Alternative to air fresheners

Hi all,

Troy stays at my Mom's throughout the day while I work where my brotjers Lab Byson also resides. Now I think my Mom is a bit paranoid about the house smelling with two dogs and has 7...yes 7 of those air freshers that squirt into the air.

Now, I have read these are harmful to humans and dogs, but more so to dogs, especially as they are close to the ground where it all settles. At the end of the day they might smell like flowers but they are chemicals. I am also sure this causes conjunctivitis in Troy. one or two might of been acceptable, but 7 downstairs is taking it too far IMO.

So, can anyone please suggest alternatives to keeping a house smelling fresh that are not harmful to dogs? Most of the house is carpeted.

Thank you.

my first though was  'tea tree oil' ( i use it in the car as an airfreshner )
read somewhere how to make a home diffusor for it ..
involved a bowl of water and some bamboo sticks ..
( although wouldn't want my dog to be chewing bamboo !! )
and think i saw mention of how too much could be a pet health risk
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but .. would need to re-find the article to be sure ..
( edit ) .. found :
http://allnaturalpetcare.com/blog/2012/05/08/is-tea-tree-oil-melaleuca_alternifolia-leucadendron-safe-for-pets/
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anyhow .. tea tree oil is antibacterial ..

found this just now via looking for something else:
http://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/sprays-make-home-dogs-body-odor-5709.html

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( edit ) .. google "OdoBan® Pet Carpet Deodorizer"
sais it's non-toxic .. safe for pets etc etc ..

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there will be a way to make airfreshners from various essential-oils
no doubt google will find the info

I am afraid I don't use any air fresheners they get down my neck let alone Vinnies.
I do burn sticks usually patchouli but guess an oil would be better.  

We don't use any air freshners usually in the house, no need really.

What kind of smell is it that your Mum is experiencing ??

With a Staffy having a short coat they are less likely to smell anyway, I would think the odour is more likely coming from the Lab  

I don't use air fresheners at all as they kick my asthma off. I would say they are harmful to dogs too. Has she tried a joss stick

I'll look into this further.

And I do not know in regards to the smell, I guess maybe a musky dog smell? My Mom is hard to deal with at time, so I not even going to bother to ask.

Troy's eyes still seem red even though he is on the drops, probably from the chemicals.

If the smell gets bad at home we burn incense sticks.

for what it's worth ..
after reading about giving pooch some coconut oil ..

see related posts here :
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f77-staffordshire-bull-terrier-natural-alternative-lifestyle

i tried a teaspoon for Lady yesterday ..
1 .. she loved it ..
2 .. 4 hours later i noticed her coat felt really smooth .. and ..
she seemed to have lost most of that " doggie smell " ..
yes, i had my nose right on her coat to check this ..
she smelt faintly of coconuts ..

I'll look into that, thanks.

We burn incense sticks if Bacchus has one of his whiffy nights. 

kozmos wrote:for what it's worth ..
after reading about giving pooch some coconut oil ..

see related posts here :
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f77-staffordshire-bull-terrier-natural-alternative-lifestyle

i tried a teaspoon for Lady yesterday ..
1 .. she loved it ..
2 .. 4 hours later i noticed her coat felt really smooth .. and ..
she seemed to have lost most of that  " doggie smell " ..
yes, i had my nose right on her coat to check this ..
she smelt faintly of coconuts ..

good stuff isn't it!