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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:
3BellyProblem · 30/03/2024 19:52

The ‘chemicals’ threads are rife on MN recently.

Tiresome.

GoodnightAdeline · 30/03/2024 19:52

Our clothes smell perfectly nice after a 60 degree wash using Daz liquid, no need for scent boosters or softener which makes them feel slimy

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/03/2024 19:50

It's the air equivalent of UPF.

Just open your windows and dry clothes on the line.

They all give me migraines though so I was never tempted.

phoenixrosehere · 30/03/2024 19:50

bossybloss · 30/03/2024 19:28

What would you recommend? I do t use scent boosters etc but am interested in the alternative.

I use essential oils and wool balls. Put 3-4 drops of your preferred essential oil on a wool ball and then put it in when you’re ready for the dry cycle and once the cycle is finished, clothes smell like the essential oil. I use lavender essential oil and the clothes smell like lavender when finished. Once the wool balls don’t smell like lavender anymore, I put drops on again. It’s usually about over 5 drying cycles before the scent begins to fade from the wool balls but it last me about a month. I do about 1-2 loads a week.

Hecate01 · 30/03/2024 19:50

Because it's my money and my house and I can do whatever I want because people don't have to visit if they don't like it?

Live and let live.

merrymelodies · 30/03/2024 19:48

Agreed. Nothing beats the smell of fresh air and sun-dried laundry.

LutonBeds · 30/03/2024 19:45

I use candles and wax melts. I cannot stand scent boosters or fabric softener. I do like a Jelly Belly air freshener in my car though!

Thefutureisourownpath · 30/03/2024 19:44

Because I have three huge Labradors and two messy children and it’s stinks! We have plug ins and open the windows wide twice a day. But wet dog smells!

QuillBill · 30/03/2024 19:44

My dd is allergic to 'fragrance mix 1'. It gives her eczema. She was diagnosed with it quite recently and I've had to start reading all the labels of everything we use it can be quite an eye opener.

dermnetnz.org/topics/fragrance-mix-allergy

NC03 · 30/03/2024 19:43

Screamingabdabz · 30/03/2024 19:32

Because people have forgotten what really clean actually smells like. Pet smells, washing clothes at low temperatures, poor ventilation, general whiffiness and laziness means people would rather try and mask it with artificial perfume. Even though it’s fooling nobody.

It's not either/or

I wash stuff with persil bio on a decent temp but I also like fairy scent boosters
My windows at home are opened every single day and air vents cracked 24/7, I clean regularly, wash throws, coats etc but I also like a wax melt

To me it's on top of everything being clean and tidy and aired rather than covering up stale air with something (I can't stand windows closed)

Dweetfidilove · 30/03/2024 19:43

tomorrowisanotherdate · 30/03/2024 19:37

water and human beings are not really air pollutants

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I think you’ll find water quality is shit too, unless you’re using pure rain or filtered water.

Mamananny · 30/03/2024 19:43

Caise I have 3 dogs and they stink.

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 30/03/2024 19:41

KreedKafer · 30/03/2024 19:34

I’m afraid I can’t take people seriously if they use the word ‘chemicals’ to mean ‘things that are harmful’, because it just demonstrates a fundamental ignorance of the most basic science.

Agreed.

Dweetfidilove · 30/03/2024 19:39

tomorrowisanotherdate · 30/03/2024 19:34

but what do you mean by "freshly scented"? imo that just means "stinks"

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I can see how in your opinion you would consider it such - as you say- they are contaminating.

In my opinion it smells wonderful and fresh - the opposite of stink.

PermanentIyExhaustedPigeon · 30/03/2024 19:38

Screamingabdabz · 30/03/2024 19:32

Because people have forgotten what really clean actually smells like. Pet smells, washing clothes at low temperatures, poor ventilation, general whiffiness and laziness means people would rather try and mask it with artificial perfume. Even though it’s fooling nobody.

This!

Clean laundry shouldn't really need to smell of anything.

midgetastic · 30/03/2024 19:38

Lavender oil used to be the scent of the day - which suggests that there is a cultural ( advertising influenced ) aspect to our idea of "nice smell"

Original poster
tomorrowisanotherdate · 30/03/2024 19:37

KreedKafer · 30/03/2024 19:35

Lavender oil is composed of chemicals. So is water. So are human beings.

Show quote history

water and human beings are not really air pollutants

OP posts:
Original poster
tomorrowisanotherdate · 30/03/2024 19:35

Oreosareawful · 30/03/2024 19:34

I love fairy scent boosters! My laundry smells amazing.
I also love Zoflora, wax melts, plug ins, reed diffusers….
it smells nice and it smells clean

Show quote history

well, it might be your opinion that it smells nice, but objectively, it cannot smell "clean". It is contaminated, and smells contaminated. Maybe you like the smell, but you can't call it clean

OP posts:
PermanentIyExhaustedPigeon · 30/03/2024 19:35

I've got two pots of hyacinth bulbs on the windowsill in the sitting room at the moment, and open the windows for 10 minutes every morning and every afternoon. It smells lovely and fresh.

The laundry just gets washed with Ecoleaf and then line dried unless it's really belting it down. Always smells lovely when dry.

People are just obsessed with wanting to mask any possible scent of themselves smelling like people, and for their homes to smell like nobody lives or eats in them!

KreedKafer · 30/03/2024 19:35

Naytr33 · 30/03/2024 19:30

Yanbu
Why would you want to breathe all those chemicals in?🤮 What is wrong with lavender oil if you really need to scent air?

Lavender oil is composed of chemicals. So is water. So are human beings.

Original poster
tomorrowisanotherdate · 30/03/2024 19:34

Dweetfidilove · 30/03/2024 19:30

Everything’s a pollutant, so I'll enjoy my freshly scented home, car and laundry - thanks ☺️.

but what do you mean by "freshly scented"? imo that just means "stinks"

OP posts:
Oreosareawful · 30/03/2024 19:34

ImAlwaysknackered · 30/03/2024 19:30

Can’t beat the smell of fairy scent boosters.

forgot this is MN and I should use vinegar in all my washing. Oh and only use natural oils as my candles are actively slowly poisoning me.

💀

I love fairy scent boosters! My laundry smells amazing.
I also love Zoflora, wax melts, plug ins, reed diffusers….
it smells nice and it smells clean

KreedKafer · 30/03/2024 19:34

I’m afraid I can’t take people seriously if they use the word ‘chemicals’ to mean ‘things that are harmful’, because it just demonstrates a fundamental ignorance of the most basic science.

Screamingabdabz · 30/03/2024 19:32

Because people have forgotten what really clean actually smells like. Pet smells, washing clothes at low temperatures, poor ventilation, general whiffiness and laziness means people would rather try and mask it with artificial perfume. Even though it’s fooling nobody.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 30/03/2024 19:32

Naytr33 · 30/03/2024 19:30

Yanbu
Why would you want to breathe all those chemicals in?🤮 What is wrong with lavender oil if you really need to scent air?

That is if you want to smell of old lady!