Question from Aimee
I am enjoying your newsletter and your website with all of the valuable information. I really appreciate it.
I have a question regarding the synthetic fragrances that are in laundry detergents (as in Tide, etc) and in fabric softener sheets as well as in plugins like Glade and Wick and those awful ‘candles’ that turn liquid when burning….we are househunting and the last two houses that we really love are full of the smell from the above products. Is it possible to remove that smell? Both houses are vacant and both have carpeting in them. Do synthetic fragrances only get into fabrics such as carpet, or, do they also get into wood (as in wood cabinets and door frames, etc) and even into paint?
Thank you,
Aimee
Debra’s Answer
Lets see how others have handled this problem. Readers?
In regards to Aimee’s question…it depends. Sorry to be so vague but there are so many scenty products out there it’s hard to say how much of what will stick where. Yes, it sure can get into virtually anything. Some times it’s easy to get it back out and others times, not so much so. AFM products for cleaning and sealing carpets may help. Ozone will also help although many sensitive people have to air the house out extra DAYS to be safe. I’ve had luck with Super Clean and baking soda on counter tops, metal cabinets, floors, walls etc. If you can open windows certainly that will make a huge difference but if you can’t, run as many air cleaners with carbon as you can and run the furnance blower 24/7 to circulate as much air as possible. Hope that helps.
Aimee, did you ever find a house? We bought a house and are having to reno everything. Aerosol hairspray and deodorant (benzene), scented laundry detergent, and scented dry sheet smells have penetrated the whole house (cabinets, drywall, wood). I was ok in the house for about a week and then got sicker. I have MCS. We tried sealing with AFM products to no avail. There is an inlaw suite area with its own HVAC we are reno’ing first. We had to go down to the studs, which incidently are bad for MCS people because of the terpines in the pine studs. We used denim insulation, Denny Foil vapor barrier, drywall (researched and found the least offensive), Murco drywall compound, AFM Safecoat caulk. We are currently primng with the AFM Safecoat Transitional Primer, and then AFM Safecoat paint. We installed a new HVAC with new aluminum ductwork and used the AFM Safecoat mastic. All the wood (doors and trim) are popular rather than pine. Windows needed replaced so we got aluminum clad exterior, oak interior without any fungicide treatment. I am now trying to figure out cabinetry and flooring, which is how I came upon Debra’s site. I would love to correspond further with anyone who has MCS (moderate to severe) and has had success with any products. While we are renovating, we sleep in a room that is just Denny foiled. I am free of fatigue, burning sinuses, burning skin, swollen eyes, and nausea while in the room and recover from exposures a bit.
Sheri, I’m so sorry you went through this. If I may ask about symptoms you experienced, what was the appearance of your skin, and was it your face or more? Thank you very much in advance.