Fabreze Haters

[kriket]

I know there is a general irked-ed-ness about fabreze but why? (I really have no clue, I'm not being snarky)

I have read that baking soda, water and fabric softner is a nice cheap fabreze alternative. What are our thoughts on that? I don't usually use fabric softner (I cloth diaper) but it was free with coupons at Kroger last week so I picked one up.

I have 2 dogs a husband, a diaper pail and a very small house that's my motivation

[Abarat]

Personally I can't stand the smell. Strong smells like that make me physically sick.

Also, I have tried it in the past and it seemed to make matters worse so I HAD to keep using it.

It just doesn't seem safe to be inhaling that stuff all the time.

[Malva]

I can't stand it because of the smell. We use unscented/fragrance-free everything and anything with an artificial odor bothers me.

I also find the idea of covering up one smell with another smell deemed more pleasant sort of icky.

It doesn't bother me that others use it, just not in my house or near me.

[hippiemama76]

It smells like cheap perfume and chemicals to me. I love the idea of it, but in application it makes me gag!!

I feel bad saying it, but I have never been to a house with animals that didn't smell of animals. Even my ILs - they have all ceramic tile, and my MIL is a clean freak. When DH was little, she said that she would leave him in his playpen all day and move it from room to room so she could clean (she estimated about 5 hours a day of house cleaning). Now that it's just her and FIL, the *daily* routine includes such fun activities as bleach in the toilets, cleaning the dishwasher (with a dish brush and some soap, after the dishes are removed), hand drying and then spot cleaning the shower, etc.

And whenever I'm forced to visit (but that's another thread) the house smells like dog. The sheets smell like dog. And when we come home, the clothes in the suitcase smell like dog.

It doesn't matter if it's clean or not, IME a house with pets never loses that smell.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by hippiemama76

It doesn't matter if it's clean or not, IME a house with pets never loses that smell.

ITA. Plus I have a little dog who seems to enjoy marinating in his own pee. We will have some land one of these days. Until then, I may go for the baking soda and fabric softner. Maybe baking soda and essential oils?

DH likes to burn incense, but I can't eat if there are flowery smells in the air. The 'clean linen' scent is kind of nice, even if it's fake

[philomom]

First of all.. I hate the smell. Second, it has been known to cause small animals to have trouble breathing. Third, I suspect it has nose anesthetizer in it... so your nose is numb to the bad smells temporarily.

[crittersmom]

It smells like cat pee to me.I have found that vinegar actually does a pretty good job of clearing the air and then going away too.
As for stinky pets, check thier food and litter.i've had up to 5 cats and dogs ( including a oily cockapoo) and no one ever knew by smell. The only sign would be if I hadn't just switched out the covers on the couch and vacuumed and of course the animal begging to be stroked..The best litter is the Feline pine style rather than the ones labeled to be unstinky.Most pet deoderizers smell worse than the actual spot they are supposed to be working on.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

It can have a bad affect on people with breathing issues. Plus, it stinks!

I don't understand this country's obsession with "smells". If you watch TV, every 3rd commercial is for some sort of smelly this or smelly that! I mean, really, is the smell of your cooking really that offensive that you need to cover it up with some fake manufactured chemical smell? I love it when my house smells like homecooked meals. Does your trash stink? Take it out!

If the dog farts (or husband farts) get to smelling too bad, I just light an incense stick.

[maggiemae]

Originally Posted by hippiemama76

It smells like cheap perfume and chemicals to me. I love the idea of it, but in application it makes me gag!!

I feel bad saying it, but I have never been to a house with animals that didn't smell of animals. Even my ILs - they have all ceramic tile, and my MIL is a clean freak. When DH was little, she said that she would leave him in his playpen all day and move it from room to room so she could clean (she estimated about 5 hours a day of house cleaning). Now that it's just her and FIL, the *daily* routine includes such fun activities as bleach in the toilets, cleaning the dishwasher (with a dish brush and some soap, after the dishes are removed), hand drying and then spot cleaning the shower, etc.

And whenever I'm forced to visit (but that's another thread) the house smells like dog. The sheets smell like dog. And when we come home, the clothes in the suitcase smell like dog.

It doesn't matter if it's clean or not, IME a house with pets never loses that smell.

