Hatrack River Forum: Deodorizers

This is topic Deodorizers in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

I bought one of those One-drop deodorizers (Willert brand) a couple days ago. I think it works pretty well. But I have NO clue what chemicals are in it. It's green liquid, and only lists ethyl alcohol as one of the ingredients. It has a slight smell to it, sort of a plastic candy kinda smell (does that make sense at all?).

How safe is something like this to use? The only thing I have been able to come up with from google is the possibility of it being a formaldehyde mix, which doesn't sound that safe.

Should I feel okay using it to deodorize my kitchen cabinets? My hedgehog litter box (safe from hedgehog tongues, of course)? Bathroom?

Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

maybe deodorizers work by killing all your smell neurons so you don't think anything smells anymore... [Eek!]

Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :

what kind of deodorizers are these? I've never heard of them?

Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

dunno, apparently they're sold in places like CVS/Rite-Aid/Walgreen's type stores and pet stores. you can see a few online if you search for one-drop deodorizers

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

There's a picture here (bottom left). I can't find much info, even after looking at various chemistry-related sites.

You could always ask them directly.

quote:
Willert Home Products, Inc.
4044 Park Ave.
St. Louis, Missouri 63110
Phone: 314-772-2822
Fax: 314-772-3506
whp@willert.com

Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

anyone used these before?

thanks rivka. no phone yet, but when I get a phone (new apartment), i'll give 'em a call

Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :

I've never heard of them. Do they have stuff on the warning label?

AJ

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

I'd never even heard of them before your thread. [Dont Know]

Are they anything like Febreze and its ilk?

Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

Not sure if they're like Febreeze... You don't aerosol them, just leave out a drop to vaporize slowly. No warning label, which would have been helpful. Some poking online suggested that the lack of warning label doesn't mean it's non-toxic. Just means it's not regulated [Smile]

Posted by Jalapenoman (Member # 6575) on :

Most deodorizors used to contain paradychlorobenzine. People disagreed whether or not this was supposed to be carcinogenic and I do not know if it is still used.

(There are obviously spelling errors in a few of the words. Forgive me or deal)

Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :

There are three kinds of deodorizers.

1: Cover-it-up smells. Also known as perfumes. Most bathroom and automobile deodorizers are this type. They don't get rid of a smell, but cause the existing smell to blend with a stronger smell, so that it (hopefully) won't be noticed. Putting this in your kitchen cabinets may cause change in the flavor of food.

2: Germ/fungus killers. paradichlorobenzene (fascinating stuff) is one of these, generally used in toilets, and also as mothballs. Some foot powders and mouthwash also fall lunder this category. These operate under the assmption that the smell is being generated by something living, so they are basically poison. You don't want them in your kitchen cabinets. They are effective when applied correctly.

3: Odor absorbers. Baking soda is the most notorious of these. A series of tests done by the company I used to work for showed that baking soda has very little effect, but the cardboard box that it comes in is pretty effective at absorbing odor. The company was testing a molecular sieve powder called "dry rite." It was more effective than baking soda, but cardboard blew both of them off the map.

Lastly: Old wives tales - burning a candle in the bathroom has absolutely no effect, unless it's a scented candle, in which case it's actually #1.

Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :

*goes to put a large piece of cardboard in the fridge*

Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :

quote:
maybe deodorizers work by killing all your smell neurons so you don't think anything smells anymore...

I actually had an air system salesman tell me that lysol does this. I laughed.

Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

Glenn, thanks =). It's definitely not a perfume masking version.

To play it safe, I'll just use it for the litter box area and garbage cans. Fortunately, hedgehogs are wonderful about being incredibly toxin resistant.