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Ditch the Plug Ins

Lauren Alonso
Sep 24, 2019
4 min read

fall candles, wallflowers, plug ins, pumpkin, fall, autumn, toxin free home

Air fresheners do anything BUT freshen air!

My husband and I got in an argument at the mall this weekend over "wallflowers". He's the kind of man who likes a home to smell nice and he's been a little slower to buy into the whole "oily" lifestyle. I responded with "you have to be kidding me?" Which was probably a little aggressive, but this topic is one for some aggression!!

They pollute it with "fragrance" that disrupts the brain and causes headaches, causes respiratory distress (including asthma and allergies), irritates the skin, AND messes with your reproductive system including your hormones. So, while I appreciate my home smelling nice, plug-in's are NOT the way to accomplish it.

Why the BIG Secret?

Remember how we talked about cleaning products that don't even have the decency to tell us the ingredients in their products? Well, the issue continues with plug-ins; you also can not find the information on the company website, and they will not disclose over the phone. HOW SCARY?! What they will do is send you an email with THREE things listed. Those ingredients are color, fragrance, and Dowanol TPM. How vague can you be? And what is the BIG SECRET? Based on that list, the one I haven't heard of was Dowanol TPM.

Side Effects:

This is what I found:

"May cause mild transient eye irritation; May have anesthetic effects; Prolonged or repeated overexposure may cause kidney and neural injury; [CHRIS] Commercial product is a mixture of up to 8 isomers due to the position of the internal ether being linked to either the primary or secondary carbon atoms; Category members demonstrate LOAELs of 1,000 mg/kg/day (highest tested dose) in 13-week oral studies of rats for increased liver and kidney weight without corresponding histopathology; No hematotoxicity observed; [Reference #1] May cause mild eye irritation; Excessive exposure may cause anesthetic or narcotic effects;

Permitted for use as an inert ingredient in non-food pesticide products; [EPA] Used in ballpoint pen inks, felt-tipped pens, inkpads, oven cleaners, coatings, rust, paint, and varnish removers, and in penetrating oils; "-Dow Chemical MSDS

I fear what I do not know, and not knowing those ingredients is enough to keep me from purchasing from that company again. Join me, friends and protect your home by ditching these toxins.

Common Dirty Ingredients:

Here is a list of more common ingredients you will see and what harm they have the potential to cause:

Benzene – a toxic solvent from coal tar

Camphor – Hazardous waste (on EPA list)

Dichlorobenzene* – an insecticide, carcinogenic, pesticide and increases rates of asthma

Ethanol – a carcinogenic

Formaldehyde – Poison

Naphthalene – a carcinogenic

Phenol – poisonous compound

Phthalates (there are many chemical types) – an endocrine disrupter – Known to cause reproductive problems, birth defects, and hormonal abnormalities.

*1,4 – Dichlorobenzene is an ingredient in many air fresheners. This chemical diminishes the sense of smell. It makes people think the odor is gone but in reality the sense of smell is being chemically altered. The chemical is also being inhaled into your body. This chemical is known to be a carcinogenic and a pesticide.

DIY Plug In Refill

Supplies:

Fractionated Coconut Oil
Your Favorite Essential Oils
Empty Wallflower Bulbs
Needle nose pliers
Replacement Wicks
Thieves Household Cleaner

Directions:

1. Pull the which out by using the pliers and pulling upwards gently.

2. Next take your empty bulb and your pliers (I used needle nose or a butter knife) and run it around the plastic edge of the top of the bulb where the stopper is and gently loosen the plug- work patiently using a butter knife if needed to work around the entire edge to pry it out. You want the entire plastic tip to pop out.

3. Remove the flower from the top by twisting gently. Clean the bulb, stopper, and flower in a mixing bowl with Thieves Household Cleaner. Spray down the guts if you're re-using a used wallflower.

4. Next, fill the bulb with the carrier oil of your choice but be careful to not fill it to the top. Add 10-12 drops of your favorite essential oils into the bulb.

4. Replace the wick gently by pulling it through the stopper. You will have to remove the small nail and then replace it to hold the wick in place.

5. Take the stopper and place it back in the bottle, giving it an extra push until it clicks in firmly twice.

6. Swirl the bulb gently around to mix all the oils together. Twist into your wall plugin and you have a new chemical-free wallflower!

Here are some oil combos to try for fall:

DIY Refill Demo

The Ditch and Switch Challenge

We are taking a look in our homes for these toxic chemicals that are free ranging in our homes- from the bathroom to the kitchen cabinets and even sitting on your counters delivering your senses a wonderful aroma that could be harming your littles.

We challenge you this week to take a good hard look at all the things in your bathroom you use every day, those things you use to clean your skin and make you smell nice, they may be causing you and your family harm.

Join the challenge for FREE!

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