Having a stuffy or smelly room can be quite uncomfortable. It can even stop you from relaxing and enjoying the space. So, what can you do about this? Well, for starters, you can air it out.
For you to air out the room effectively, you first have to identify the sources of the unpleasant odors in the room and get rid of them. After you have gotten rid of the smell, air out the room, and then freshen the air in the room.
The following article contains a few tips on how you can air out your room quickly and effectively.
Table of Contents
1. Identify and get rid of the source of odor
Laundry
Piled up laundry often gives off a musty odor. This odor might engulf the entire room. The smell may even be worse if the laundry is wet. The wet laundry also provides a conducive condition for the growth of mold.
You should pick up and wash your laundry before it starts piling up. If you suspect that there is growth of mold on your clothes, put them in the washing machine and use the hot water cycle to wash them. This will kill the mold on your clothes. You should also ensure that your laundry dries up before bringing it back into the room.
Bedding
Another likely source of smell in your room is your bedding. We spend a significant amount of time in our beds. After a while, our bedding starts smelling and it is important to wash or replace them once in a while. To get rid of the smell from our bedding, remove the sheets, blankets, pillow cases, among other washable linens from our beds and wash them using a washing machine.
Drains
The drains in the kitchen and bathroom are almost always moist. This provides the perfect conditions for the growth of mold and mildew. Also, a lot of household waste clogs up the drains and sinks in the kitchen and the bathroom. This may cause bad smells in different rooms of your house.
It is important to clean the drains and sinks in your house to get rid of these smells. You could do this by pouring baking soda down the drains and sinks followed by white vinegar. After leaving the mixture in the drains for a while, rinse the drains and sinks with boiling water. This will help get rid of the clogs, mold and the mildew growing in your drains.
Toilet
The smell from the toilet can also affect adjacent rooms. The moisture present in toilets promotes the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria which produce an unpleasant smell. It is important to clean your toilet regularly to prevent their growth. You can clean your toilet bowl using white vinegar which is effective in killing bacteria and mold. You should also flush the toilet regularly to prevent accumulation of any kind of waste. This will help get rid of the smell in the toilet.
Mold
Mold produces a musty smell that can spread through your entire home. Mold grows on any moist surface in your home. It is common for mold to grow in drains and sinks, on bathroom tiles, among other damp areas in the house. You can get rid of the mold by scrubbing the affected areas using a hard brush. The brush should be dipped in a solution of bleach and water before scrubbing.
Carpets and furniture
The unpleasant smell in your living room might be coming from your furniture or carpets. Dirty furniture and carpets harbor bad smells that may make your living room unbearable. You should vacuum the upholstery in your living room to get rid of the dust and the musty smell.
Garbage
Another major cause of unpleasant smells in a room is the garbage. This is especially true in the kitchen where there is a lot of organic waste which is susceptible to rot. You should get rid of the waste before it starts accumulating. You should start by putting the waste in a garbage bag and then take the trash outside.
Once you have gotten rid of the garbage, ensure that you clean the garbage can before putting a fresh garbage bag. This is because there may be some residual spills from the garbage that may result in lingering smells. Also, once you have cleaned the garbage can, ensure it is dry before putting in a new garbage bag.
Food spills
Residual food spills leave unpleasant smells around the house. Any surface that has come into contact with food may be the source of smell in the room. You should make sure to wipe down a surface the moment you spill any food or drink. You should also clean your dishes after a meal to help get rid of cooking smells especially in the kitchen. You should also regularly clean your refrigerator to get rid of the unpleasant residual smells left by food.
Pets
Your pet may also be responsible for bringing bad smells into a room. The smell may be coming from your pet’s beddings or it may be in need of serious grooming. You should regularly clean your pet’s living spaces to get rid of any lingering smells. Get rid of your pet’s solid waste on a daily basis. You should also clean its cage, box, or aquarium regularly. You should also give your pet regular baths using pet shampoo to get rid of their body odor.
Smoke
Smoke smells are unpleasant and they can linger in the room for a very long time. Smoke smells can be absorbed by furniture around the room and the residual smell is far from pleasant. It may also affect people with allergies and respiratory problems. Though difficult to get rid of, smoke smells can be eliminated by airing out the room.
Shoes
Our shoes may also be the cause of the unpleasant smell in the room. We are not always aware of the surfaces we step on while walking. Our shoes may pick up unpleasant things while we are walking ranging from rotting food to traces of fecal matter. This often goes unnoticed and may end up making the room smelling terrible.
