Ok to Use Air Refresher?

Hi H.-

Do you mean air freshener or an air cleaner?
I would never put an air freshener in my child's room (or in my house for that matter) but an air cleaner can be good if you choose the right kind. Look for a Hepa filter as opposed to an ionizer. I used to be in the industry. Blueair makes what I think are the best, midpriced, hepa filters. They are also the quietest hepa filters on the market- so great for bedrooms.
good luck- A.

Hi,

A stand up one should be okay but don't use the plug in kind. When they dry up, they can be a fire hazard. You may say that you'll be on top of it but with a baby time goes by fast and suddenly it's dried up.

I know everyone thinks it is so great to have their homes smell like apple pie, however, those air freshners that are used around the home, including scented candles "can" be the cause of allergies and asthma. TAke a good look at the ingedients listed on the label. ( I would hope they would be required to list them) and then go to the government site:
http://www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/ingredients.htm

I found out the the laundry products I was using was the cause of my son's asthma through this site by typing in the ingredients.

The state of Illinois has put a law into effect that begins on Sept 1. All schools, up to grade 12 will no longer be able to use toxic cleaners in the school, things like "bleach" and other hazardous chemicals. Even if your family doesn't have a reaction, the problem will be when she has little friends over. My son was so bad with asthma that when he went to his friends house he had an attack. We finally figured out it was the air freshners.

So, you asked..... I say save yourself some money, throw them all out. YOur health will be a lot safer and a lot better.

Hi H.,

We use an all-natural air freshener called "Orange Mate Mist" that has only natural orange oils and essence. It smells very fresh and well, orange-y. We use it near the cat litter box and it does the trick. No unwanted chemicals and not tested on animals. You can get it at Whole Foods but if you want to check it out, here's the website: http://www.orangemate.com/. They make other products as well, including air fresheners that smell like lime, lemon and grapefruit. There are also other sources on line to order it. Just google "orange mate." Hope this helps!
K.

I use a "stick-up" in the diaper pail. Other than that I wouldn't use one that your daughter could get into. It's amazing how easily they can get into things you never thought possible, especially since she will be mobile soon. When you see your MD next ask him/her for their opinion on what you can do. I also agree with the fresh air idea of the other person. Try to find the root of the odor and eliminate it that way.

I don't see any harm if you don't put it directly over her bed and you leave her bedroom door open for circulation.

Absolutely do not us the oil plug ins! My entire family was sick and having sinus infections, so was my sister in Florida. This stuff gets in your lungs. I don't know what to use but please don't use those. I've heard of the plug in Ionic breeze. Good luck! "Cheapest air freshener" wrap a dryer sheet around the vent. Smells pretty good.

Why do you feel you need an air freshner in your baby's room?

Just curious because if you think it's coming from the dirty diapers, I would just bring the stinky diapers right to the garbage can outside/in the garage. My twins' room was stinky due to this and the smell got so much better after a few days when I started to immediately take the diapers out of the house. (It's worth the trip!)

But if you just want an air freshner for the scent... I wouldn't just listen to people posting their responses. I would call your baby's pediatrician and get his/her advice.

There are many plants you can put in her room to help purify it. You can google a list online. Fresh wheat grass and peace lily's are great air purifiers for the home. However, Peace Lily's should be high up for they are poisonous if eaten. Wheat grass is not! Agree with other posts, they are very toxic!!

I am not sure what you mean by an air "refresher?" If you mean smething scented, I would advise against any of the oil ones, as well. They can be very dangerous. I know your child is very young now, but it won't be long before she would be curious and have the ability to investigate! If you are talking about a an air purifier, than I highly recommend the Shaklee Air Source 3000. I just purchased it to help my family with their allergies, and it has the added benefit of removing odors from the air. It covers 3000 square feet so it is the only unit you need. If you want more information, you may contact me.

Hi H.,
I use the Lysol Neutra Air Freshmatic. It sits on a shelf in my sons room so he cannot get to it and it goes off automatically every 36 minutes. I've noticed a big change since I've started using it!
Good luck!
M.

Whenever it's nice, I just open the window and turn up the fan. I like to avoid all aerosols, as they are lung-damaging and can hurt allergy sufferers and irritate asthma.
I can't believe how many air-fresheners are marketed today. Just do a cleaning, dust, open a window (even in the winter) to refresh. Use a smoke-free candle for added harmless scents.

