Bath and Body Works Wallflowers a fire hazard??

[SundaeAfternoon]

I bought some of those Wallflower air fresheners from Bath and Body Works over the weekend. They are really pretty and smell great. We usually don't buy plug in air fresheners because of hearing about the fire hazards associated with the Glade ones. I googled "Wallflowers fire hazard" this morning just to see if anything came up, and found comments from people that say their house caught on fire from this things. Now I'm super paranoid and scared about it. I know you can't believe everything you read on the internet, so have any of you had a problem with these, or heard of anyone you know having a problem?

 

[Robmom]

I have them, but I don't leave them plugged in overnight, or if I'm going out. You just never know what could happen.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

I have them, but I don't leave them plugged in overnight, or if I'm going out. You just never know what could happen.

Very true. I'm going to do that from now on. I just have to get through the day without worrying too much about them being plugged in.

 

[GoodFairies]

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/glade.asp

 

[HM]

It never occured to me that this might be a problem. I have Wallflowers, Glade and Febreze things plugged into various rooms. I've never had a problem with them in all the years I've used them. Hmm. What to do? I can't imagine going around unplugging each and replugging every day.

 

[Ephany]

I used to use them and stopped because they would get really, really hot. I've had other brands that were warm, but my wallflowers were almost painful to remove from the wall even after a short period of time. I might have had a bad batch, but just didn't want to risk it.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Uggh....something else to worry about. I've used Wallflowers in our bathroom for 4 years, and have never had a problem with excessive heat, etc., and our electric is over 70 years old....

Now I'll go home and check on it!

 

[4greatboys]

I have used Wallflowers for years with no problems.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/glade.asp

Thanks. I looked at that this morning and saw the sentence about the wallflowers and thought "hmm..."

It never occured to me that this might be a problem. I have Wallflowers, Glade and Febreze things plugged into various rooms. I've never had a problem with them in all the years I've used them. Hmm. What to do? I can't imagine going around unplugging each and replugging every day.

Right? It gets a little annoying. I used to do that with the Glade ones. I guess the upside is that you get more use out of them when they aren't plugged in 24/7.

I used to use them and stopped because they would get really, really hot. I've had other brands that were warm, but my wallflowers were almost painful to remove from the wall even after a short period of time. I might have had a bad batch, but just didn't want to risk it.

Hmm...that's a little alarming. I checked mine this morning before I left for work. The glass bulb was perfectly cool. The only semi-warm part was the vented area on top. Did your glass bulbs get hot?

Uggh....something else to worry about. I've used Wallflowers in our bathroom for 4 years, and have never had a problem with excessive heat, etc., and our electric is over 70 years old....

Now I'll go home and check on it!

Well, that is good to hear that you haven't had a problem in 4 years!

I have used Wallflowers for years with no problems.

Good to hear. Makes me wonder if the people who had a problem were leaving mostly empty ones plugged in? I could see a risk there for sure.

 

[4greatboys]

Good to hear. Makes me wonder if the people who had a problem were leaving mostly empty ones plugged in? I could see a risk there for sure.

I hate to admit I have done that, more than once. Still it hasn't been an issue.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We don't use them anymore due to the chemicals it sends into the air. I never really thought about it until my dog began to chew his feet apart out of nowhere. He was raw and infected so we took him to the vet and she immediately asked DH if we had any plug in air fresheners. Of course, I had just plugged on in 3 weeks ago and we've never used them before. She said she gets TONS of pets with severe allergies to them - because they never leave the house, they are breathing in those chemicals all day everyday and their reaction can be strong. She said they aren't good for people, either, but most of us don't stay in the same area 24 hours a day. She said candles are different in that you get a break from the scent because you don't burn them constantly.

Anyways, we unplugged it and 2 weeks later he was healed up and normal! Cheapest vet fix we've had! =)

I'm a lot more cautious now about that kind of stuff. I have allergies and asthma and it can't be good for me, either.

Just wanted to offer another reason why possibly not to use them.

Regarding the fire, my FIL is a firefighter and he won't let MIL use any plug in scents. Says he's worked too many fires due to them.

 

[OK!]

I've used them for something like 6-7 years now (have probably 4-5 plugged in right now, actually, throughout the house) and have never had a problem with them. Ditto for my parents and my brother. In fact, there's actually some sort of sensor in them that senses when they might be overheating and automatically "kills" the Wallflower to prevent fires. As far as I know, once that happens, that WF is shot and will need to be replaced.

They will get warm to the touch when plugged in (warm, not hot) when they're working correctly.

 

[Ephany]

Hmm...that's a little alarming. I checked mine this morning before I left for work. The glass bulb was perfectly cool. The only semi-warm part was the vented area on top. Did your glass bulbs get hot?

The bulb was warm, not hot. The part that was hot was the base, near where it plugged into the wall. I'm not sure of the technical name, but it was the part I'd grasp to remove it from the wall. Like I said, maybe i just had a bad one or two since I had bought them both at the same time from the same store? None of my friends ever complained about theirs.

 

[OK!]

Just checked the one closest to me (it's plugged in near my feet at my desk) and the unit itself is slightly warm and the bulb is cool. Not warm at all.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

we only got two just last year as part of a promo. we dont have b and bw in our province yet. so when i go to maine i stock up on soaps! once we came back last september i plugged one in and noticed mine did get very hot, actually both of them did. stupidily i left it in while at the world!!! but everything was fine. scary nonetheless!

 

[MIGrandma]

I only have one Wallflower, it my bedroom. I keep the door shut during the day and when I go to bed at night I love opening the door and smelling it. Never thought about it causing a fire though. When I go to change the bulb I do notice it's warm to the touch, but never too hot that I pull my hand away or anything.

Are they really any different than leaving nightlights plugged in all the time? I've done that for years and years, never thought about them being a fire hazzard.

 

[Nancy]

I have them, but I don't leave them plugged in overnight, or if I'm going out. You just never know what could happen.

You can say that about any appliance that is left plugged in. I make sure all small appliances are unplugged (toaster, coffee maker, etc) when we are done with them. I had a friend who left the toaster plugged in and it started a fire.

But I have the Glade plug in and I've had it for years and years with no problems. I keep it in the downstairs bathroom where the litter box is.

I hate to admit I have done that, more than once. Still it hasn't been an issue.

Me too...now I need to check mine and see.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

Are they really any different than leaving nightlights plugged in all the time? I've done that for years and years, never thought about them being a fire hazzard.

That's a good point.

 

[C.Ann]

I have 4 of them - and if I remember correctly, I think there was a warning on the box indicating they "could" pose a hazard - if left plugged in when they are empty..

Basically, anything that is left "plugged in" could be a potential fire hazard..

I don't think I would worry about it too much.. Just unplug them once they're empty..

 

[Feralpeg]

I used a Glade plug-in several years ago. The plastic part of it actually melted partially. When I notice it, I threw it away. I won't ever use one again.