2. Air out the room
Open the windows
One of the most effective ways of getting rid of unpleasant smells in a room is by introducing fresh air into the room. This can be done by just opening the windows in the room. The breeze from outside will drive out the unwanted smell from the room. A breeze is created by opening windows on opposite sides of the room. In seasons such as winter, it may not be possible to keep your windows open for extended periods. However, opening your window for just a minute may be enough.
Use fans
Fans are also very effective in airing out a room. They ventilate the room and cool the temperature in the room. Fans are especially effective when a room has windows or doors that are positioned on opposite walls. In such a room, they create a wind tunnel effect such that fresh air flows in from one window while the unpleasant air exits through the windows in the opposite side of the room.
You should use the fans with the windows open. Fans help to create a bigger breeze that will help drive the unpleasant smell out of the room more efficiently. Both the ceiling fans and standing fans are effective in airing out the room.
Use sunlight
Letting sunlight into the room may help in airing out the room. Sunlight contains ultra-violet rays which are powerful enough to kill mold and bacteria. Mold and bacteria are responsible for most of the unpleasant smells present in a room. You should open the curtains of the room during the day to let the ultra-violet rays in. Sunlight may help get rid of the smells permeating from the furniture, carpets, cushions, pet areas, among other household items that smell.
Use baking soda
Baking soda is very effective in getting rid of unpleasant smells. It is also cheap, making it quite a popular deodorizer. Baking soda absorbs the unpleasant smells in the room. To effectively get rid of the smells, sprinkle the baking soda on the surfaces you suspect to be producing the unpleasant smell. Sprinkle it on household items such as your furniture, carpets, mattresses, among other surfaces that are likely to produce an unpleasant smell. Leave the baking soda on these surfaces for about half an hour before vacuuming it up.
Use vinegar
Vinegar is another popular and effective deodorizer. It absorbs bad smells around the house. You can get rid of the unpleasant smells by placing bowls of vinegar in the smelly areas of the room. You can place these bowls in rooms such as the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and the basement. You can also use a solution of vinegar and water to wipe down surfaces that smell. You can also wipe fabric to get rid of stains and spills that may produce an unpleasant smell. Vinegar has a strong smell that some people may find unpleasant. The smell, however, fades within a short period.
Use charcoal
Charcoal is also a powerful deodorizer. It can be used to air out a room effectively. Charcoal absorbs unpleasant smells and can be used to get rid of unpleasant smells in rooms and inside appliances. You can place pieces of charcoal in places in the room where the unpleasant smell is coming from. You can place the pieces of charcoal in the refrigerator, in the closets, or in your pet’s cage.
Use Houseplants
Houseplants also play an important role in airing out a room. Having plants in a room does not only boost the aesthetic value of the room but also helps in filtering out the unpleasant air. Some houseplants are capable of purifying the air quite effectively. These houseplants include lady palms, English ivy, snake plants, and dracaena. You should however, select your indoor greenery with caution. Ensure that the plants you bring into the house are not poisonous especially if you have kids or pets.
3. Freshen the air
Use fabric softener sheets
Fabric softener sheets have a pleasant smell that can be used to make the air in the room smell great. They can be used in the same way as air fresheners. You can place these sheets in the smelly parts in the room to help eliminate the unpleasant smell. You can place these sheets in garbage cans, shoe closets, moist cabinets, among other likely odor sources.
Steam the room
You could also freshen the air by steaming the room. Boil water and let the steam spread around the room. You can make the air smell better by adding citrus peels, herbs and spices into the boiling water. Boil the water with the lead open to allow the steam to spread throughout the room. Some of the ingredients that may leave your room smelling well when boiled include cinnamon sticks, lemon peels, basil, ginger, orange peels, cloves, bay leaves, etc.
Commercial air fresheners
Commercial air fresheners are designed to make the air in the room smell pleasant and clean. Air fresheners mask unpleasant odors. They are also available in a variety of fragrances that make the air smell wonderful. There are several types of commercial air fresheners. They are made as sprays, gels, diffusers, or waxes.
Incense
You could also burn incense to freshen the air in the room. There are several forms and smells of incense. You can burn incense sticks and allow the sweet-smelling some waft in the air. The sweet scent of incense will mask all the unpleasant smells in the room. The sweet scent of incense can be spread faster around the room using fans but not using too much breeze.
Use an air purifier
Air purifiers are specifically designed to freshen the air in a room. The effectiveness of an air purifier depends on the size of the room and the speed of its fans. Air purifiers help get rid of the unpleasant smells by airing out the room.
Final Thoughts
It is important to keep a room ventilated. The longer you leave a room unventilated the stuffier it becomes. Any odors in it also become more pungent. With the tips outlined above, you should be able to air out any room effectively. The best part about them is that they can be used individually or in combination with each other, so just find what works for you.
