use lavender oil in water to make... a scent?

What? 😂

Oh give over.

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 09:05

fieldsofbutterflies · 31/03/2024 09:01

So don’t open your windows and put a few drops of natural oil in a bowl of water if you really need to.

No, because most "natural oils" are toxic to cats and I have three of them.

They're fine with the soy melts but I don't want them to accidentally drink essential oils and die, funnily enough.

Prick a lemon and stick it on a shelf.

fieldsofbutterflies · 31/03/2024 09:05

I don’t use any scents, very occasionally I will put some drops of lavender oil in hot water.

You don't use any scents but you use lavender oil in water to make... a scent?

What? 😂

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 31/03/2024 09:05

CosmosQueen · 31/03/2024 09:04

I agree. It’s the synthetic versions that I dislike; I love natural ones and nothing beats fresh air and line-dried laundry.

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Again, for those at the back, it's not just about 'synthetic' versus 'natural'.

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 09:05

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 31/03/2024 09:04

Lavender oil in hot water IS a scent.

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Which I rarely use.

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 09:04

CosmosQueen · 31/03/2024 09:04

I agree. It’s the synthetic versions that I dislike; I love natural ones and nothing beats fresh air and line-dried laundry.

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Yes or coffee, cake baking…

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 31/03/2024 09:04

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 09:01

I don’t use any scents, very occasionally I will put some drops of lavender oil in hot water. My house doesn’t smell unpleasant. I think we have forgotten what normal air smells like.

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Lavender oil in hot water IS a scent.

CosmosQueen · 31/03/2024 09:04

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 30/03/2024 20:43

I think we’re heading into natural v ‘artificial’ chemicals here.

I agree. It’s the synthetic versions that I dislike; I love natural ones and nothing beats fresh air and line-dried laundry.

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 31/03/2024 09:03

Tedaaaaaaaaah · 31/03/2024 08:26

Of course, plenty of natural toxins. Don’t they test for radon during a house purchase?

I for one love the smell of a vanilla air freshener (no idea, but assume it’s a manufactured sub and not real vanilla), but I can’t believe they are good to inhale.

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You're not meant to go around inhaling them though, you're supposed to squirt a small amount in the air, in a well ventilated space.
As for vanilla scents...those are nausea inducing for me.

ASighMadeOfStone · 31/03/2024 09:03

Josette77 · 31/03/2024 08:51

My point is while I personally don't use those things, the smugness of people on here is absurd.

We all do things that harm the environment. You're not perfect either.

If some people find these things make them happier in their home, who cares?

If we picked through your life, my life, anyone, we would all find unhealthy things that horrify others

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Well said.
I don't use them either, as I find the smell is too strong, but the virtue signalling and myth spouting about chemicals is absurd.

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 09:01

MrsBuntyS · 31/03/2024 08:58

My kid is allergic to linalool and limonene, both ‘natural’ and both in almost all fragranced products. My house smells of nothing. The majority of the ‘fake‘ fragrances people refer to on here contain the above, as do all the ‘natural’ fragrances. I have very limited scientific knowledge and I am not obsessed with pollution or the environment, suffice to say a lot of things people think are ‘clean’ and ‘safe’ are not. I really miss having fragranced products but it’s not worth the congestion and infected skin rashes.

I don’t use any scents, very occasionally I will put some drops of lavender oil in hot water. My house doesn’t smell unpleasant. I think we have forgotten what normal air smells like.

fieldsofbutterflies · 31/03/2024 09:01

So don’t open your windows and put a few drops of natural oil in a bowl of water if you really need to.

No, because most "natural oils" are toxic to cats and I have three of them.

They're fine with the soy melts but I don't want them to accidentally drink essential oils and die, funnily enough.

tiger2691 · 31/03/2024 08:59

I agree with the OP, the stench of products like febreze is horrendous, toxic and totally unnecessary to use. Even brand new clothes stink, it's almost impossible to remove the stench, esp. with polyester clothing. Due to my partners allergies (she carries an adrenaline auto injector) our home has been perfume free since 2002, most people are desensitised to the smells of all those products, as proved by this thread.

Visitors - usually family have to be told not to wear perfumes, aftershave and the like. Most washing up liquids are truely awful as well, as is soap, shampoo, even anti bacterial hand gel.

