Does your teenager’s bedroom smell like a mix of old gym socks, vinegar and a hint of blue cheese? 🤮 Don’t worry. You aren’t failing as a parent and your house isn’t dirty. You are just dealing with the teen funk.
Teenage bodies produce specific oils and acids that smell strong. These smells get trapped in the air and fabrics. If you’ve sprayed air freshener but the smell comes back in ten minutes, this guide is for you.
1. The Source – The Gross Stuff
You can’t cover up a bad smell forever, you have to deal with what’s causing it first.
The Laundry Pile – Check under the bed (with their permission and at your peril) and behind the door. Even one damp towel can ruin a whole room. Pick up all of the laundry and make sure theres no smelly sock hiding at the back of the bed or under the wardrobe.
Hidden Food – Look for half empty energy drinks cans, half eaten food packets like off sandwiches and crisps or old plates with dried up or mouldy food stuck to them. Keep your eye out for any half drank drinks like milk, pop or water. In my sons room I once found a glass of what was once milk left down the side of the bed hidden away, I don’t know to this day how he didn’t notice the smell coming from it.
The Bin – If your teenager doesn’t have a bin in their room, they’ll create a makeshift one, usually on the floor or hidden behind the desk. This is a breeding ground for old food, sticky drink cans and damp tissues that cause a lingering, sickly-sweet pong. To keep the room fresh, every teen bedroom needs a dedicated bin, ideally with a lid to trap odours. Make it part of their nightly routine to empty it; getting that rubbish out of the house daily is the fastest way to stop bin juice smells from building up and ruining the air.
Stinky Shoes – Even if the room is clean, sweaty trainers can make it stink fast. Shoes trap moisture and bacteria, causing that sour smell. Let them dry properly, sprinkle a bit of bicarb inside then tip it out. Keep trainers out of the room where possible, rotate pairs and encourage wearing fresh socks daily to stop the smell coming back.
The Mystery Tissues – It’s awkward and most often best not mentioned, but old tissues are a massive source of odour. Get them into a bin with a lid.
2. The Smelty Mattress Refresh
The biggest sponge for smells is the mattress. Instead of just washing the sheets, treat the fabric itself. Grab yourself one of our scented carpet fresheners and use it deodorise the mattress. You can also use bicarbonate of soda if you prefer fragrance free.
- Strip all the bedding and put it on a 60-degree wash.
- Do a small patch test on a corner of the mattress first to ensure the product doesn’t mark the fabric.
- Shake your carpet freshener over the bare mattress.
- Leave it for 30-60 minutes (the longer the better) to neutralise deep set odours.
- Vacuum it off thoroughly using the upholstery attachment of your hoover.
3. Open the Windows
UK homes are great at keeping heat in, but they also trap old funky air. Open the windows wide at each side of the house to help air draw through fully. If you have a desk fan, turn it on and point it towards the open window to blow out the stink. This acts like an exhaust fan to push the heavy, smelly air out of the room.
4. The Finishing Touch – Scented Room Sprays
Now that the room is clean, you can set the mood with a high-end scent. Using a spray after cleaning ensures the fragrance lasts.
For a girl’s room we recommend using a perfume-inspired scent like Espria Desire by Smelty or a sweet scent such as Unicorn Farts. Espria provides a sophisticated, clean luxury perfume vibe that masks the musty “bedroom” smell. For the lads we recommend our Berserk Beast aftershave scent. It’s designed to handle the heavier, musky teen lad scents without smelling like a cheap locker room spray. To get universal freshness we recommend our Freshy Blue room spray to get that straight out of the wash laundry scent that everyone loves.
3 Tips to Keep the Smell Away
Mattress Protectors and Bedding – Use a mattress protector and wash it every two weeks. It stops sweat from soaking into the bed. Washing/changing bedding and pillowcases every week to two weeks too.
Window Venting – Make a rule that the window stays on vent (the first click) during the day.
No Eating Rule – Keep the food and snacks in the kitchen/dining room to avoid the old bin smell.
Following this guide you will help create a room you can walk into without holding your breath! Focus on cleaning and the fabrics first and the teen funk won’t stand a chance.
