blimey, what’s a pesticide poisoning, how did that happen? I assume your poor daughter was caught up in it too, as she gets hives in a non FF place?
Poisoning happens when a toxin is absorbed by the body in amounts above what it can handle. But this is not my lead story because…ugh! My daughter suffers from ‘regular’ allergies but is very sensitive to skin contact. Not to go crazy but, none of these products are regulated nor are the ingredients forced to be disclosed like food labels. Most fragranced products (laundry, air freshener, etc) also contain a desensitizer. This affects how the user views the product. The vast majority of folks do not notice these toxins. I am like a canary in a coal mine. Think of how pregnant women have wierd sudden aversions to Foods, smells and what not. It’s not the same every day. If I am super healthy, I barely react. If I have a cold I become much more sensitive.
I know it doesn’t kill me. No extra insurance is needed from hosts. No one is ‘responsible’ The same way you would not be held accountable for the pollen count in your area for guests with seasonal allergies.
I’ve been dealing with this since ‘02. I am a pro at avoiding. Like I’ve said, most people meet me and are never aware I have issues.
I was just curious what hosts would think if I asked for sheets to be washed without soap for me. I feel now I have mislabeled this thread.
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I am a host who also has chemical sensitivities. I don’t advertise my unit but it too is mostly FF. After I book an Airbnb, I contact the host a few days before check in and ask them if it’s possible to provide linens ff and no dryer sheets. I try to take a very casual approach and so far it has worked out ok. I also try to book places without wall-to-wall carpets. If I’m driving, I bring my own bedding and linens, If I’m flying I get laundry detergent if needed. I also ask that no air fresheners are in the unit.
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Understood. I never asked for anything but sheets washed in hot water. The rest of the chemicals are usually short lived and not worth mentioning, for me.
Thanks for this @Lynick4442. Good plan.
Hey! We’ve found another topic none of us can agree on!
I wouldn’t mind being asked, so long as I get some decent notice. @Lynick4442 mentioned she asks a couple days beforehand and I think that’s too late because I’d need to re-wash the set meant for her stay (and run an extra errand if it were more than a “no soap” request)
I’ve hosted one fragrance sensitive guest who asked for a specific detergent and no softener about 2 weeks before her stay. That worked great because it gave me time to purchase the detergent and wash their sheets, towels, and bathrobes to spec. She didn’t ask, but I also cleaned with just vinegar & water, removing Mrs Meyer’s (smells good to me!) from the mix.
When fragrance or allergen sensitivities arise, my concern (beyond guest comfort) is what happens if they show up and have an issue?
Does Airbnb refund them?
Occasionally a cat-allergy guest will book, knowing I have a cat in my part of the house. I always try to make clear they’re running a risk, but I don’t know who is truly at risk: them for a histamine attack, or me not getting paid for a cancelled stay. Have any of you run into that scenario?
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I had the same issue about three years ago. She never told me she had FF issues, or I would have gladly washed everything in the fragrance free pods I had at the time. She dinged me on the review, for something I had no knowledge of…
I have never dinged a host for not knowing about me cuz that’s crazy. I have also never dinged the many guests who left my place super toxed by applying tons of perfume in enclosed space (walk in closet for one). Also bad form.
I usually just make sure the listing has access to some fresh air. Dilution is the solution to pollution!
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This access to fresh air goes for my listing and listings I book
What I think what you missed is that if the host can’t do ff laundry, I take care of it myself. I am very casual so as not to spook them. I rent Airbnb units with without wall to wall carpets. The only think I really need for them not to have is air fresheners and febreeze. I can take care of my lines one way or another.
But in the future, I’ll make a point of requesting it about 1 week ahead of time. The Airbnb unit I’m staying in next has a washer and dryer so it’s not an issue. As a person with chemical sensitive allergies, I’ve learned to be casual so that hosts don’t freak out. In the beginning I couldn’t leave my home and would never put a host in that situation and honestly, if the guest is that sensitive, it is a burden to expect the host to accommodate the guest. Even in the Airbnb suite I host, I don’t require guest to be ff but I do prohibit cinnamon and air fresheners (I use peppermint essential oil to freshen the air). And as RootsEatery says, fresh air is one of my best tools in the toolbox.
Whoa. Wash sheets without soap?? I would not want to host you, sorry.
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I had a guest request this. It was no problem for me as I mostly use natural cleaning products. They also asked with enough advance notice so i could prepare.
Curiously do you think it would be worth putting on the listing as an option for guests on request?, any suggestions for wording. ’ we use mostly natural cleaning products and on request we can minimise fragrances used.’?
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If someone asked us for that and explained why I would do my best to accommodate them. If the host can’t do it they’ll just say no.
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This is brilliant @Jenski_tas. Thanks for the suggestion.
Bleach is otherwise very harmful to all the aquatic world, and the fumes we breathe from it are extremely dangerous for health, both humans and animals. There is no need to use it, half a glass of alcoholic vinegar is placed in the softener drawer, which is perfect for disinfecting everything. Secondly, for glass surfaces, mirrors, and other surfaces that need to be washed quickly from dust and a little dirt, you can make a home product: 2/10 alc.vinegar, 8/10 water and 1 drop of the mildest scent free detergent for washing dishes.
Hi- I am always- or often turned down. Furthermore I worry that the hope of renting means some folks aren’t truthful. I was also poisoned by pesticides- and it now makes traveling incredible challenging. Then covid 
Although I live in tropical Mexico, where bugs are prolific, most are totally harmless, and I never fumigate. I find that regular cleaning, and not killing the little geckos and harmless spiders that eat other bugs keeps the insect population at bay. I do keep natural insecticide around for extreme cases- its main ingredient is cinnamon oil. And I use a chemical cockroach gel in the kitchen, but applied in the very top corners of cupboards where no one or anything but roaches could come in contact with it.
But the flip side of not using toxic insecticides is that guests who don’t want to stay somewhere that gets fumigated shouldn’t be the type to freak out if they see a spider or an ant. Or leave a bad review about it.
When I started hosting in a small town in AZ was where I first became aware of people having issues with fragrances.
I was already a non-fragrance person even though they didn’t make me sick, Just couldn’t stand all the chemical smells. So, my place there was fragrance free.
In my new location, I’m still fragrance free with mention of it on my site but so far no comments on it.
I do not use bleach, all laundry gets hung out to dry and only organic gardening ever since I became a gardener.
None of this is that difficult and it cuts down on what makes a lot of people sick.
We hire a cleaning person who brings their own supplies. She uses mostly natural products, but some are “lemon verbena” or lightly citrus scented. A special request of FF (especially without advance notice) wouldn’t work for us as we would have to make a special trip/purchase just for one guest and drop off between check-out and before the cleaner showed up.