Creating list of MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) friendly or no fragrance/scented stays

[Kip93]

If you have any recommendations for MCS friendly or non scented / fragrance free airbnb listings please let me know.  I'm creating a list for a MCS group and wanting to share it. Many people on that site or looking for places to stay but its incredibly difficult.  I get horrible migraines from scented laundry detergent, perfumes, cleaning products so it has become increasingly difficult to find a place to stay where I'm not sick.  So far I have about a dozen properties, and looking to add as many as I can.  Thousands of people are searching for this, so if you're a property owner please share, hopefully it will get you more listings!  If you are a traveler, share your great experience and I'll add it to my list.  I'll then update the complete list here to help others.  Thanks!

[Breanna]

Hi @Kip93 

I can see how that would be an invaluable resource to many Airbnb guests looking for MCS friendly listings. Have you been able to identify any to get your list going?

[Kip93]

A few.  But not as many as I'd like.  Many people are recommending hotels that have MCS and allergies as many hosts are not wanting to change cleaning procedures.  

[Diana2879]

I too have MCS and found an amazing host who took all linens out of 2 bedrooms for us and purchased fragrance free toiletries. Unfortunately, my sensitivity to scents, especially detergents and fabric softeners, is so high that even though I brought my own sheets and towels, the scents that were previously on the bed came up ever time I moved in the bed causing a horrible allergic reaction where I stayed in my car the following evening and we checked out early due to the fact that I couldn't be in the house at all because the scents were so strong for me. So, even the most gracious host who goes out of her way to accommodate, isn't enough for those of us with severe sensitivity. 

[Kia272]

@Kip93 You'd be doing all of those people the biggest favor by simply encouraging them to reach out to hosts before they book. Many hosts would be glad to accommodate for MCS, even if they don't advertise as a scent-free place. There is no harm in asking, and I believe many hosts would oblige if they can. 

I use unscented laundry supplies. I also cannot tolerate many scents and fragrances, although I have no official diagnosis. I use very lightly scented organic/natural products for hand soap and dish detergent, and I would happily replace those things with a "free and clear" products to accommodate a guest. I clean with natural products as well. 

I have seen many people bring up this issue in the community center, and I always encourage them to contact the host prior to booking. So, an official list would be great, but sometimes I feel that guests are making it a complicated issue, when really, it's all about communication. 

Good luck. 

[Daniel12227]

@Kia272Thank you for your advice, but I must strongly object. First of all, there are varying levels of sensitivity and for those of us who's condition has progressed, even if you were to cease using of such products on a Monday, the environment would still be debilitating the on Wednesday. This is especially true for some synthetic fragrances found in laundry detergents like Gain, where a small spill on the floor can effectively contaminate a house for months or years.

I've also found this to be true with air fresheners using terpenes like d- and l-lemonine. These are oily substances and once they get into fibers, they can last well over a year. You can only get them out through washing and oxidation (ozone, hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate [the active ingredient in "OxyClean" though that's no longer a safe product as they began adding a fragrance], etc.).

This really is a niche need, though it's by no means "boutique."

Reaching out to hosts and asking is the only thing we have right now, but that's a fraught journey. First it means that attempting to book takes much longer. Many hosts will interpret what you say differently, or lack an appreciation for just how little of a synthetic fragrance can wreak havoc for people with MCS. We *really do* need a special filter for this!!

[Daniel12227]

@Kip93THANK YOU for posting this. I'm in a crisis right now where I have to live in my car because my apartment is contaminated. I've tried hotels and they use synthetic fragrances that make me sick and I've given up on airbnb due to numerous past failures. We really do need a filter for this!

[Pat271]

@Kip93  Here’s another option based on a previous experience I had with a guest.

A few days before a guest arrived, she contacted me to double-check that I had a working washer and dryer, because she needed to wash all of the linens on the first day of her stay. I assured her that the washer and dryer were working.

I then mentioned that the linens will have just been washed, and asked if instead we could do something to avoid her having to waste a day of her vacation washing clothes, like use a particular brand of detergent, etc. for her.

She was very pleasant and thanked me for my concern, but assured me that she was used to doing this, and had to first wash everything in plain water and then use a detergent that she brings with her. She again thanked me for my concern and offer. A very pleasant 5-star guest, who also left 5 stars. 

Just another example of how some guests might deal with this issue, at least in terms of the linens.

