DIY Fall Candles That Are Better for Your IAQ

As the leaves change color and the weather gets crisp, nothing says fall like filling your home with the smells of rosemary, peppermint, or pumpkin pie. Hold on a minute, though. Air fresheners are bad for your IAQ. Fortunately, with a few simple ingredients, you can retain your autumn aromas by making your own, all-natural fall candles that are decorative and great-smelling — but also safe.

Air Fresheners and VOCs

Most commercial air fresheners contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). These harmful gases can be found in everything from paints and solvents to pesticides and aerosol spray cans, including spray air fresheners. Even non-aerosol air fresheners emit chemicals that can be harmful if inhaled. They cause problems such as triggering allergies and exacerbating asthma.

Scented candles are no better. They contain paraffin wax, which, when heated, emits fumes that can bother the eyes and throat.

Making Your Own Fall Candles

You can still light scented candles and fill your home with the smells of fall. Just make your own. First, take some old jars and other containers: mason jars, glasses and mugs, baby food jars — whatever sturdy containers you have.

Then, get some soy wax and some wicks from your local craft store. Unlike paraffin, soy wax is all natural. Melt the wax over a double boiler. Then dip one end of each wick into the wax and stick them to the bottom of each of the jars. Keep the wicks in place with clothespins, so they don't fall.

Once the wicks are in place, add your favorite fall scents to the wax. You can use vanilla beans, pumpkin spices, rosemary, and other fresh herbs, or a few drops of essential oils. Stir the wax thoroughly and add it to the jars. Let it cool until it hardens (about 15 minutes) and then trim the wicks down to size. Voila! Your fall candles are ready to spread safe aromas throughout your home.

To learn more about eliminating VOCs and improving your IAQ, contact us at Air Assurance. We make sure Broken Arrow homes are safe and healthy, so you can breathe easy.

IAQ Concerns for Valentine's Day

Some holidays raise more IAQ concerns (indoor air quality) especially Christmas and New Years. Even though it’s not as widely celebrated, Valentine’s Day is another celebration that can degrade IAQ as well.Between the gifts and the décor, this holiday could introduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your air that might be mildly irritating or cause serious reactions. VOCs are gases that come from anything made from a hydrocarbon.Found in household cleaning products, air fresheners, candles, makeup and hair sprays, a Valentine’s Day celebration could leave behind respiratory irritants and chemicals that could have a serious long-term impact.

Limiting IAQ Concerns

• Instead of lighting paraffin candles made from wax, choose those made from beeswax or soy. If you want scented candles, choose those scented with essential oils rather than manufactured perfumes. The labels should indicate if they’re natural.

• Skip the aerosol air fresheners or those that plug into the walls. They’re usually loaded with VOCs. Weather permitting, open a window to pull in fresh air or freshen the air naturally.

• Look around your home. Sometimes odors indicate pet or kitchen odors that deep cleaning will remove. Use natural products like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide to clean rather than the perfumed commercial cleaners.

Since Valentine’s Day is the holiday of love, show yours to your family and friends by giving up the use of artificial fragrances in your home as much as possible. Many people associate scented products with freshness and cleanliness, but in fact, public health experts have plenty of IAQ concerns regarding them. Some cause respiratory irritations while others are responsible for more serious organ damage and even cancer. Young and old people are most at risk for VOC exposure from artificial scents. You can find unscented products throughout grocery store aisles. You can also use your HVAC system to address IAQ concerns year-round by adding air cleaners and UV (ultraviolet) lights.

To learn more, contact Air Assurance, providing HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.