FAQ
Questions answered.
Everything you need to know about how Low Tox Stays works — for travellers and hosts.
For travellers
Finding a stay that works for you.
For Low Tox Stays, fragrance free means no parfum, no artificial fragrance and no essential oils. We know that sounds stricter than most products labelled fragrance free and that is intentional. A lot of products marketed as natural still contain essential oils, and for many people with chemical sensitivity those are just as triggering as synthetic fragrance. Every listing includes full product disclosure so you can see exactly what a host uses before you book.
Tier 1 Clean Stay is the entry point. Fragrance free cleaning products, no synthetic air fresheners or plug-ins, natural fibre bedding and no Teflon cookware. A genuine step away from mainstream accommodation that makes a real difference for most travellers reducing their chemical load.
Tier 2 Healthful Stay adds air purification, water filtration, fragrance free personal care products and natural fibre towels. For guests who need a higher level of care.
Tier 3 Sanctuary Stay goes all the way. No black plastics, natural flooring, organic or off-gassed mattress, filtered drinking water and shower filtration. For the most acute sensitivities where every detail matters.
Tier 2 Healthful Stay adds air purification, water filtration, fragrance free personal care products and natural fibre towels. For guests who need a higher level of care.
Tier 3 Sanctuary Stay goes all the way. No black plastics, natural flooring, organic or off-gassed mattress, filtered drinking water and shower filtration. For the most acute sensitivities where every detail matters.
It depends on your level of sensitivity. Tier 1 is not designed for acute MCS. It is a meaningful reduction in synthetic chemicals but not a medically safe environment for everyone. If you react strongly, Tier 2 and 3 are where to look. Every listing shows full product disclosure so you can make your own informed decision before booking. We also recommend reading the host's disclosure carefully and reaching out to them directly if you have specific questions.
Every listing on Low Tox Stays includes a product disclosure section where hosts list the specific brands and product names they use, not just categories. Cleaning products, laundry, dishwashing, personal care. The idea came directly from the fragrance free community who told us that seeing what is literally under the sink is what builds trust. If something is not listed or you want more detail, you can contact the host directly from their listing page.
All listings on Low Tox Stays exclude non-stick cookware. This includes Teflon and PTFE-coated pans from any brand. The reason is that heated PTFE can release fumes that affect people with chemical sensitivity, even at temperatures considered safe by food agencies. Hosts use stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel instead. If cookware is a particular concern for you, every listing includes a product disclosure section where you can see exactly what is in the property before you book.
Every host completes a detailed application and self-declaration before their listing goes live. We review each application personally before approving it. If you stay at a property and find it does not match what was disclosed, please get in touch. There is a contact link on every listing page. Our first response is always a conversation with the host, not a removal, but we do take accuracy seriously.
Send an enquiry through any listing. The host will get back to you directly with availability and booking details.
These are real concerns for many people with chemical and fragrance sensitivity and we take them seriously. They are difficult to standardise across properties and are not currently part of our tier criteria. If any of these are important to you, we encourage you to contact the host directly before booking. Low Tox Stays focuses on fragrance free and chemical free products within the property. What lies beyond that is between you and the host, and ultimately travel always involves some degree of personal risk assessment.
For hosts
Listing your property.
For Low Tox Stays, fragrance free means no parfum, no artificial fragrance and no essential oils. We know that rules out some products labelled as natural or fragrance free. Many still contain essential oils. Tier 1 permits products that contain essential oils but we recommend moving away from them where possible. From Tier 2 upward, essential oil free is the standard. We have a recommended product list built from community input to help you find products that genuinely meet the standard.
No. The Clean Stay minimum excludes all non-stick cookware, including premium brands like Scanpan. The issue is not PFOA, which reputable brands no longer use, but the PTFE-based coating itself. Some of our guests are chemically sensitive and can react to heated PTFE fumes even at temperatures considered safe by food agencies. Stainless steel, cast iron, and carbon steel are all fine. You do not need to replace everything at once. One or two pieces that guests are likely to reach for is enough to meet the standard.
Pest control is a real concern for many hosts, particularly in Australia, and we take it seriously. It is not currently part of our tier criteria because hosts cannot always control what products are used by external contractors or on neighbouring properties. What we do ask is that you disclose your pest management approach on your listing so guests can see exactly what you use or don't use. If you are looking for a low hazard alternative, there are pest management companies in Australia that specialise in non-chemical solutions and specifically cater to people with chemical sensitivities.
Mould is a genuine health concern for many people with chemical and fragrance sensitivity and we understand why hosts ask about it. It is not currently part of our tier criteria because it is difficult to standardise across different property types and climates. If mould is a particular concern for your guests, we encourage you to mention your ventilation, humidity management and any preventative measures in your listing description. If you mention it, guests who need to know will appreciate it.
EMF sensitivity is a real experience for some people and we respect that. It is not part of our tier criteria at this stage. If your property has features that may be relevant, such as no smart meter, limited wifi, or a rural location with low EMF exposure, you are welcome to mention this in your listing description. Guests who need this information will be looking for it.
A simple and effective step is to add a line to your Airbnb house rules letting guests know that your property is fragrance free. This means the space itself is maintained without synthetic fragrance, and it signals to guests who care about that what kind of stay they are booking into.
If you want to go further you can also add a polite request asking guests to avoid wearing strong fragrances or using their own scented products during their stay. This works best framed as a preference rather than a rule, something like: "We maintain this property fragrance free and kindly ask that guests avoid wearing strong perfumes or colognes during their stay. Thank you for helping us keep it that way for all our guests."
You can't control everything but the right house rules attract the right guests and give you something to point to if it ever comes up.
If you want to go further you can also add a polite request asking guests to avoid wearing strong fragrances or using their own scented products during their stay. This works best framed as a preference rather than a rule, something like: "We maintain this property fragrance free and kindly ask that guests avoid wearing strong perfumes or colognes during their stay. Thank you for helping us keep it that way for all our guests."
You can't control everything but the right house rules attract the right guests and give you something to point to if it ever comes up.
Reviews on Low Tox Stays come from guests who have actually stayed at your property. They are submitted directly to us, we read each one personally, and once approved they appear on your listing page. The review system is designed specifically for guests with fragrance sensitivity or chemical intolerance, so the questions we ask them go beyond the usual stars and comments. When someone in this community leaves a review saying they finally felt safe somewhere, that carries real weight with the next person looking at your listing.
If you would like us to invite your guest to leave a review, just fill in their details at lowtoxstays.com/notify-a-stay. We will take it from there. It takes about thirty seconds and it is the single most useful thing you can do for your listing after a stay.
Your answers on the application form determine your tier. You select the tier you think fits and we review your checklist answers against it within 3 business days. If your answers point to a different tier we will let you know and talk it through. If you are not sure which tier fits, apply for the one closest to where you are and we will guide you from there.
Start where you are. Tier 1 is the minimum to list and most hosts who have already switched to natural cleaning products are closer than they think. Cotton sheets, no plug-ins, fragrance free cleaning products and no Teflon cookware. That is it. If you are working toward a higher tier we are happy to talk through what the next steps would look like. Our recommended product list is a good place to start.
We read every application personally and will be in touch within 3 business days. If your property is approved you will receive everything you need to create your listing on the site including a step by step guide. If we need more information we will reach out before making any decision.
Listing on Low Tox Stays is free until your first enquiry comes through, and then free for six months from that date. After that it is $9 per month or $99 per year. You can cancel at any time. We would rather you stay because it is working for you than because you feel locked in.
Still have a question? We read every message personally.
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