Photo: Buncrana from Lisfannon beach.Some large supermarkets use chemical sprays to entice us to fill our shopping trolleys. When you walk past the bakery section you could be greeted with a smell of fresh bread, or you could be relaxed by a fresh soothing smell in the vegetable department to calm the nerves, all this will add products to the basket. These smells may be (not always) coming out of a tin. The reason we’re making an issue of smelly stuff this week is while we were doing a spot of shopping in a smaller supermarket this week, one of the staff was happily walking around the shop with a can of air freshener merrily spraying everything in his path. Now I know this isn’t exactly chemical warfare, but the toxic fumes got right up my nose. The shop would have a fast turn over of stock and so there were no nasty smells anyway. We tried to find what chemicals are in these spray containers but as they aren’t for consumption the companies don’t have to list them. The warnings on the can say it all though. Seek medical advice if swallowed -can be fatal, do not inhale! Don’t spray on furniture, clothes, fish, animals… and the list goes on. At least C.F.C’s aren’t used in the cans any more so at least that chemical isn’t eating away at the ozone layer. Anyway, where was I… oh yes. The objection that we had to this indiscriminate spray attack was that it was used around the bakery department, the meat department and the area that has loose sweets for the kids. Giving the kids sugary sweets themselves isn’t the healthiest thing to do anyway, but put one of the chemical ingredients of the air freshener on top, such as 2.4 dimethylcyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde for example and you have a pretty unpalatable mixture.
Here are a few alternatives to chemical cocktails:
AIR FRESHENERS
We tried using a natural fabric softener (available from health shops) on cheap nylon carpets to keep them fresh and reduce the static. It did work for a while but the mixture builds up on the material if used regularly. It doesn’t smell that fresh after a day or two either so we don’t really recommend this idea. Try using bicarbonate of soda in a shaker and sprinkle on the carpet, leave for a few minutes then vacuum up. This is Shake and Vac more or less, without the chemical perfume.
Find the source of the smell and remove it. This sounds straightforward. Empty the rubbish bin regularly and dispose of the vegetable peelings to the compost bin. Wash out the cans as well -these could be stored ready to go to the recycling centre. Keep things clean and if you have kids check places like under the bed often, you never know what’s lurking in the darkness (usually apple cores, banana skins and carrot tops around here)!
Open the windows. Even on those cold, windy days, try to get some fresh air into the house; it works wonders getting rid of smells.
Make your own smelly stuff. Try mixing some natural essential oil into a fine spray bottle filled with water. Get some wooden balls and soak them with the oil too, these can be left in bowls around the house.
Natural potpourri. You can find natural potpourris in health shops, try making your own as well.
Candles and incense. These can be picked up at a reasonable cost and can set a romantic atmosphere in the house too! (Don’t leave them unattended when lit though).
Toxic and non-renewable substances. Most of the air freshener products that are sold in supermarkets contain toxic ingredients and only cover up the smell with another one. They don’t get rid of the problem. Shop wisely and look for products that are natural.
Here are a few alternatives to chemical cocktails:
AIR FRESHENERS
We tried using a natural fabric softener (available from health shops) on cheap nylon carpets to keep them fresh and reduce the static. It did work for a while but the mixture builds up on the material if used regularly. It doesn’t smell that fresh after a day or two either so we don’t really recommend this idea. Try using bicarbonate of soda in a shaker and sprinkle on the carpet, leave for a few minutes then vacuum up. This is Shake and Vac more or less, without the chemical perfume.
Find the source of the smell and remove it. This sounds straightforward. Empty the rubbish bin regularly and dispose of the vegetable peelings to the compost bin. Wash out the cans as well -these could be stored ready to go to the recycling centre. Keep things clean and if you have kids check places like under the bed often, you never know what’s lurking in the darkness (usually apple cores, banana skins and carrot tops around here)!
Open the windows. Even on those cold, windy days, try to get some fresh air into the house; it works wonders getting rid of smells.
Make your own smelly stuff. Try mixing some natural essential oil into a fine spray bottle filled with water. Get some wooden balls and soak them with the oil too, these can be left in bowls around the house.
Natural potpourri. You can find natural potpourris in health shops, try making your own as well.
Candles and incense. These can be picked up at a reasonable cost and can set a romantic atmosphere in the house too! (Don’t leave them unattended when lit though).
Toxic and non-renewable substances. Most of the air freshener products that are sold in supermarkets contain toxic ingredients and only cover up the smell with another one. They don’t get rid of the problem. Shop wisely and look for products that are natural.
Household
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