Tags
air fresheners, beeswax, candles, chronic illness, environmental illness, flowers, MCS, multiple chemical sensitivities, toxins
The original question for this series of posts concerned making one’s house less toxic. The person asking the question doesn’t need to be convinced why this needs to be done — but some people may need to be. A few posts on commercial “air fresheners” can be found on Sonda’s site. The Mother Earth Living is a great article on both the toxicity of air fresheners/candles and on alternatives. I repeat here MCSgals list of safe cleaners from yesterday’s post. And of course Kathryn’s site has great info.
The slide show and info on Michellina’s site, I believe should be shared with every human on the planet. If you question why synthetic fragrances need to be eliminated from your life, please spend a few minutes checking it out.
Candles can have three levels of toxicity — the paraffin wax, toxic fragrance and lead in the wick. I burn candles infrequently but if I do it is for the ambiance of the candle glow. I buy unscented beeswax candles with no metal wicks. Beeswax candles can be more expensive but I believe they burn longer than regular candles (sorry I haven’t actually done an experiment on this, but have read articles that agree with me) and they save a lot on my doctor’s bills not breathing in the toxic fumes from many “traditional” candles sold in most stores.
When I actually want to freshen my air — I open up a window. It depends on the part of the world you live in but where I live air is generally considered cleaner outside than inside. 
Even in cold weather, the cats and I open up the sliding door and let in some fresh air for a few minutes a day.
Here is an 8 minute TED talk about how bacteria exists in a building and how bringing in outside air can be beneficial.
In the summer, I do not use air conditioning. I use open windows and ceiling fans to cool my house and allow fresh air in (much cheaper and air conditioning makes me ill). If there is a particularly smelly place in your house — inside the refrigerator, room with cat litter, etc. you can place a small open box of baking soda and this will help absorb the odors.
The following TED talk (4 minutes) explains the use of 3 common plants to purify one’s air. I already had two of these in my house before I saw the video.
For those on a budget — opening windows, fans instead of air conditioning, baking soda and plants — are definitely good for the budget. For those with MCS or very polluted air one might need to consider an air purifier as well.
Those are my ideas for actually freshening the air. If what you really want is to change the scent of the air — try simmering a bit of either cinnamon or lemon or cloves or vanilla — you get the idea — in a pan of water — way cheaper and way healthier. If you really want the house to smell great and be a popular mom/dad like the commercials are always throwing in our faces — you could go with burning the toxic candle laced with synthetic fragrance made to smell like a gingerbread house possibly resulting in one of the 25 symptoms of MCS being exhibited by your child OR you could actually bake a batch of chocolate chip or gingerbread cookies. Somebody with kids let me know which choice your kids would prefer — and let me know if I’m wrong but I’m going with the cookies as top choice — and I think the cookies would be cheaper too. And can I come over just to smell them while they are baking?
Real flowers can make your home smell very nice — and in season cost little to nothing. I do treat myself occasionally to a new plant for my garden like some women treat themselves to a new dress. However, most of the flowers in my garden were joyfully given to me free by other friends. When I thin my plants, I often toss the plants onto the compost because I don’t know who to give them to. I’ve had neighbors ask me and I’ve gladly shared. I not only bring cut flowers into my home but I share with friends and family as well.
In the winter you can bring in some evergreen needles or a branch into you home (if not allergic) or use the money you would have spent on synthetic fragrances and buy a bouquet of flowers — both the sight and smell of flowers will help alleviate any winter blues.
I’ve never tried it but ask where they sell flowers and maybe they would give you any flower petals that are either loose or flowers that aren’t pretty enough for a bouquet that they are going to discard — put them in a dish — the petals would be pretty and fragrant and free. (And of course since businesses need to make money to stay in business — be nice and buy from them when you can.)
As always please share if you have any great nontoxic and cheap solutions. And please ask questions. Sarah started this whole series by asking a question. Yesterday, she asked a question under the laundry post. Sonda’s reply hopefully will save her money. By using vinegar instead of fabric softener, she may be able to save on fabric softener, tablets to remove hard water deposits from her washer and having to buy another new washer from the hard water destroying her washing machines.
I’ve got really great followers on this site and those suffering from environmental illnesses know how to detox a home and many are on limited incomes. So ask — I’d like to learn new stuff too.
