Scented detergents

[Christine2783]

I am laying in a bed that is making me sick to my stomach because of the excessively odorous detergent the host used.

It is too late at night to disturb them.

What should I do tomorrow??

[Christine2783]

I’m here for 8 days. I thought she would just wash the bedding and I would have been happy with that. I vaguely considered asking for a refund of one night but I didn’t say anything. 
I suggested (and went out and purchased it) adding a little vinegar to the washer to help remove the odor. She would not use it. But hours later she brought different bedding. She also suggested she could get Airbnb to refund and that maybe I would be more comfortable somewhere else. 
I believe I have been very courteous,  I expressed appreciation and all seemed to be going well. 
My host had also gone out and bought a new coffee pot and coffee grinder because the ones here didn’t work (she had told me it was old and may not work - it didn’t). I expressed concern for all her trouble and she reassured me that it was no trouble, and that she would use it herself. I had specifically asked about a grinder before traveling so I knew to bring or not bring my coffee beans with me. (I could just as easily have brought my instant) She said, “next time someone asks if the place comes with something she will just say NO”. She says it is no big deal but then let’s her displeasure slip out, 
So somehow we have gotten off on the wrong foot even though I think we were both very pleasant towards each other. 
My daughter dropped me off and then went off to her own Airbnb; I wonder if my host thinks I’m sneaking my daughter in here with me and if that’s what got my host upset....

[Sarah977 · Accepted solution]

If you are staying more than this one night, I would politely let the host know that you are overwhelmed by the scent of whatever laundry products they used to wash and dry the bedding. Ask if they could possibly provide you with some bedding that they run through the wash/dry without using any strong smelling soap, and to please skip any fabric softener or dryer sheets.

If you can honestly praise some other things about the place when you do this, it would likely be better received by the host. "Everything is fine, the place is quite comfy, aside from the heavily perfumed smell of the bedding, which made it really hard to sleep last night. I wonder if you could...."

@Christine2783

[Christine2783]

Thank you for the helpful advice!
I found a can of febreze in the bathroom, took it outside and sprayed a little- it  is exactly the same smell. But the hosts denies she used it in the bed (though she mentioned that a “fresh scent” lets the guests know the bed has been changed.) She also threw out that she didn’t spray it in the furnace filter.....(makes me wonder). 
Hours later she did provide different sheets but got frustrated when, after trying to nap, I found it on the blanket and then on the mattress cover as well; not all over but only in some areas - apparently from spray. 

She brought different bedding but hours after this she had still not returned the washed mattress cover so I just made the bed without. 
She had, however, offered to try to get Airbnb to refund. But I have no where to go and I’m exhausted after not sleeping last night. 
I’m happy to give a good rating but I don’t understand why she got frustrated.

[Kia272]

@Christine2783  Her offer to "try to get AirBnB to refund" is deceptive. Any refund, whatever amount, is entirely up to her. It sounds like she has not been entirely gracious about all this.  

I hope all of your messaging has been through AirBnB. If you are still not comfortable, you can reach out to AirBnB and ask to be relocated. I'm not sure what area you're in and how much short term rentals are in demand, so that could be a limiting factor. 

Her "fresh scent" comment indicates that she's pretty oblivious to the fact that not all people are on board with that. There are those that have become so accustomed to "that" via highly successful  marketing, but again- she's in the hospitality industry and is catering to a large, mixed market, and has to adjust her personal preferences to  suit those who are coming to her accommodation. 

She could mention in her listing that she uses strongly scented laundry products or sprays, and give guests the option to request their bedding be laundered in "free and clear" detergent before their stay (although those strong scents tend to hang on through multiples washes.) She could even have separate sheet and bedding sets. 

Anyway, you should be comfortable where you are staying, and if you're not, you are within your rights to ask for a change, if you feel that the host has not handled your concerns responsibly. Good luck

[Marit-Anne0]

Even though we offer rooms in our homes or our second homes, we are still part of the hospitality business and should act professionaly. Not using strong scents or heavily scented detergents should be a part of that. 

It also seems that many hosts do the washing on lower temperatures, causing the towels going smelly in a couple of days even if hung to dry between use. 

[Sarah4581]

Yep, the towels at my last place smelled horrible!  They tried to cover with febreze. 

[Stacey413]

I just had the exact experience -- couldn't sleep due to chemical laundry enhancer. The rest of the airbnb was outstanding, so I gave 5 stars and then privately messaged the host who said she used Downy Scent Beads in the laundry and would "tone it down." After trying (several times/ways) to wash the exact same scent out of a recent fleece resale sweater we bought, I know she will be unsuccessful toning it down. I researched the product, and alarmingly, P&G says it's "motion activated"! I now have to figure out how avoid exposure to this smell at all costs, and I don't consider myself a sensitive person. I occasionally use febreze neutralizer (difficult to find it locally without scent, and we go online to order this product), so I understand the need to keep the listing free of antagonizing scents like cooking smells from the prior guest. But this applied chemical scent is a horror. I want to spread the word to hosts not to contaminate their spaces with these serious forever chemicals.