10/08/2016 12:47 A high-quality air freshener will help get rid of unpleasant, pungent and suffocating odors that fill a room or room. During its use, the closed space is saturated with freshness and a light aroma of flowers, herbs or citrus fruits.
In addition, there is a category of products that do more than just neutralize bad air and flavor it. This type of air freshener additionally has disinfecting properties. By eliminating unpleasant odors, they destroy harmful bacteria in the room and prevent their further spread.
Why are air fresheners needed in an apartment?
Despite all its disadvantages, a freshener is still the main means of masking an unpleasant odor in an apartment. It should also be noted that artificially created flavors, such as lemon or pine, are actually chemicals that, in large quantities, can turn into carcinogens - harmful substances that are active causative agents of cancer.
Over time, people make everything much more technologically advanced and reduce the amount of effort and energy spent on various household processes.
Of course, the content of chemical components in air fresheners is minimal. But why do we need to freshen the air with chemicals? It has been repeatedly proven that the substances contained in the air freshener are capable of forming formaldehyde when combined with ozone, which can lead to asthma.
This type is most often used to eliminate unwanted home odors in living rooms, bathrooms, offices, restaurants and other premises.
How does ozone get into a room? Everything is as simple as possible; it can get into an open window along with ozone-rich air. Under no circumstances should you use an air freshener and a device that produces ozone at the same time. Otherwise, you yourself will create smog in your apartment.
The Air Wick Freshmatic automatic air freshener is a battery-powered device that allows you to set the number and interval of sprays.
What are the possible intervals between sprays?
The device has three spray options:
- Indicated by a small flower - the interval between operations will be 32 minutes.
- Indicated by the middle flower - the interval between work will be 28 minutes.
- Indicated by a large flower - the interval between operations will be 10 minutes.
Despite the frequency of spraying, the device is used quite economically. One 250 ml bottle of fragrance is enough for 2450 sprays, which is approximately one and a half months of continuous use with a maximum spray interval.
The Most Effective Air Freshener Scents
First of all, when choosing a air freshener, you should think about where you are going to use it - car, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom. The most “comfortable” aromas can be called:
- floral;
- citrus;
- fresh.
When you plan to purchase natural products, you must take into account that there cannot be a low price for them.
If you don’t deal with the distributor of bad odors for a long time, then you shouldn’t expect much from the air freshener.
Reviews
The Air Wick air freshener receives mostly positive reviews. Buyers are satisfied with the versatility of the product. Many note the ease of use of the product and the ability to hang it on the wall. Often buyers highlight certain scents in the line.
Negative reviews often include dissatisfaction with the fact that the device’s body is not suitable for other similar products.
Classification of species
All air fresheners can be divided into several categories:
- aerosols;
- microsprays;
- gels;
- plates;
- electronic air fresheners;
- electrical devices.
Solid fresheners
Solid plates are great for freshening up the smell of a room, dresser or car. The best option for small rooms whose area does not exceed 25 m2.
Solid air fresheners are currently represented by a special plate that can be attached to any hard surface.
Gels
The gels are presented in the form of a cartridge with a stylish stand. Perfectly complement any interior. Compared to other flavorings, gels can be considered an expensive product. Safe for health and neutralizes unpleasant odors well.
Modern gel air fresheners are available in a wide range and have different purposes.
Aerosols
They are a can of spray that is distributed evenly and eliminates unpleasant odors. Characterized by a short-term effect.
Spray aerosols are used to freshen indoor air.
For a long time, cans with manual distribution of liquid as needed remained relevant. Nowadays, a canister with automatic distribution of the substance is in demand, in which the time parameter is set and human participation is not required.
Aroma lamps
A classic aroma lamp is a bowl with aromatic oil, which also has space for a candle. Most often, the container is made of glass, metal or ceramics. Recently, aroma lamps with USB have become popular.
An original air freshener, a meditation aid, a means to strengthen the immune system, a personal antidepressant.
Not long ago, models with ultrasound appeared. In appearance they look like a flash drive, in which there is a place for pouring aromatic oil; when heated, a pleasant aroma is evenly distributed in the room.