Commercially available air fresheners are filled with nasty chemicals. Please take precautions before putting them anywhere near your child. I try to only use baking soda and vinegar in my house.

I have copied this directly from the EPA website:
There are four basic ingredients in air fresheners: formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, p- dichlorobenzene, and aerosol propellants.

What health and safety precautions do you need to think about when using air freshners?
Air freshners are usually highly flammable and also strong irritants to eyes, skin, and thorat. Additionally, the solid fresheners usually cause death if eaten by people or pets.

Please use precautions when using these products. You also need to be sure to always "Read the Label First" to know how to properly use these products and for safety information. Don't use them near open flames like candles, gas stoves. Use only in a well ventilated area. Baking soda, which is not toxic, can also be used to freshen the air in your home.

Sprinkle baking soda frequently in the diaper pail liner if that is the cause.

We use a citrus magic solid odor absorber. It is a fat disk that we keep on top of her shelves out of sight and reach. It is activated charcoal (non-toxic - what they use when you need your stomach pumped) which absorbs the odors, and concentrated orange and lemon oils to release a mild scent. (Not so great to ingest because it is concentrated, but not harmful in small amounts in the air.) They also make a non-aerosol spray which I use in bathrooms, etc.

Hi there,

I just yesterday read in Green Guide magazine (a subsidiary of National Geographic) about the ill-effects of room fresheners. They have toxic ingredients known to be linked to cancer--same thing with drier sheets and other household scented items. Why not put flowers in there or essential oils or even just open the window if it needs refreshing? Best place for oils (which are distilled directly from plants and smell amazingly good) is a website called www.aromahead.com. Best of luck to you and yours...

E.

Air Fresheners are a toxic chemical. Check out this website:http://search.mercola.com/Results.aspx?q=air%20fresheners...

Air fresheners are find to use in an infants room. My son was a horrible sleeper in the beginning and we tried many things to help him sleep. His therapist told us to try lavendar air fresheners in his room becuase it helps promote relaxation. He always had an air freshener in his room, just make sure it isn't too strong. He slept with his door shut so after a couple of hours it could be very powerful if you didn't have it on a low setting.

No. We really don't understand the chemicals that they use in these products, and they aren't tested well for long-term impact. I just read an article about a recent study, but of course I can't find it. Here's one from a few months ago that makes some of the same points. http://www.nrdc.org/media/2007/070919.asp

Plus, not only are they filled with who knows what chemicals, they smell awful! I'd much rather smell a little trace of baby poop than baby poop mixed with fake raspberry scent. Baking soda in your trashcans and left open in the room really does help, too.

Somewhere along the way I read a study that said that the chemicals found in air fresheners were linked to learning disabilities. I don't remember if it were a govenment funded study or not.

Few things to consider, it's recommmended you open the window in your child's room every day (even for a few minutes in the dead of winter) to help air it out. In the winter months, this will also help with cold bugs/germs.

If it needs to be freshened up because of a diaper pail/genie/champ, maybe eliminate that altogether. We were using one in the nursery and it just stunk so we pulled it out and made the treck to the covered kitchen garbage can after each diaper change (and to the garage garbage for the really nasty ones.) With opening the window every day (again, even for a few minutes) the room smells fresh.

I just heard an add for this on the radio, it might be an option is it really works.
It's called
"FreshWave All-Natural Air Fresheners and Odor Removers"

I'm sure you can "google" it, but I do recall that ACE is suppose to carry it, and they say it is safe to have around pets and children/babies.

I was thinking of trying it myself for my little ones.

The only air freshener I would use around a babys room is the stuff by Fresh Wave. it's natural, non toxic and is available more and more places, I buy it at Whole Foods, but you can get it at the Ace Hardware in Palatine, or the one on Campbell and Wilke in Arl Hts, and I've seen it at Fruitful Yield in Schaumburg. I believe you can also get it online direct from the company which is a local company. the scent dissipates after a few moments and just gets odors out. They have a spray, a gel container, which you just open and let it sit there, and something else I think. It's great stuff.

Here's info from their web: Headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Barrington, Illinois, OMI also operates manufacturing and development facilities in California, Indiana, Texas, and Vienna, Austria.

Since our inception and still today, we remain dedicated to researching, creating and testing innovative odor control solutions that are all natural and safe for not only the environment, but for you.

www.fresh-wave.com