Plug in Air Freshners

MrsMW

You could try drying some herbs, rosemary and Lavender etc. and then make a small cushion type thing from strong fabric, stuff it with the herbs and stand hot dishes on. I have these in my kitchen and the smell is lovely and gets rid of cooking pongs.

Chipps

I honestly can't stand chemical-type air "fresheners". I used to feel ill when visiting MILs house when FIL was ill, cos she would have them all over the place in case of smells.
Opening the window is one of the best air fresheners - unless you live right by a motorway or something very smelly!

Queenie

Here's one of the threads where it's been discussed recently: Reuse plugin refills

And, another ... Ambi pure refills

HTH

Galtizz

If you're looking for alternatives to plug-ins;

Home made potporri , you can add smells you do like (there is a thread on that somewhere, I'll try and find it)

Get a DAMP (not wet) cloth and put a couple of drops of you favorite essential oil on it then wipe it over light bulbs and radiators (not so effective in summer and I don't think it would work on energy saving lightbulbs and they don't get hot, but the heat realeases the smell)

Fresh flowers - go into your garden and pick some lovely smelling flowers and put them in vases around the house. If you haven't got any pop to a local hardware store or cheap garden centre and buy a pack of 6 or more sweet peas for a couple of quid and plant them in a tub or in your garden and pick regularly, should keep you going all summer

Loadsabob

Chipps wrote:

I honestly can't stand chemical-type air "fresheners". I used to feel ill when visiting MILs house when FIL was ill, cos she would have them all over the place in case of smells.
Opening the window is one of the best air fresheners - unless you live right by a motorway or something very smelly!

I can't bear those manufactured air fresheners, either, they always smell so fake to me, make me feel quite ill, or sometimes even headachey! They are SO TOXIC, too, it's shocking that they sell them!

Bowls of very hot water with a few drops of essential oil on top will give a scent to a room. Also, a few dabs on a bit of material on a warm or hot radiator, as mentioned, and those clay rings for lightbulbs (not sure how they are on energy saving bulbs though...can't imagine they'd fit.

Best air freshener though, open window when the grass has been cut, and bread or cake baking!!!! Nothing beats that!

pepsicola_2

Be careful if you have cats though leaving bowls of water about with essential oils in as cats will drink from anything.

gemmaj

That would be nothing compared to leaving pot-pourri out with my greyhound around.

I can't even put it out of his reach - standing on his back legs he is about 7 foot tall!

Penny-Wise_4

I have read somewhere (on here) that putting essential oils straight onto a radiator can take the paint off - i'm not sure its true - didn't want to risk trying it :rolleyes:

Kimberley

This is a great idea, has anyone any spare empty plug ins i can have? saves me buying some to let it run out you see

Yoga_Girl

I too hate those plug in air freshners - air polluters more like!

I always put some aromatherapy oils onto my radiators and it hasn't took the paint off, its also handy if children are having trouble sleeping as you can put a drop of lavender oil on a radiator in their bedroom and it helps relax them. Not much good in the summer though!

I think I've read somewhere that you can make a mixture of bicarb of soda, water and lemon juice, put it in an empty water spray bottle and squirt it around to absorb unpleasant odours. Can't remember whether I saw that on this site or on the "How clean is your house" programme with Kim & Aggie.