Liquids
This is aromatic water that, when evaporated, fills the room with a pleasant aroma. Often sold in an attractive bottle. To let the smell into the room, you need to open the lid for a few minutes.
Light and pleasant aromas create an atmosphere of comfort in the house.
There are 4 types of air humidifiers:
- steam. The device emits both cold and hot steam. Therefore, it is necessary to place it away from children and animals. Refills with any water;
- classical. It draws in air through a special filter located inside the device. Based on cold evaporation. Adding any water, either filtered or from the tap, will do;
- ultrasonic. It is based on ultrasonic vibrations and is released in the form of mist. Use only filtered water;
- climatic. The predominant function is to purify the air, for example from dust, harmful organisms, tobacco smoke or animal odor. For this you need to use distilled water.
Criterias of choice
The highest quality air freshener is the one that contains the minimum amount of chemicals. If the product contains substances such as acetone, nitrate, we can talk about its increased toxicity.
Electronic devices spray aromatic liquid into the air at regular intervals.
When choosing your next air freshener, you should pay attention not only to its smell. If you want to choose the safest air fresheners, we recommend paying attention to those made from natural ingredients. If the apartment has an air purification device, then it is better not to choose deodorizing air fresheners. The ozone released by the purifier and the substances from the air freshener can form a harmful mixture for human health.
The automatic air freshener runs on batteries or mains.
When choosing a flavoring agent, it is necessary to take into account many key points, including the type, operating principle and features of the device.
For price-quality
The most budget-friendly options are conventional sprays, which must be sprayed with your own hands if necessary. If you require a longer lasting effect, then you should pay attention to solid air fresheners with replaceable cartridges. Their cost is much higher.
Before purchasing, check the instructions for what area the device is intended for.
The best option for an apartment are automatic sprayers with a pleasant aroma that release the product in portions. In this case, you will only need to replace the can with a new one.
Convenient devices that are activated when a person appears in the room or when the light is turned on.
By functionality
First of all, you need to answer the question - what product do you need? The one that fights the unpleasant odor, or just masks it? You can eliminate an unpleasant aroma with the help of an air freshener, but only absorbers that are an order of magnitude higher can combat the unpleasant aroma.
An additional means of maintaining cleanliness can be a special odor absorber in the refrigerator.
By brand and operating principle
We invite you to familiarize yourself with the rating of the best air fresheners. The quality of these brands is deservedly called the best, and has been repeatedly tested by customers:
- Discover. The company gained its popularity after it released a whole line of aerosols with rare scents that are difficult to find in other brands. Here you can find not only a citrus or sea scent, but also the smell of cashmere or wild plants.
- Air Wick. A manufacturer that does not forget to delight customers with “delicious” new fragrances. The company stands out not only for its excellent product quality, but also for its wide selection of scents, among which you can definitely find something suitable for yourself. It is impossible not to note the series of Life Scents fragrances, which open up after some time.
- Freshmatik. A company that is in no way inferior to the previous two. The manufacturer offers gel fragrances, which are sold together with a stylish transparent stand. It will be an excellent addition to any room interior.
- Ambi Pur. A manufacturer that can deservedly be called a leader. Offers aerosols and aqueous flavors. The most in demand is a pleasant scent spray with a certain time interval from the Ambi Pur company.
- Ballu. They offer electronic air fresheners that distribute aroma oils using a built-in dispenser fan. The main disadvantage is the high cost of production.
- Glade. The manufacturer gives preference to the manufacture of aerosol products. It copes well with unpleasant odors, but one cannot fail to note the short-lived effect after the fragrance is distributed in the room.
- Meria. The cheapest option among all presented. But, despite the reasonable price, products from Meria have exceptionally good customer reviews.
Designed to aromatize the air and remove unpleasant odors in living rooms and offices.
Comparison with competitors
The AirWick air freshener stands out in the market. It has a large selection of models (from candles and crystals to automatic options), and among the assortment of various scents, anyone can choose a freshener to suit their taste.
