Non Toxic Solutions To Freshening Your Indoor Air

Toxic chemicals found in common household air fresheners are a serious hazard to your family's health. Protect your family with simple solutions that still keep your house smelling clean. 

Now, I can't even imagine spraying a home full of  "X brand" flower bouquet toxic air freshener, while a baby is crawling around, or worse, in a daycare where several to tens of children are playing, or inside a classroom! Although I've witnessed all of these growing up. My mother used to spray the entire house with Glade, from bathroom to living room. She lit several scented candles and used the plugins, yup! Truly toxic. I think the reason I didn't have more coughing fits, dizziness and sinus issues, was because she kept the windows open at all times.

We didn't have air conditioning or heating, now looking back at it, a blessing in disguise. Being that as it was, I still woke up morning after morning with severe sinus headaches as she sprayed the most popular scent, moped with your common household products, and bleached the bathroom. 

Those times are gone, and although a bit nostalgic for my mothers dedicated level of cleanliness, I am so glad that we are as "eco-friendly" as we are. Just wish we could do more- or less, depending on how you look at it. 

Did They Really Reduce The Levels of Chemicals? 

I'm sure you've heard that commercial air fresheners are toxic, and even some brands labeled under "green" or "natural" can have the same sets of chemicals that are most efficient in dispersing the fragrances in the product. Not to blame the super conglomerate chemical companies, everyone has to make a living right? Sadly for us, these chemicals are extremely damaging to the human neurological system and effect your respiratory system and may even cause problems with child development and other neurological conditions.

I was hopeful when I read some rumor that the chemicals levels were being lowered or that the air fresheners were been made safer. Because we may be all about having birth as naturally as possible, I still want my home to smell fresh and clean when I invite pregnant and new mothers into my home for childbirth classed or prenatal meetings! However there is not one shred of good proof that encourages me to use these chemicals and specially around new babies and pregnant mothers. 

Still Toxic, Still A Danger To Your Health...

Upon doing some quick research, it seems that many major brands of air fresheners have started to categorize their more toxic ingredients under the heading of "fragrance" or "perfume" rather than disclosing the exact ingredient in their products.

When I tried to find proof of which of these chemicals are still contained in major brand air fresheners, nothing comes up. Literally. More on this in a future article.

Things That Don't Make Sense. What's Up EPA?
Although refusing to clearly label the chemical combinations in air fresheners. The authorities involved- mainly the EPA, have labeled and banned some of the same chemicals still found in air fresheners and other common products, in children's toys.

Why Take A Chance?

Easy Steps, Safe Solutions 

Here are some human and eco-friendly solutions to freshening your home.

A. Open the windows and doors and allow fresh air to flow through and use fans to help circulate from one end of the house to the other.

B. Use baking soda before you vacuum. Spread baking soda on your carpet and floor, leaving it there for 45 minutes to several hours- if you have the time to wait. Afterward vacuum as usual.

C. Spray water with a couple of drops of essential oil inside, to create an immediately delicious smelling home. ( I prefer lavender.)

D. Don't leave garbage in cans overnight.

E. Soak a half lemon in water over night, than feed it into the garbage disposal to clean and freshen the your sink area.

F. Burn "Palo Santo"- my personal favorite, a natural wood stick with a robust woody scent. I still recommend leaving windows open when doing this.

Palo Santo- you can light at one end and let it smoke out. Your place will smell delicious. You can find many sellers on Amazon that sell this product. 

G. Get your vents cleaned. Filthy vents in air conditioned rooms are a major source of indoor air pollution. (Same thing for dirty dryer vents- if you have in home washer /dryer.)


H. Enhance your indoor air rotation by installing a fresh venting skylight or extra ceiling fans. Or installing screens on your doors in order to leave your door open more often.

Useful Terms

Phthalates: are a group of man-made chemicals that are structurally related to the organic acid, phthalic acid. The most important use of phthalates is in plastics, especially PVC, where they act as plasticisers.

Phthalate Acid: a crystalline acid derived from benzene, with two carboxylic acid groups attached to the benzene ring.

Benzene: a colorless volatile liquid hydrocarbon present in coal tar and petroleum, used in chemical synthesis.

Formaldehyde: colorless, toxic, potentially carcinogenic, water-soluble gas, CH 2  O, having a suffocating odor, usually derived from methyl alcohol by oxidation: used chiefly in aqueous solution, as a disinfectant and preservative, and in the manufacture of various resins and plastics.

*ec·o-friend·lyadjective1.
not harmful to the environment.
"I use only eco-friendly products"

**EPA

1.

U.S. Government . Environmental Protection Agency: an independent federal agency, created in 1970,that sets and enforces rules and standards that protect the environment and control pollution.

References:

Main Chemicals in Air Fresheners (howstuffworks.com)

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most store-bought air fresheners consist of formaldehyde, petrochemicals, p-dichlorobenzene and aerosol pollutants [source: EPA]. The agency's "Indoor Guide to Air Quality" also notes that air fresheners "release pollutants more or less continuously" [source: EPA].

The University of California at Berkeley performed a study on air fresheners and household cleaners in 2006 that discovered ethylene-based glycol ethers, classified by the EPA as hazardous air pollutants [source: ScienceDaily]. It also found the presence of terpenes, which are chemicals often derived from citrus oils that are not inherently dangerous, but react with ozone to form formaldehyde [source: UC Berkeley]. While these conclusions may seem like cause for alarm, the study also reported that health-related issues would apply mostly to professional house cleaners or janitors who are exposed to high levels of the products [source: ScienceDaily].

One of the active ingredients in mothballs, 1,4 dichlorobenzene, also is present in many air fresheners. The EPA's air quality guide lists this chemical as toxic since its vapors can affect respiratory function. Likewise, the U.S. National Institute of Health Sciences reported that the chemicals in air fresheners can reduce lung capacity and may hasten respiratory diseases [source: ScienceDaily].

Acronym	Full name	Examples of applications (past or present)	EU ban
DEHP	Di-Ethyl-Hexyl-Phthalate	Perfumes, flexible PVC products (shower curtains, garden hoses, diapers, food containers, plastic film for food packaging, bloodbags, catheters, gloves, and other medical equipments such as tubes for fluids, etc.)	Banned in all toys and childcare articles, and in cosmetics
BBP	Butyl-Benzyl-Phthalate	Perfumes, hair sprays, adhesives and glues, automotive products, vinyl floor coverings
DBP	Dibutyl-Phthalate	Plastics such as PVC, adhesives, printing inks, sealants, grouting agents used in construction, additive to perfumes, deodorants, hair sprays, nail polish, and insecticides
DINP	Di-Isononyl Phthalate	Mostly in PVC as a plasticizer; Remaining in rubbers, inks, adhesives and sealants, paints and lacquers.	Banned in toys and childcare products that children could put into their mouths
DIDP	Di-Isodecyl-Phthalate	Mostly in PVC as a plasticizer; Remaining in rubbers, anti-corrosion paints, anti-fouling paints, sealing compounds, and textile inks.
DNOP	Di-n-Octyl-Phthalate	Medical tubing and blood storage bags, wire and cables, carpetback coating, floor tile, and adhesives, cosmetics and pesticides.
DIBP	Di-isobutyl phthalate	Nitro cellulose plastic, nail polish, explosive material, lacquer Similar application and properties as DBP: used as a substitute, e.g. in PVC, paints, printing inks and adhesives

* I am not receiving monetary compensation for this article.