Nothing is worse than a foul smell in our comfort zones. Whether it’s pet odor, the smell of last night’s dinner, or wall-infused cigarette smoke, these odors will linger on if left unmaintained.
According to the EPA, the average American spends 90% of their time indoors. During all that time, odors are bound to start hanging around. These smells generally tend to linger on the carpet, curtains, and our clothes. With so many elements causing bad smells, we wanted to look into how you can make your room smell good.
These are the main reasons why your room smells bad
👃 Bad smell source number 1: Cooking odors
Cooking is the most common factor in causing odors in the home. Whether you’re preparing a beautiful paella or burning up some burgers, food smells can travel throughout our house and linger for quite some time, specifically if there is a lack of ventilation or airflow. It’s not only cooking odors that come from your kitchen, fridge freezers can also contribute to room odor, they may contain food that has gone bad or meals left unwrapped so be sure to keep up regular checks for not only odor but also hygiene. We have our list of the cooking odor air purifiers so you find a device that keeps your cooking smells in check.
👃 Bad smell source number 2: Smoke
Smokers generally become accustomed to the smell of smoke and after a while are immune to the odor it can produce, but when a non-smoker walks into a smoker’s home they can smell it instantly. Whether it’s cigar smoke, cigarette, or weed smoke, these particular herbs when set alight contain molecules that have a lasting effect on furniture, walls, and ceilings.
👃 Bad smell source number 3: Pets
We’ve all smelt that wet dog smell. Pet owners, like smokers, may become a little accustomed to the smell of their pets after some time. However the reality is that odors caused by pets leave your carpets, floors, and furniture smelling damp and unwashed. Obviously, animal defecation is a particularly pungent smell and should be dealt with immediately but pets tend to pick up all kinds of odors on their adventures also, so be sure to check up on your furry best friends regularly. Be sure to take a look at our guide to the air purifiers for pet smells as HEPA is useless against odors.
👃 Bad smell source number 4: Mold
In general, identifying mold is usually quite straightforward. The smell is unique, it has a distinct appearance and it grows/spreads in a pattern that is commonly recognized. Mold usually grows where there is moisture nearby, for example, near a sink or close to a shower. Check your room fully to identify the problem as it may be lurking behind your cabinets, drawers, or bed.
9 ways to make your room smell good
When it comes to making your room smell good, there are a few key points to cover. Although these methods of cleanliness will improve your room’s air quality, be sure to keep on top of regular room maintenance so that the job at hand isn’t a huge one for the next clean. That way, identifying odors and bad smells will be a lot simpler in the future.
1. Find the odor so you can deal with it
Identifying the problem is the first step to cleanliness. Whether you have a problem with dampness or are being a bit lazy with your pet bathing routine, the first step is finding it or admitting it. Usually, there are noticeable signs of new smells in your room, good or bad. Once you’ve found the issue, tackle it immediately. For example, if there is a smell in your kitchen, it may be because you need to take out the trash.
2. Dust from top to bottom
Dusting your home can sometimes feel like a thankless chore, but it can make a massive difference not only with odors but the overall freshness of your rooms. Getting up to those high shelves and pulling your bed out to remove any dust that lingers will improve your indoor space substantially. Dust is made up of multiple microscopic variations of matter which can include, pet dander, dead skin cells, and pollen. Getting rid of these indoor contaminants will only improve your room’s air quality.
3. Look for signs of mold and mildew
If you discover mold in your room you should deal with it immediately. Depending on the gravity of the situation there are some useful tips on removing the early stages of mold from all surfaces here. Long-term exposure to mold can lead to serious respiratory problems so it is very important to not neglect this issue. Mold odor is a particular smell, by eliminating it you’ll start to notice the difference almost immediately. Mold commonly smells earthy and signs of it being a bigger problem are skin rashes or breathing problems, if this is the case you get a consultation from a mold removal expert.
4. Give your pets a bath
Our pets may look innocent but believe me, they attract odors like nothing else. Pet odor and allergies are particularly common issues within our households, but while air purifiers help tackle dander, a regular grooming routine can work wonders to keep your home smelling fresh. Bathing and brushing your pet at least once a week will eliminate pet odor from your room and make your indoor space free of outdoor contaminants that pets, unfortunately, often bring home with them.
6. Clean your room
Cleaning your room regularly is the most important step in order to keep your room smelling good. Regular maintenance allows you to keep track of where particular odors come from, and cleaning on a weekly basis only enriches the scent of your room. Room maintenance also reduces any bad smells in the near future as it becomes easier to recognize new foreign odors such as damp, mold, and dirty laundry or bedding.
7. Open your windows
Opening windows helps tremendously with odor and general air circulation, particularly after your room has received a good clean. Circulating fresh air will enhance the overall cleanliness of your room and is recommended as often as possible, at least a couple of hours a day.
8. Make or buy a charcoal bag
Why not make your own activated charcoal bag? Activated charcoal is a great way to reduce bad odors that are hanging around. These bags are commonly used for small and enclosed spaces such as closets, clothes rails, cupboards, and even inside cars. Activated charcoal can be purchased from many online retailers. Combine it with a small piece of cotton which you could make yourself, and you may see a difference in odors in smaller spaces.
9. Buy an air purifier with an activated carbon filter
Activated carbon is a crude form of graphite that is also known as activated charcoal. This graphite structure allows compounds such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and household odors to be adsorbed, making it a handy and important element in making our homes safer and smelling fresher.
Air purifiers that come equipped with an activated carbon filter are a fantastic way for eliminating odor from our rooms. Carbon filters trap VOCs through adsorption that draws in contaminated air or pungent odors and essentially recycles it back into the clean air.
Carbon filters are commonly made up of loose pieces of carbon or block sheeted carbon that helps with the elimination of not only odor but Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Note that these units are not magic, they work brilliantly in conjunction with regular cleaning and maintenance. A unit with a good carbon filter can make all the difference.
Two of my personal favorite air purifiers with activated carbon filters are the Coway Airmega 400 and the Alen 75i. To find the best unit for your home, check out our list of the best air purifiers for VOCs.
Final thoughts
Air purifiers installed with activated carbon filters have proven to be very successful in taking on household odors. Cleaning regularly will narrow down what’s causing bad smells and prevent them from lingering. Opening windows to allow fresh air to circulate and keeping an eye on our little furry friends will also help bring a new level of freshness inside your room. A thorough dusting, vacuuming and general clean combined with regular airflow and an air purifier should truly give you the best possible outcome when tackling room odor.