Few manufacturing companies can compete with this air freshener. The lines of the Chirton and AmbiPur brands are more modest, and the choice of fragrances is smaller. On the same level as AirWick is another popular air freshener - Glade. The brand has long been a leader in the market. Its range and selection of fragrances is no less extensive than that of Ervik.
What you need to pay attention to when purchasing
When purchasing a air freshener, you need to pay attention to some nuances that may affect the quality of the air freshener.
- Purpose. Immediately determine why you need this product. If, for example, you need a fragrance in order to eliminate an unpleasant aroma once, you can use an aerosol. If you need to constantly maintain a pleasant smell in your apartment, then a gel air freshener would be the best option. The smell remains in the room for a long time and no additional spraying is required.
- Safety. If children or pets live in the room, then you should give preference to flavorings that contain natural ingredients. Please note that aromatherapy oil fresheners can cause burns, and electric ones are plugged in 24 hours a day.
- Health status. Consider your illnesses. And if you have problems with the respiratory tract, asthma or allergic reactions, then it is better to avoid using products with a lot of chemicals.
Many modern air fresheners are not particularly different from each other, except for the palette of aromas.
Important! There have been recorded cases where the air freshener was a provocateur of epilepsy.
How to install
For greater efficiency and safety, devices are placed at a height exceeding human height. Models for shelves are positioned with the condition that during operation the jet is not directed at people, household appliances and objects that it can damage.
How to setup
Depending on the model, the automatic dispenser requires adjustment of the frequency and intensity of spraying. The optimal option, which is achieved experimentally, involves economical consumption of aerosol and the elimination of excessive concentration of the resulting aroma.
Automation for the home, located in the bathrooms, is configured for a half-hour period. Devices installed in office lobbies and smoking rooms require more frequent activation - from 5 to 10 minutes.
How to use them
Being an automated system, dispensers do not cause any difficulties in use. To start the device you need:
- install batteries;
- remove the protective cover from the cartridge and place it in the appropriate compartment;
- fix the device in its original place;
- turn on and select the desired mode.
Operating rules
In order for the air freshener to effectively perform the functions assigned to it, during operation it is necessary:
- change aerosol cartridges and batteries in a timely manner;
- protect the device from mechanical damage;
- carry out regular preventive maintenance.
When using the dispenser, you must ensure that the device remains inaccessible to children.
DIY air freshener
If you've been to all the stores and still haven't been able to find the right air freshener for you, we suggest making an air freshener at home. Even a child can cope with the task.
For this we need: a spray bottle, alcohol - 0.2 liters, clean water, any flavoring. It could be flower petals or cinnamon. Mix everything in a container with alcohol. After this, leave it to brew for two days. Pass through a sieve and you are ready to use.
I want to not only surround myself with pleasant smells, but also be sure of their safety. This is especially true for young children and allergy sufferers.
To make your own air freshener, you can take cotton balls and soak them in your favorite aromatic oil. In order for the smell to spread better throughout the room, you need to place cotton balls in a warm place.
To make a homemade diffuser you will need:
- a few slices of lemon;
- anise – 3 stars;
- lime essential oil;
- sticks;
- container with a capacity of 200 ml.
Pour liquid and add all ingredients, insert rattan sticks. You can add dried flowers and dried herbs. You can enjoy a pleasant aroma, and most importantly - natural.
We also suggest making a freshener that can be used in the linen closet. These are small linen bags in which special herbs are stored.
The most correct option would be to make your own fresheners and flavors from harmless and even healthy ingredients.
Most often, lavender is chosen for this purpose, but other plants can be used. Orange peels, pine cones and cloves can also emit a strong odor. If you don’t have time to collect herbs, you can always buy them in dried form at the pharmacy. In terms of cost, such a homemade air freshener will be much cheaper.
To make your own air freshener, you will need your favorite essential oils, dried flowers with a strong scent, dried citrus peels, fragrant plant twigs and even some spices.
With the help of a high-quality air freshener, you can not only get rid of unpleasant odors, but also constantly maintain a pleasant smell in your home. But at the same time, first of all, we must remember about our health and our loved ones. We hope that the article will help you make the right choice that will not harm your health.
