This may save your family (ot)

[heartland]

I got this thru the email today.....this guy isn't my brother!
--------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------


Please read. It could save your family.

My brother and his wife learned a hard lesson this last week.

Their house burned down...nothing left but ashes. They have good
insurance, so the home will be replaced and most of the contents. That
is the good news. However, they were sick when they found out the cause
of the fire.

The insurance investigator sifted through the ashes for several hours.
He had the cause of the fire traced to the master bathroom. He asked
my sister-in-law what she had plugged in in the bathroom. She listed
the normal things....curling iron, blow dryer. He kept saying to her,
"No, this would be something that would disintegrate at high
temperatures." Then, my sister-in-law remembered she had a Glade
Plug-in in the bathroom. The investigator had one of those "Aha"
moments.

He said that was the cause of the fire. He said he has seen more home
fires started with the plug in type room fresheners than anything else.
He said the plastic they are made from is a THIN plastic. He said in
every case there was nothing left to prove that it even existed. When
the investigator looked in the wall plug, the two prongs left from the
plug-in were still in there. My sister-in-law had one of the plug-ins
that had a small night light built in it. She said she had noticed that
the light would dim....and then finally go out. She would walk in a few
hours later, and the light would be back on again.

The investigator said that the unit was getting too hot, and would dim
and go out rather than just blow the light bulb. Once it cooled down,
it would come back on. That is a warning sign. The investigator said
he personally wouldn't have any type of plug-in fragrance device
anywhere in his house. He has seen too many burned down homes.

Thought I would warn you all. I had several of them plugged in my
house. I immediately took them all down. PASS THIS ON TO ALL THE
PEOPLE YOU KNOW!!!! This is one of those e-mails that if you didn't
send it, assuredly, someone on your list will suffer for not reading it.

[megchrisl]

Do you think that this also applies to bath and body works wallflowers?

[Paula]

Air Fresheners:
cone type air freshener
What is it?

These products are used to freshen air in various places throughout the home including kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living rooms. Air fresheners are usually stored in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room.
What's in it?

There are four basic ingredients in air fresheners: formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, p- dichlorobenzene, and aerosol propellants.
What health and safety precautions do you need to think about when using air freshners?

Air freshners are usually highly flammable and also strong irritants to eyes, skin, and thorat. Additionally, the solid fresheners usually cause death if eaten by people or pets.

Please use precautions when using these products. You also need to be sure to always "Read the Label First" to know how to properly use these products and for safety information. Don't use them near open flames like candles, gas stoves. Use only in a well ventilated area. Baking soda, which is not toxic, can also be used to freshen the air in your home.

[Paula]

thanks heartland. i have those plug in types in every outlet downstairs

[Heaven Sent]

I really have to agree with this. I only use the battery powered ones now and they work just as well.
I had one of the ones that plugged into the wall that had the little fan on it. I came home once and saw it laying across the room on the floor. It was empty and it really puzzled me I couldnt for the life of me figure out how it got there. Then I saw it happen with my own eyes. The thing litterally flew out of the wall when it was empty for the second time. I then did some research on them cause I knew it had to be something to do with the air freshener thing. It said that once they are empty they have a tendency of causing fires if not unplugged. I guess mine just flew out of the wall instead?? Weird anyways. Wont use them again.

[LQQK]

I'm going to go unplug it right now.. thanks!!!!

[coco-pebbles-aholic]

OMG>>>>>>>>>I got so many of those lil things everywhere in my home..............Who knew...y is it they r allowed to sell them.?I am taking them out right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WannaLoseIt]

I dont understand why there hasnt been a recall. Thanks for posting this I was unaware that they would start fires. Kinda makes me mad all the money I spend on those things all over my house and they could start fires grrr.

[EmBee30]

I've been wondering why all 3 of my plug ins haven't been working lately...the night light part of them. They each ran out of scented oil and I haven't refilled them and noticed one by one that the lights don't work anymore. After I read this thread I took them all out and bought a regular night light today. Better safe...thanks Heartland!

[Dawndownunder.]

Thanks for this info. I definatly will pass it on.

[Determined1-- derland here I come]

I have heard about this before. But do you think I listened? Nope I leave them plugged in even when the fragrance runs out.... I won't be happy until the house burns down huh? Is there a warning about this on the product? If not they'd be liable and they could buy me a new house.
j/k I am going to at least replace the empty cartridges right now.

[yummymummy]

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!
It makes such sense when you think about it... perfumed oil near a heat source... Thank you for the information, I'll pass on just as soon as I've run around my house removing the buggers!

[mattpatt]

Not trying the thread crap here.... but...

If there was a problem such as this don't you think there would be a recall? I mean, think of all the lawsuits the company would have to deal with if this were true. Sounds like one of them internet Urban Legends to me.

Just my .02

[blanqita]

Hi. I found some interesting info on snopes.com also... (where i fact check everything)lol..and that e-mail is still undetermined, so careful! : )

According to the FAQ SC Johnson has now placed on the web site for their Glade brand products:
SC Johnson recently learned that there have been postings on the Internet that have claimed that our products were involved in fires. It's important that you know that all of our PlugIns® products are safe and will not cause fires. We know this because PlugIns® products have been sold for more than 15 years and hundreds of millions of the products are being used safely.

Furthermore, because we are committed to selling safe products, SC Johnson further investigated these rumors. Internally, we confirmed that no one had contacted SC Johnson to tell us about these fires or to ask us to investigate them. Additionally, we were able to have a fire investigation expert call the fire department representative who is identified in one of the Internet postings. That fireman indicated that he has no evidence that our products had caused any fire.

We also know that our products do not cause fires because all of our PlugIns® products have been thoroughly tested by Underwriters Laboratories and other independent laboratories and our products meet or exceed safety requirements.

SC Johnson also has worked closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate allegations that PlugIns® products have been involved in fires and CPSC has been satisfied that there is no basis for these allegations.

As a more than 100 year old family-owned company, SC Johnson is committed to providing top quality products that can be used safely in homes and we want to reassure you that PlugIns® products can be used with complete confidence.

[nursietobe33]

things that make you go hmmmmm.....

[StevieGirl]

Yes, please always go to snopes.com when you get these e-mails warning you about stuff (like swiffer causing dogs to die).

Most of the time they're not true.

Anything you plug in has a potential of causing a fire - but there are no known cases of the Glade Plug-Ins doing this.

[Determined1-- derland here I come]

Well as an insurance agent I've heard of many of fires, but so far none of my clients have been caused by plug ins.
But I can understand how it could happen, them little units do have to heat up in order to warm the scent to go throughout the room, so I do suppose it could be possible.

[yummymummy]

There's also a warning on the packet saying not to leave them switched on for more than 14 hours at a time.