Life in the City with a Future 
EXCELLENT INFO AGAIN MY MCS SISTER—- I CAN’T HAVE FLOWERS FROM A FLOWER SHOP– AS THEY USE CHEMICALS ON THEM— BUT I LOVE LOVE LOVE FRESH FLOWERS FROM MY OWN YARD THAT WE GROW CHEMICAL FREE- & I LOVE TO BUY HOUSE PLANTS FROM THE “PLEASE SAVE MY LIFE” MARK DOWN RACKS– AT NURSERIES –(THOSE POOR PLANTS SEE ME COME IN THE DOOR– & START YELLING MY NAME– COME SAVE OUR LIFE)– – BUT I USUALLY HAVE TO TAKE THEM HOME & RE-POT THEM IN MY GOOD COMPOSE WITH NO CHEMICALS!! AGAIN–EXCELLENT INFO — THANKS SOO MUCH FOR SHARING!!!!!!!!
Thanks — and I appreciate you pointing out that purchased flowers may have chemicals on them. My flowers get sunshine, water, natural compost and love.
AMEN— 🙂
Sonda, You answered my question. I have always wondered if they put chemicals on some florist shop flowers because I have reacted around purchased arrangements.
I THINK I BLOGGED A LONG TIME AGO ABOUT ONE OF OUR MCS SISTERS WHO EVERY EVENT IN HER LIFE- HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW BOUGHT HER FLOWERS FROM THE FLORIST & BECAUSE OF THE TOXIC CHEMICALS SHE COULD NOT BRING THEM INTO HER HOME– & SHE TOLD HER D-I-L THIS– BUT STILL SHE ALWAYS BUYS HER CHEMICAL SPRAYED & TREATED FLOWERS– SO SHE HAS JUST SAID TO THE FLORIST– DON’T BOTHER EVEN BRINGING THEM TO MY HOME– JUST DONATE THEM TO A CHURCH — A CARE HOME– OR ANYONE ELSE– JUST DON’T BRING THEM TO ME!!! 🙂 MANY PEOPLE ARE BOTHERED WITH THE PURCHASED CHEMICAL TREATED FLOWERS– BUT HAVE NOT PUT IT TOGETHER THAT IS WHAT MADE THEM SICK!!! 🙂
I love how everyone is sharing their experiences. I never thought about chemicals on purchased flowers. I’ve only been given one plant since I became disabled — and I was so sick at that point I couldn’t distinguish exactly what was setting me off. It’s a shame the DIL didn’t listen but at least there were some happy people who probably no one ever thought to give flowers to.
Reblogged this on sondasmcschatter.
this is great information! i don’t have MCS but to tend to be sensitive to some chemicals and fragrances, so this is very helpful! i never realized all the toxicity in candles! thanks for sharing.
I didn’t realize the toxicity either until my MCS went from annoying to disabling. Hopefully as more people become aware and make the changes, the less people will get to the level I am at, and hopefully if enough people stop buying the toxic stuff — industry will get the hint and start producing products that aren’t toxic to their consumers. Thanks for stopping by — hope you have a beautiful day. 😀
Hmmm, I’m like Lindsay I didn’t realise candles were bad. I don’t like scented candles but I use unscented tealights when I meditate. I will switch to beeswax from now on.
Interesting talks. I have a mother-in-law’s tongue and a money plant but it seems I have them in the wrong rooms. I’ll move them ASAP.
I burn incense to fragrance our rooms and sometimes use a reed diffuser with essential oils (but I forget to top it up). I imagine that burning things is not very good. It’s because we don’t open our windows very much due to being next to a noisy road and slurry-treated farmland which smells awful and attracts flies. 😦 The joys of the country! Also, our house is quite hard to heat so we don’t like to let in the cold in the winter. I will have to think about how to improve our air freshening strategy.
Thanks for all the info.
With MCS I had to make major changes or die but the great thing about starting to detox before your body goes crazy is you can start with a few things at a time if you have too. Until I had MCS and started researching why fragrances and other products were making me ill, I never would have believed what chemicals are legally allowed to be put in our products. I had also naively thought the US was the only country allowing this until I read about people with MCS in Australia and Canada … I don’t know much about incense — other than I can’t be around it. Maybe some one else reading this comment will know more about its toxicity?
I’m so grateful that I came across this information before any of us got seriously ill. Thank you so much for helping me.
There are battery powered tea lights. I’ve seen them in votive holders. Unless you inspect them, you would never know they weren’t real candles.
Good idea. 🙂
Reblogged this on allergictolifemybattle and commented:
Part 3 of How to Make Your Home Less Toxic by fellow blogger Colleen.
Reblogged this on Sound as a Crystal.