By kraftykaren from Mobile, AL
Read feedback for this post below. Click here to post feedback.
I was about to post the pertinent paragraphs from my previous posting, but I see they are already linked to this post. PLEASE DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENER SHEETS IN YOUR A/C SYSTEMS, BEHIND FANS OR IN ANY SIMILAR WAY!!! THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA! The chemicals in those things are no joke - they are carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and nervous system disruptors. They're POISONS! You do NOT want to breathe them.
@KraftyKaren This is a great idea & I used to do something similar with my canister vacuum cleaner until I discovered how bad these products are for my family's health & the environment. (Not to mention the headaches perfumes cause me).
Personally, I do not use fabric softeners liquid or sheets any more. But there are more environmentally friendly products out there MRS Meyers makes a dryer sheet http://www.mrsmeyers.com/Products/Laundry/Lemon_Verbena_Dryer_Sheets , her Lemon Verbena products smell wonderful. You can also just try adding some essential oils to a piece of cheese cloth or other thin fabric and get the same result. I put essential oils on cotton balls & put them in the vacuum & it masks the "dog" smell that my vacuum often has.
I apologize for the way other posters may come off on their comments, some people are very passionate about their opinions & that can come across as quite rude. Please don't let this stop you from sharing other thrifty ideas.
Thanks & God Bless, Trish in CT
For some reason the link does not post properly: after "/advice" it should be "/possessions/2003/03/18/" (without the quotation marks, of course).
People! Please do not use fabric softener sheets as air fresheners in any way. Fabric softeners and sheets contain harmful chemicals that you should not breathe. You do not want to disperse these chemicals into the air. "The fragrances in detergents and fabric softeners can contain phthalates, chemicals that have been linked to cancer and reproductive-system harm in animal lab tests. Fragrances may also trigger asthma and allergic reactions, with symptoms including skin and respiratory irritation, headaches, and watery eyes."
This info is from The Green Guide at Grist.org, here is the link: http://www.grist.org/advice/possess ... 3/18/possessions-cleaning/index.html
Regular air fresheners also contain toxic chemicals, especially the aerosols and plug-ins. Virtually all brands of air-fresheners were found to contain phthalates [THAL-ates], potent chemicals proven to cause hormone disruption, birth defects and reproductive problems in humans and other mammals. In air-fresheners, phthalates are used to dissolve and carry the scent of fragrances, and chemicals used to color and scent the air-fresheners were identified as carcinogens. The heated-oil type actually vaporizes petroleum into the air. If you use air-fresheners, you're inhaling pollutants.
I put a dryer sheet on the back of my fans in my apartment. It stays in place when the fans are on. As the fan blows the air, the dryer sheet smell is circulated throughout my apartment. I find that it works better than sprays or candles. I live in a basement apartment and find that this gets rid of the musty smell and leaves it smelling fresh and clean.
By Mary from Chicago, IL
By Betsy
By Ladybugv2
By Cynthia
Add your voice to the conversation.