I want you to come smell my house I am not a dog lover by any means. Never had one until now. I have a miniature poodle that I bathe twice a week (she loves to get in the shower). Now I am wondering if my house smells like dog.

[hippiemama76]

Poodles have hair though, right? I think it's more the dander and fur that smells. Like the ILs have a big sweet black lab, and a old mean doberman. The lab can come right out of the shower and still smell like dog.

My aunt and uncle have one tiny Yorkie who gets a visit from the mobile groomer once a week, and I haven't noticed it in their house.

Do you know anyone IRL who would answer honestly? LOL I probably wouldn't, but I'm shy like that!

[maggiemae]

You know, I have a friend that is coming over tonight and I am going to ask her! I will be mortified if it does- I know that doggie smell and it is not good. I also don't allow her on the furniture or beds so I know our sheets don't smell. We do have carpet though. She will smell a little doggie if we have been out in the yard for a day, but that is one of the reasons we bathe her at least twice a week. I'll let you know the outcome of the nose test.

[noobmom]

I don't like it because I don't think it actually "cleans". It's a glorified air freshener. If you want your house to smell clean, clean it.

[jillyofthevalley]

To me, Febreeze smells nastier than the nasty smell I'm trying to cover up. It gives me wicked headaches. I find the best way to get a fresh smelling house is to keep it clean, take garbage out frequently and keep dirty dishes from piling up. You can sprinkle baking soda on the carpets before you vacuum to freshen those up. I also love burning incense. My house doesn't smell like home to me unless I smell incense.

[hippiemama76]

Originally Posted by SunflowerMommy

To me, Febreeze smells nastier than the nasty smell I'm trying to cover up. It gives me wicked headaches. I find the best way to get a fresh smelling house is to keep it clean, take garbage out frequently and keep dirty dishes from piling up. You can sprinkle baking soda on the carpets before you vacuum to freshen those up. I also love burning incense. My house doesn't smell like home to me unless I smell incense.

Whenever we see a display of Blue Pearl Classic Champa, DD1 takes a big sniff and then says, "Ahhhh . . . smells like my house."

[PenelopeJune]

I hate it for two reasons. 1) I hate smells. I mean, I love the smells of cooking. (With a few stinky exceptions) I like the way my kids and husband smell. I like the smell of fresh air. But I hate perfume, strong deodorant, strong laundry soap, etc, etc. etc.

And 2) I think I'm allergic to it. It makes my sinuses itchy and my eyes burn.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by hippiemama76

It smells like cheap perfume and chemicals to me. I love the idea of it, but in application it makes me gag!!

I feel bad saying it, but I have never been to a house with animals that didn't smell of animals. Even my ILs - they have all ceramic tile, and my MIL is a clean freak. When DH was little, she said that she would leave him in his playpen all day and move it from room to room so she could clean (she estimated about 5 hours a day of house cleaning). Now that it's just her and FIL, the *daily* routine includes such fun activities as bleach in the toilets, cleaning the dishwasher (with a dish brush and some soap, after the dishes are removed), hand drying and then spot cleaning the shower, etc.

And whenever I'm forced to visit (but that's another thread) the house smells like dog. The sheets smell like dog. And when we come home, the clothes in the suitcase smell like dog.

It doesn't matter if it's clean or not, IME a house with pets never loses that smell.

I agree... that's because, unlike the Febreeze commercial, you can't "clean a room". The smells get into the fabric and cloth around the house.

I have *never* been in a home that doesn't smell like the pets living there.

[sunnmama]

Ugh, I hate Febreeze. I like dog smell a whole lot more than Febreeze smell, lol.

It doensn't even cover the dog smell, anyway. It is just dog + febreeze

Some dogs are smellier than others. My little bichon mix really doesn't smell at all, but the 2 other dogs I've owned smelled a lot. Open up the windows, bake bread, simmer apple slices and cinnamon on the stove, sprinkle baking soda on rugs and put cloves in the cannister while vaccuming.

Another thing...IMO, homes often smell like the laundry soap people use. I use the kind free of fragrances, but I find the laundry detergent smell overwhelming in homes of people who use the frangranced stuff. Maybe get some smelly detergent?

eta, incense is another smell I can only take in very small doses. It just smells like smoke to me, and I feel like I'm choking. I have smell issues, lol.