Having an MCS box for hosts to check, as well as an MCS filter for guests to use, is the optimal solution, IMO. Also, for those whose needs can be met with a simple request, some sort of “Host encourages and can accommodate special cleaning requests for those with allergies” box and filter would also be helpful. Both of these filters could help the guest quickly narrow down accommodating properties, without having to maintain a list.

@Breanna, please submit these checkboxes and filters as an enhancement request, if they haven’t been submitted already.

[Ridgeview0]

Hello Kip93! We recently put our property out for short term rental and your welcome to put us on your list as I also have mcs and cannot tolerate fragrances and other chemical products. Obviously all of us have different tolerance levels however I do my best to keep guests aware that we are a fragrance free environment and not to spray/use any fragrances in the home, and clean with no fragrance (or essential oils) as well.  We are 60 min +/-outside of St. Louis, Missouri and located in a country atmosphere.  Thank You for trying to help! It is difficult for me to travel as well.  Link: airbnb.com/h/ridgeview-retreats-bungalow

[Daniele1129]

Kip I am so excited to see your post in the community center on Airbnb. We have created a chemical free/environmental friendly (full home) listing in Greenfield New York. I too am chemically sensitive, so it was important for me to create some thing like this to offer others who are as well. Of course you can never be 100% that, all the guest comply, but it is posted and requested and part of the rules. I would like to be put on your list and if you would like to add our listing, I would love that. It is Camaliti Cottage. 

Please let me know if you need any further information and if you can, please let me know that you receive this message. I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Daniele and Luis

[Jennifer4781]

Can you share that list or the group you where you posted it? MCS person, construction fumes in my apartment! Thx!

[Luis5555]

Sorry I am just seeing your request. Check out airbnb.com/h/camaliticottage

thanks. 

[Greg2406]

@Kip93 

One hundred percent agree, and hopefully Hosts are starting to include their cleaning processes and products in the property description.   We believe, at a minimum, Hosts should always use dye free, scent free, and perfume free wash products for bed linens and towels.   Now when it comes to disinfecting door knobs, cabinet pulls, light switches, tv remotes, toilets, couches, couch pillows, faucet and shower handles, we have to use a product that destroys viruses as well as bacteria and most products we have found only address bacteria.  Again, the lowest scented cleaners are always the best and hopefully all Hosts try to use these.   We have also moved to unbleached bamboo, dye, BPA, fragrance, and chlorine free toilet paper. 

To be honest, we would hope that all Host properties were cleaned to a level 1, but unfortunately this is not occurring as many Guest negative comments will reflect statements around uncleanliness of a property.    It would be nice for ABB to add a box in the booking request area to request Host to provide specific details on what they use to clean with.    

[Joelle43]

Hello @Greg2406 

I agree with so much of what you have said and also like to use non scented and hypo-allergenic products especially with bed linen and towels for people who are sensitive to smells

But what do you do when you have a guest who uses a VERY strong perfume that permeates every fabric you can imagine and although I washed everything at least twice, the smell still lingers for over a week😱  Luckily I didn't have anyone staying straight away.  Left the windows open for days and still there.   I imagine someone is going to tell me to use an O-zone machine but that costs money and how do you tell someone that it's because of their strong perfume?  It"s really awkward and not sure if Airbnb would lean my way if I put in an extra cleaning fee for this reason?

So no matter what steps a host can take, how do you guard your place from guests using perfume, cleaning products, smoking illegally, sneaking in a pet etc?  I just don't see how a host can guarantee that a place is MCS proof and advertise it as such without taking the risk of a guest turning against the host because they had a bad reaction to a product or smell left behind by another guest.  

[Greg2406]

@Joelle43 

I have used Ozium spray for nearly four decades and it works very good.  Sometimes having to reapply if a guest has bathed in cologne or perfume.  Smoking, vaping, and especially dipping illegally inside the property is an immediate eviction as stated in our House Rules and advise you do the same.  There are alarms like 3D Sense and Minut Gen 3 sensors that detect smoke and even noise.  These can get expensive, but if you are experiencing guests repeating these issues, then perhaps one of these alarms can be used along with good HR's.   We are not against smoking at all and we always allow it on our property, but smoking inside someone's private home should be dealt with quickly and decisively.   

Addressing if someone lists the property as MCS, we would not recommend it because of the obvious issues you already mentioned.  Guests can have medical or other issues that make them sensitive to a host of items, and you as a Host cannot be expected to address each of the issues, but do offer to inform the guest that if there is are any requests they have, including use of cleaning products, soaps, etc. to let us know.  

An honestly, it may be a hard claim with ABB on assessing extra fees for odors.   

Ozium, it works.