It is fairly common for houses to have different smells throughout the day, some of which can be super unpleasant. Just because your house smells a little off sometimes does not indicate that you are not cleaning it well. In fact, unpleasant odors are not useless they often have several reasons that should have your attention and might indicate the existence of bacteria or other toxins that are spreading the smell. Your house is bound to smell differently once in a while and while you will be tempted to get rid of these funky odors with a room air freshener, here are a few things you should know before you make your purchase.
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Are Air Fresheners Safe
Room air fresheners are a popular choice when it comes to getting rid of weird smells around the house. Air fresheners have been used for decades to cover up smells that people find offensive. Aerosols were the first kind to be developed for use in houses. When sprayed into the air, these items produce a thin mist of aroma that remains for a while. However, the pleasant scents that room air fresheners emit won't last for long, despite the fact that they may help mask unpleasant odors by being a short term solution. In addition, they could make it more difficult for you to determine the source of the unpleasant odor, which is what the real problem is. Sadly, that's not the end of the negative aspects associated with using air fresheners as many of them include potentially harmful chemical solutions that lower the quality of the air inside our homes.
Commercially produced chemical air fresheners could be the worst thing for your health and the air quality inside your home. They contain chemical compounds which give them a pleasant odor but are damaging when exposed to for a long time. Air fresheners contribute to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. A volatile organic compound, often known as a VOC, is a kind of chemical that, when exposed to room temperature, readily converts into a gas or vapor. People believe that the chemicals included in air fresheners and the pollutants produced by them are harmful to their health. Secondary pollutants are created if the chemicals included in a product combine with the ozone that is already present in the air. Even when the products are used precisely as intended, there are still concerns that continued usage over time might lead to adverse health effects. Apart from being harmful for health, the chemicals that these contain also damages your furniture over a period of time.
Accidental injuries have occurred as a result of these products, such as burns sustained when a flammable air freshener was lit with a flame that was too close to the product. They are also known to cause skin irritation and redness, especially if the person is allergic to any of the components in the fragrance. It is extremely harmful if you come in direct contact with these air fresheners as they can cause choking, coughing or difficulty in breathing. There are different types of air fresheners available in the market, most of which have a variety of chemicals in them. The level of toxicity of these fresheners depends on their composition. It is best to avoid this short term solution and choose something that is better for your health and wellbeing.
Read More: Factors To Consider When Selecting a Room Freshener
Natural Alternatives to Chemical Air Fresheners
What if we told you there was a way for you to make your home smell great and avoid the terrible consequences of using chemical laden air fresheners? The answer to this problem is using natural air fresheners which are made of organic and natural raw materials. These have a smaller shelf life and do not have harmful after effects. Here are some examples of natural air fresheners that you can use in place of chemical laden products.
Stovetop Potpourri
This is a simmering mixture of spices, herbs, and other fragrant components. Simply add the ingredients, such as lemon and rosemary or cinnamon and cranberries, to a pot of water, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer for the desired amount of time. The odor will remain in your house for quite some time and you can even use this as a spray in certain corners and crevices.
Indoor Herb Garden
Having an indoor herb garden can be the ideal accessory for your home's kitchen, bathroom, or any other area with natural light coming in through a window. The vast majority of herbs can thrive in very little light and are very simple to cultivate. You can also add these to your food and get their additional health advantages by cooking with herbs like basil, cilantro, rosemary, and sage. These herbs are known to have very calming smells and act as a good alternative to chemical air fresheners.
Homemade Reed Diffuser
People who are essential oil enthusiasts will find this to be the best home odor remedy. Find a container made of glass or ceramic that has a top that can be opened, and then combine the essential oils with a base oil such as almond or safflower oil. You can make your own natural air freshener diffuser by using rattan reeds or bamboo skewers in this essential oil mix. This will last for a long time and is highly cost effective.
Homemade Essential Oil Spray
Another way to make the best use of essential oils is to make an essential oil spray at home which can be used as an air freshener. Take 1 cup of water, add a pinch of baking soda to it along with your choice of essential oils and combine these three ingredients together. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and shake it well before each spray. This is another cost effective and easy to make natural air freshener.
Closing
Chemically produced room freshener sprays have various negative health consequences ranging from respiratory issues to skin allergies. They also cause much damage to the environment, the furniture in your home as well as the indoor air quality in your house. Switching them out for natural air fresheners can do wonders for your health and well being and also make your house smell great all the time.
FAQs on Air Fresheners
Which is the Best Room Freshener?
Natural room fresheners are the best as they do not contain any harmful additives or cause any health or respiratory problems as they are made from ethically sourced organic ingredients.
How can I Make My Room Smell Naturally?
Using natural room fresheners can help you get rid of any funky smells in your room and make your room smell naturally good. They are also pleasant to smell and don't have a strong pungent odor.
What is the Difference Between Air Freshener and Room Freshener?
The main distinction between the two is that whereas room sprays also use fans, water vaporizers, and diffusers to disseminate the aroma, air fresheners exclusively use essential oils. Due to their use of more natural smells than air fresheners, room sprays often stay longer.
Where do you Spray Room Freshener?
Places such as the doormat, curtains, rugs, and the back of the pillows can all be used to spray room fresheners. They can also be sprayed in corners of your room which are bound to get smelly over time.