Are those plug in air fresheners dangerous?

BaileyB

We had a few of these in our home and then i remember watching a program (or could be even the news) that these caused a fire as it over heated.

Any advice on this? And have people ever had a problem with these?

tawnyowls

According to this, (http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_plug_in_air_freshener.htm), no. However, I dislike the idea of breathing chemicals in all day, and these do seem to pump an awful lot of fragrance out; I find it quite choking if I go into houses with it on. Try sprinking some essential oils on cloth and tucking it behind a radiator (not a radiant heater or anything that needs vents kept clear, obviously).

poppyolivia

I thought they were ok but now you've put that idea in my head think I will go without...... too risky.

tomstickland

They're not air "fresheners". They just dump a smell that covers up the real smell. You don't need them. They are dangerous in terms of filling the air with the carrier solvents and whatever else they use to make them.

hollyh

They are disgusting.

My sister's house is filled with them whenever I come home from there i have a migrane.

I can't stand the things.

tr3mor

I'll echo what the other people say. Why would you want to fill your home with unnecessary chemicals?

I would put some essential oils on a cloth behind a radiator as said above - Cheaper and much better for your health!

escroooge

I detest those things and think they are a health hazard.

If you don't know whats in them why allow yourself to breathe them.

They give me a headache and make my skin crawl, the only thing i'm allergic to is the pong of "air poisoners".

Randall_3

I have always been caution of these and have seen/had a few incidents in the past.

Natural oil burner

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These are the little vase items where you place the tea light inside and have some oils burning on the top part. Went to put out the candle and ended with the whole coffee table alight - seems that some of the oil had dripped into the candle wax

Plug-in

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One of these was unplugged and place on the bottom shelf of the tv unit so we could run the hoover > its eaten away at the plastic coating of the shelf

All i can say is just be caution and play safe

RR

robby-01

if you eat them they are very dangerous

tawnyowls

robby-01 wrote:

if you eat them they are very dangerous

Is this through personal experience?

moonrakerz

These things are yet another useless object which the advertising industry tries to makes us think we cannot do without. IF your house smells - get rid of the thing that smells; sorry Rover !
You don't need to smother it in an artificial "woodland, tropical, alpine, meadow" chemical stench.
If you do have "sudden" smell, try striking a match - much cheaper and very effective.