The bedroom should be a place of serenity and relaxation. However, it’s hard to relax if it stinks in there. The reason it stinks may appear to be a mystery. An even bigger mystery may be why it seems to stink the worst in the morning, after a night of sleeping. Solving these mysteries may go a long way at helping you figure out what you can do to get rid of the nauseating odors.
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Why Does Your Bedroom Stink?
There are a number of factors that can come into play when uncovering nasty odors in your bedroom. Dirty laundry, which may be contaminated with drops of food or sweat is a likely candidate for causing foul odors. Perhaps you keep your shoes in your bedrooms, in which case they may smell of sweaty, dirty feet.
Even with these possible culprits, you may be wondering why your bedroom seems to smell even worse in the morning? As it turns out, you may have nature to blame for this. When you sleep, your body goes into overdrive to keep your temperature regulated. As this happens, your body may sweat profusely. This can result in stinky sweat from your body and head being transferred to bedding and pillow.
How to Get Rid of the Sleep Smell in Your Bedroom
1. Air it Out
Allow your bedroom to air out. A lot of the typical odors in your bedroom thrive in bedrooms that are generally dark and humid. Open your bedroom windows up. Pull open dresser drawers and open your closet door. For an added boost of aeration, place fans in your windows and point them outwards.
2. Dehumidify
As we’ve just learned, humidity can lead to some pretty foul odors in any bedroom. Usually, opening windows and using a fan can get the stale air circulating and hopefully blow any stinky air right out the window. If, however, this does not do the trick, you may want to try a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers can turn the smelly humidity into fresh, clean air.
3. Rank Bedding
The area in your bedroom that probably smells the worst is most likely your bedding. All that sweat clings to your sheets and comforter. The odor is then trapped under your bedding until morning, when you pull back your covers and the odor seeps out into your bedroom. Then, to make matters worse, you likely cover the odor back up again when you make your bed. You can combat this issue with constant washing of your sheets and cover. Weekly washing, if not more, should do the trick.
4. Stinky Curtains
Curtains, though beautifully accentuating a room, can pick up dust, dead skin cells, and other odor-causing debris in your room. Make sure you spray them down regularly with air freshener. However, even then, odors can get trapper in the fibers of your curtain. One way to rid your curtains of any odors is to wash them regularly if they don’t pass your sniff test. If your curtains cannot be washed in the washing machine, simply soak them in a tub or sink with a few drops of laundry detergent. Rinse them well and hang them to dry.
5. Musky Walls
You may be surprised to learn this, but walls are one of the number one places in your home for odor-causing debris to cling to. If you notice that your bedroom has a funky smell, consider wiping down your walls. The process is very simple. Just fill a bucket with about a gallon of water and 3 tablespoons of vinegar. Add a few drops of essential oil, if you like. Then take your sponge and start wiping down your walls from top to bottom.
6. Dust it All
Just like the debris that can collect on your walls, it can also adhere itself to your bedroom furniture. Using either store-bought dusting spray or a home-made mixture of water and vinegar, dust and wipe every single exposed piece of furniture. Wipe down your surfaces on your dressers and desks and remember to wipe down the sides and back panels on your dressers as well.
7. Flooring
Your floors collect all kinds of junk. Some stuff gets dragged in by your shoes, while particles from your clothing (or directly from your skin) can collect on your floors. Regular cleaning will help keep any odors from lingering on your floors. If you have carpeted floors, vacuum them about once a week. If your floors are hard, sweep every few days and then mop once a week or more often if needed.
8. Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are amazing little products. Not only do they help prevent static from clinging to your clothes, but they can make your clothes, and the air, smell so good. Consider stashin dryer sheets all around your bedroom. Put some in between mattresses, in dressers, inside your closets and tape to the back of furniture. One more place you put dryer sheets is taped to the inside of your vent cover. If you do this, then the scent will permeate your bedroom every time the air conditioner or heater comes on.
9. Tea Bags
Tea bags smell good the moment you open the box, so it’s no surprise they would make this list. You can place tea bags just about anywhere in your bedroom. For a super night’s sleep, put them under your pillow. To take care of dark, dank spots in your room, place a tea bag or two in your dresser drawers or hanging from your closet rod. You may also wish to hang them along the edge of your curtains. The scent lasts for several weeks before needing to be replaced.
