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

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

I think if many people have a reaction then , even if you don't, it's still a pollutant

Plus half the problem is that we don't notice that damage is being done

Ok, so if I’m not allergic to, say, a Glade Plug-In, it’s not a pollutant.

But if I am allergic to peanuts or eggs or milk, they are pollutants.

Got it!

My husband and most of his family are allergic to air fresheners... And lavender. Doesn't matter if it's a dried bouquet or lavender oil, it causes them breathing difficulties. Even "natural" scents can cause others issues.
I use scent boosters in my washing because I like the smell! Don't understand what's difficult to comprehend about that.

To be fair UPF are just the topic du jour

<ducks>

My house smells of peppermint. I’m trying to get rid of the rats.
🤦🏻‍♀️🐀
It usually smells of nothing but the relatively clean air, I have windows open, not open plan always use the extractor fan.

PermanentIyExhaustedPigeon
Why does fabric conditioner even need colourings anyway?? You don't need to look at it!

I wonder. Maybe it would look like grey sludge if they didnt use colouring, so that wouldnt appeal? A lot of them aldo contain phthalates which really bad for us and can even affect reproductive system. & a whole lot of other nasties too. Even the fragrance-free ones.

Pretty deadly when you think about it

Agree! I'm same

What is the correct way to use the word ‘chemicals’, and how does it differ from incorrect use?

As far as I know everything - solid, liquid or gas - is made of chemicals. But I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve misunderstood all these years and some chemicals aren’t chemicals at all.

Prime mumsnet this. Great thread.

@iwafs - you can't clean the shower by opening the window, surely?

Personally I used to use all those things but then started to worry what they were doing to the environment. All those additives in washing where the water then goes back into the ground. The chemicals in some house cleaning and air fresheners have carcinogenic qualities. Fair enough they've been passed for sale but they aren't good for us or the planet. Don't get me started on zoflora! When Mrs Hinch sent everyone mental plugging this awful stuff. Please think of the planet. The water system. The wildlife. All these things have to deal with us polluting the air and water. There's a chemical in certain sun creams that have been banned in Australia as it was causing such a problem for the coral reef. Things like that we wouldn't even think of and would use regularly in the summer months. It's worth thinking about. We share this planet.

people might just as well flush money down the bog

Because they're buying something you don't like @iwafs ? What if it makes them happy? Is it still flushing money away? Or are you saying that you know what should make people happy, and this isn't it?

I love nice smelling detergent, conditioner, diffusers, and candles. I really hate the smell of lavender so could never use it as an air freshener.

I don’t wear deodorant or perfume or skincare. Don’t have scented candles or wax melts or diffusers or air freshener plug in or spray. Don’t have laundry scent boosters or scented liquid/powder or fabric softener or dryer sheets or balls or essential oils or anything at all. I don’t use cleaning sprays if I can avoid them. Sometimes I think my shower needs them so I open the window.

and I have a dog and children and husband

my house can smell like whatever it smells like. I like it. I put my face in my dog’s hair and love the smell of him.

people might just as well flush money down the bog. I cannot believe people are talking about CoL and then regularly buying more than 10-20 useless, expensive and weirdly scented products which are bad for them and the environment.

I have a friend and when I walk up to her house, I can smell the laundry shite from outside. She has a massive house with lots of rooms and every single room and all family members reek of this laundry stuff. I just don’t get it.

I keep pet rats who have delicate little lungs & many of the cheap, synthetic fragrances trigger my migraines, so we don't really use home fragrances.

Saying that there's a Prices reed diffuser in the hallway & I sometimes add a square of Lush Snow Fairy bath melt to my oil burner in the bedroom.

And I absolutely love the cherry kennel disinfectant we use for the brickweave, but I think that's mostly because it gets rid of the dog pee smell.

I am very sensitive to smell - many perfumes and perfumed products give me a headache and/or make me sneeze. Aerosol deodorant is a big no no for me (I hate when someone sprays it in pool changing rooms), as are many (not all) air fresheners. I cannot abide things like Scent Boosters either, washing powder with a mild scent does us fine. I do like certain candle scents, nothing too sweet and in moderation. I also love fresh air and open my windows as much as I can, but living in a farming area the fresh air is often quite stinky (not a complaint, just reality) and living in the far north it's often blowing a hoolie outside too!

Can’t stand them myself but a lot of people don’t think no further than what it smells like. Not what’s in it