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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Is there such thing as a nice-smelling plug in air freshener?

31 replies

trinni · 18/08/2010 22:44

I must have tried them all and most are too floral.

Have smelt the odd nice one (when visiting a show home) but wasn't sure what it was.

Anyone have any recommendations? They're too expensive to make mistakes.

OP posts:
colditz · 18/08/2010 22:45

No.

They are all ming-a-ding-ding.

Get some lavender or lemon oil onto a few damp cloths, doilies or whatever, and leave them about the place.

Original poster
trinni · 18/08/2010 22:55

rolf @ doilies!

Agree, most are minging with the exception of the winter/Christmas type one but I can't use them all year round can I?

OP posts:
Loshad · 18/08/2010 22:58

agree with colditz, all minging. Open the windows Grin

BecauseImWorthIt · 18/08/2010 23:01

No. Clean your house and open the windows!

All air fresheners do is mask smells and leave you with a horrible, artificial, chemical and stale smell.

Original poster
trinni · 18/08/2010 23:03

It's mostly fresh here - no fags or smelly pets, I just like a fresh scent around the place. Wish there was one with the fragrance of nice laundry.

OP posts:
lifeas3plus1 · 18/08/2010 23:07

I love my oil burner.

Then you get to pick and choose a scent depending on your mood.

Citrus Fruits is a favourite at the moment. I add much more water than needed too so it's not an in your face smell, Just a subtle linger of oranges, lemons and limes in the air.

Original poster
trinni · 18/08/2010 23:12

Oil burner sounds like a good idea although, presumably, only when you're in the house.

My ds (10) would be fascinated!!

OP posts:
NoahAndTheWhale · 18/08/2010 23:17

Air fresheners are all horrible. I am however fighting a battle with DH over this one. I mostly win

tefal · 19/08/2010 12:23

The only plug in ones I like are by yankee candles.

pinkmagic1 · 19/08/2010 12:34

The only one I really like is called 'Enchanted night'. I can't remember which company does it but its in a blue box with stars on. Smells lovely and the only one I've found that dosn't smell like toilet cleaner.

mousymouse · 20/08/2010 07:35

IKEA has lovely scented tea candles. apple, rose and the such. they are not overpowering and the smell keeps well.

MintyBadger · 20/08/2010 07:38

No. They all smell synthetic and cloying.
Boots used to do this plug in thing with little pads infused with essential oils. It didn't last long (I think it was to get you to sleep) but it smelled wonderful. They did Lavender and also Geranium. They discontinued it about 5 years ago.

So that's useless to you, but if you can find something like that, they do smell lovely. No perfume, just the oils.

jooseyfruit · 20/08/2010 07:43

lemongrass essential oil is really lovely and fresh burnt in a burner.

PosieParker · 20/08/2010 07:50

I had a candle given, from that Flash with Febreeze thing, and it smelt of fresh laundry. But the best smell by far are fresh Lillies and they last for two weeks! I also have a collection of Somerset made Candles.

PosieParker · 20/08/2010 07:51

smelled...

schroeder · 20/08/2010 08:50

If you do get one, you might want to warn your visitors; it's quite common to be allergic.

Mirrorball · 20/08/2010 09:03

I had a nice plug in one from M&S actually, you could try there? another vote for oil burner. I have a lovely oil from Crabtree & Evelyn.

doggiesayswoof · 20/08/2010 10:34

Yes! Ecover do one - smells nice (for short periods - it gets a bit overpowering if you leave it on) and mine has lasted ages

Hold on will link

doggiesayswoof · 20/08/2010 10:44

No, sorry, it wasn't Ecover, it was method

method

B&Q stock them.

lurcherlover · 20/08/2010 16:31

Nasty nasty IMHO. Full of noxious chemicals it probably isn't a good idea to breathe in (ditto cheap scented candles, IKEA and their ilk). I'm not an anti-chemical obsessive but I figure it's probably not good to pump them into the air. Get an oil burner from the Body Shop or similar, and some essential oils from Holland and Barrett. A few drops added to some water in the burner makes your whole house smell gorgeous in about 20 mins. Much nicer and healthier. Plus, an added danger of plug-ins is that if you're not vigilant about checking when they're empty, if they're left plugged in and running on empty they're a fire risk (a fireman friend told me this).

Original poster
trinni · 20/08/2010 19:45

Thanks all for your recommendations.

doggiesaywoof...I like the sound of the Method one and £4 is reasonable.

Also, I'm going to see if I can find my oil burner again although, I seem to remember it used to get a bit sticky.

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 22/08/2010 08:52

I don't care for artificial air fresheners either. Open the windows instead. Also, when we had our house rewired a few years ago the electrician was pretty scathing about plug in air fresheners and said that they weren't terribly safe from a fire risk point of view.

I grow sweet peas in my garden and they have to be cut regularly for them to keep flowering. I always have a vase of fresh sweet peas in the house at the moment.

peachybums · 22/08/2010 21:34

I open windows and that seems to do trick. If house smells a bit due to cooking (or ds in bathroom as we live in a bungalow) i put on my yankee candle tart burner. They are aroujnd £1 each for a gtart and they last ages. I dont buy the candles though as they are expensive and i can get more smells for my money with the tarts :D

domesticslattern · 22/08/2010 22:14

Look up the wikipedia page about the toxicity of air fresheners here
You're probably better off with your oil burner trinni.

Scuttlebutter · 22/08/2010 23:40

Those plug ins are vile. Please don't use them. Artificial,horrible things. I find they give me a headache and make me start sneezing. Open your windows and a scented candle or an oil burner will be lovely. Am hugely envious of Bun's sweet peas - we usually grow the plants but our local nursery was out of stock this year.