10. Baking Soda
Baking soda naturally absorbs odor. While it doesn’t have much of a scent itself, this product works exceptionally well at absorbing odors directly out of the air. Most commonly used in refrigerators, baking soda can work in any space. Try placing a partially opened box in your dresser drawers, closet, or under your bed (unless you have pets).
11. Rice Bags
Rice does an amazing job of absorbing odors. It also absorbs liquids quite well. One remedy for a stinky bedroom is to fill up little stockings or socks with rice. Grab your favorite essential oil scent and apply a few drops directly to the rice. Tie off the end and stick your little satchels in little places throughout your bedroom. The best places may be inside your dresser drawers or hanging from a hanger in your closet.
12. Fruit Bowls
Grab up your favorite fruits (oranges, lemons, limes work the best) and cut them in half. Now, using a scoop or a spoon, scoop the fruit out of the “bowl”. Add sea salt to the bowl and top it off with a bit of rosemary or another scented herb. Place in a dish and sit out on a dresser or desk. The scent is strong and will last a good few days.
13. Clean Your Glass
Dust and other debris can also get jostled up and find its way to your glass surfaces. Using a glass cleaner or a homemade vinegar spray, clean the glass on your television, windows, computer screen, and framed pictures. To avoid streaks, you don’t want to drench these areas by spraying too much cleaner on them. Instead, spray directly onto your paper towels or rags and then wipe the glass.
14. Scented Plants
Plants can make any space look and feel more vibrant and alive. There are many different types of plants that produce wonderfully smelling flowers. Orchids are towards the top of the list. They come in so many varieties that you’re bound to find one that fits the aesthetics in your bedroom. The scent on some is stronger than others, so you can choose the scent you like the best. One of the best traits of orchids is that they are not toxic to pets.
15. Cinnamon Sticks
If you’re looking for a way to take care of that odor in your bedroom but don’t want to use any harsh cleaning chemicals or air fresheners, then reach into your cabinets for a few sticks of cinnamon. Cinnamon sticks have a strong scent that can last for several days. When the scent starts to die down, you can revive it by peeling or grating the exposed surfaces.
16. Car Deodorizers
Car air fresheners don’t just work on the odors in your car, but can be placed in your home, as well. Simply clip or tape the air freshener to the outside of your AC/heater vents. Now, any time the AC or heat blows, the current will blow the scent into your bedroom. Some air fresheners even have dials on them that let you adjust the intensity of the scent. Play around with it until you find the perfect setting for you.
17. Mattress
Your mattress is a huge collector of stinkiness. It collects your sweat as well as dead skin cells, both of which will begin to stink after some time. You can solve the stinky mattress dilemma by cleaning it. This may seem like a daunting task for only professional services, but it’s not at all that complicated. First, strip all of your bedding. While you’re at it you might as well toss your bedding into the wash. Next vacuum the surface and sides of your mattress as well as you can. Then, use a spot stain remover to blot up any obvious stains. Next, sprinkle baking soda all over your mattress and vacuum again. If your mattress is designed to be flipped over, do that now. Repeat the same process on the other side.
18. Cotton Ball
Cotton balls are amazingly absorbent little items. We use them every day for tasks such as soaking up water in our ears or applying topical medications to our wounds. These aren’t the only tasks that they’re good for, however. You can also use them as vehicles for any type of essential oil you desire. After you apply the scented oil, place the cotton balls in little cups or bowls and then place strategically around your bedroom. You could place a bowl behind your television or computer or in your dresser drawers.
19. Candles
Candles come in all sorts of different shapes, colors, and scents. Light a few first thing in the morning and soon your bedroom will be filled with delightful scents of lavender or cinnamon. Have you burned your candle to the point that you can no longer reach the wick? Set it upon a wax warmer to get those yummy-smelly waxes melting again.
20. Frequent Pet Grooming
If you own pets, and let them sleep with you either in your bed or on the floor beside you,
You may have become used to the odor they can put out, not just in messes but even just their dander. The best way to keep your pets from stinking up your room, groom them often. A quick bath once a week or so will help to remove any stink. If you find the bath isn’t cutting it, there are a number of pet-safe pet deodorizers on the market. With these products, you just spray the solution directly onto your pet and then wipe down with a cloth, or you can use pet wipes.
Final Thoughts
If your bedroom is stinking, it doesn’t have to stay that way and you don’t have to call in a professional cleaning service to take care of it. Most of the suggestions previously mentioned can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store. Some items may require purchase from a supermarket or online store, but all are fairly cheap and easily obtained.
Thanks for information.