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

[tomorrowisanotherdate]

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?

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

a pollutant is a substance that has a harmful effect, and air pollutant is a substance in the air that has a harmful effect - such as being an irritant, causing exma, asthma, skin irritation, lung irritation, eye irritation, allergies, potentially causing much longer lasting and more serious health problems, and just plain stinking.

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.

To be fair UPF are just the topic du jour

<ducks>

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.

I know exactly what the word "chemicals" means and I have used it correctly. No one is saying water isn't a chemical, but as I have pointed out, it isn't generally contributing to the pollutant burden of home atmospheres, is it.

Who is she?

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!

Again, show me where I have used the word "chemical" ignorantly. I am a scientist, I have one undergrad and two post grad degrees and teach science, including chemistry. I know what the word means, and I have used it correctly

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

But it is just adding to the pollutant load, not reducing it or neutralising it in any way - just making it worse

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

I buy them because I like them. I have a plug in in my hall, diffuser in my bathroom, often have a wax melt or candle on and I use fabric softener.

Oh and lavender is absolutely rotten

Most people see something, smell it, like it so buy it. And don't give it much more thought about the chemicals and pollution.

I do open my windows but I find that it’s a bit polluted outside anyway so I don’t feel the air is as fresh as could be in my town and I live near a busy road. It’s different when I go up north- I can smell the fresh air if I open the window.

Not so much here, so it’s better for me to close the windows and then I do feel I need some kind of scent booster for a few hours now and again! It does give me a sore head if I leave my plug in on too long but then, so do essential oils.

Hardly. They’re not pumping out Chernobyl reactor gases.

And plenty of people like the smell. You know, like some people prefer one sort of food to another. That sort of thing. But with smells.

My bed smells amazing, it's lenor golden orchid

My room is clean, I just like it to smell nice as opposed to clean

I open the window if I feel that I have no alternative to using a spray. To let the smell of the spray straight out as they all make me feel sick.

I stopped using fabric conditioner when I discovered that many well-know ones contain pork or beef fat!
I hate perfume but I have asthma. Both natural (animal fur, dust, pollen) and artificial (air freshener) chemicals trigger my allergies. Sucks.

I just don’t see how something like laundry scent boosters can make people happy. If it really does, it makes me think people are brainwashed.

All that shit makes me wheeze so we have the bare minimum of these home pollutants as you can get away with to keep the place sanitary. But it's far more labour intensive to keep on top of a home with steamers, damp dusters and gentler homemade cleaning products,I could be done in half the time with a few chlorine, bleach and polish sprays.

I'll never understand those bloody laundry booster things though - they make your eyes water for no benefit.

*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!*

Surely you can understand that people other than you can be allergic to things that you are putting out there.

I thought only Kim Jong Un thought that the world revolves around him.

@iwafs maybe we're just not miserable and enjoy nice smells!

I'm assuming you don't use perfume or deodorant either

I love them. My house is aired daily, im obsessed with windows open but i still love nice smells.
Plug ins in every room except youngest.
Love a nice candle and wax melt.
And the airwick timed squirty thing.

Also love nice fabric conditioner. One of my dcs nursery once said they love opening dcs changing bag as it always smells amazing from the clothes.