MrsBuntyS · 31/03/2024 08:58

My kid is allergic to linalool and limonene, both ‘natural’ and both in almost all fragranced products. My house smells of nothing. The majority of the ‘fake‘ fragrances people refer to on here contain the above, as do all the ‘natural’ fragrances. I have very limited scientific knowledge and I am not obsessed with pollution or the environment, suffice to say a lot of things people think are ‘clean’ and ‘safe’ are not. I really miss having fragranced products but it’s not worth the congestion and infected skin rashes.

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 08:57

NoCloudsAllowed · 31/03/2024 08:54

I think you'll find that lavender is in a lot of air fresheners, laundry stuff etc

Along with a shed load of other shit.

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 08:56

Josette77 · 31/03/2024 08:51

My point is while I personally don't use those things, the smugness of people on here is absurd.

We all do things that harm the environment. You're not perfect either.

If some people find these things make them happier in their home, who cares?

If we picked through your life, my life, anyone, we would all find unhealthy things that horrify others

Show quote history

But pumping toxins into your lungs and those of your children isn’t necessary. The manufacture and use of these products damage the environment .I actually try to limit damage I make to the environment and health of my children as much as I can. Yes there are some things I can’t control but I can not add additional toxins into the air they breath in their homeanybody can. Some choose not to. No smugness here just utter bemusement.

NoCloudsAllowed · 31/03/2024 08:54

I think you'll find that lavender is in a lot of air fresheners, laundry stuff etc

Josette77 · 31/03/2024 08:51

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 08:35

So piling on a catalogue of toxic chemicals on top of the air you breathe 24/7 is the answer?

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My point is while I personally don't use those things, the smugness of people on here is absurd.

We all do things that harm the environment. You're not perfect either.

If some people find these things make them happier in their home, who cares?

If we picked through your life, my life, anyone, we would all find unhealthy things that horrify others

ASimpleLampoon · 31/03/2024 08:47

Can't use any of it, it makes me physically sick and I have headaches. I prefer opening Windows whenever possible at least once a week , most days if not too cold and set and if I use anything I'll light an incense stick the only thing that doesn't make me vomit but even that only for a minute or two.

ASighMadeOfStone · 31/03/2024 08:44

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 08:37

So pick a non toxic one if you really need to.

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Well, d'oh.
It was just your sweeping belief that "natural" = good, and chemical = bad.

PS the OP (who is a SCIENTIST and has met BRIAN COX) can probably tell you why there are probably as many pollutants coming from your soft furnishings (your post from earlier) than from a Yankee Candle.

But then again. She'll probably just also link to another "natural" blog.

ConJob · 31/03/2024 08:43

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 07:37

https://madesafe.org/blogs/viewpoint/toxic-chemicals-in-air-fresheners#:~:text=In%20such%20cases%2C%20primary%20ingredients,acid%2C%20and%20methyl%20vinyl%20ketone.

Insert toxic before the word chemicals. Lavender oil does not contain the above. Search air freshener chemicals toxins- it’s horrific. The air in my house will have what I can’t do anything about but it does not have an additional continuous menu of toxins pumped into the air,clinging on to soft furnishings etc with nowhere to escape, constantly breathed not only in to my lungs but those of young children too.

You can eat lavender, rose, orange etc. I wouldn’t be eating any of the toxic chemicals in air fresheners.

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That is a better word, many of those things are carcinogens.

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 08:37

ASighMadeOfStone · 31/03/2024 08:37

Some essential oils are extremely toxic.

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So pick a non toxic one if you really need to.

ASighMadeOfStone · 31/03/2024 08:37

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 08:34

So don’t open your windows and put a few drops of natural oil in a bowl of water if you really need to.

Show quote history

Some essential oils are extremely toxic.

Naytr33 · 31/03/2024 08:35

Josette77 · 31/03/2024 08:33

I think depending on where you live it's naive to assume fresh air exists.

I live in Toronto and I'm under no illusions about the air I breathe.

I was once an aromatherapist so I'm picky about smells and what I'm breathing in.

But I also ate a greasy pizza earlier with pepperoni with my son so I'm certainly not pretending to be a pillar of purity.

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So piling on a catalogue of toxic chemicals on top of the air you breathe 24/7 is the answer?