Dirty socks, sports gear, or the smell of a teenager’s sweat—does your child’s room smell unpleasant? Would an air purifier help?
Here are a few tips on how to improve this situation. Follow our advice to eliminate unpleasant odors from your child’s bedroom.
- WASH YOUR CHILD’S SPORTS CLOTHES AND EVERYDAY CLOTHES MORE OFTEN
Is your child actively involved in sports? Has your child reached their teens? Then their worn clothes probably smell unpleasant! A growing body’s sweat contains more protein and fat, and when bacteria get into it, it causes the sweat to smell. Good personal hygiene and washing their clothes more frequently can already yield pretty good results.
- WASH YOUR CHILD’S BED LINEN TWICE A WEEK
Most people don’t wash their bedding as often as they should (at least once a week). A person sweats more than 100 liters into their bed each year, so it’s important to keep your bedding clean! When your children wake up in the morning, ask them to make their beds. This helps air out the comforter and sheets. It prevents bacteria from accumulating in the bedding and the resulting odor until the next time you change the sheets.
- PROTECT YOUR MATTRESS
Buy your child a mattress cover that prevents body fluids and dead skin cells from seeping into the mattress fibers (wash it every few months!). If your child’s mattress is more than 10 years old, buy a new one. Old mattresses contain a lot of microbes and dust mites.
- DRY WASHED CLOTHES AND USE A CLOTHES DRYER IF NECESSARY
It’s a good idea to dry clothes in direct sunlight, where ultraviolet rays kill many bacteria. If your home is damp all the time or from time to time, we recommend using a dehumidifier. A good solution is the Swedish brand Arctus Fenja 20 or Arctus Fenja 25. This way, you can prevent mold from forming on clothes and surfaces in your child’s room.
- VENTILATE THE ROOM REGULARLY
A child’s room needs to have plenty of oxygen. An open window also lets in fresh air and reduces the concentration of bacteria and mold.
- USE A FAN OR AN AIR PURIFIER
A fan and air purifier circulate the air in the child’s room, which improves the indoor climate and prevents musty odors.
- RUN A DEHUMIDIFIER
Moisture causes mold to grow and accumulate—the musty smell caused by mold is usually difficult to remove, as it clings to carpets and fabrics. This problem can be easily remedied with a dehumidifier. Mold is also harmful to your child’s health.
- CARPETS?
A carpet may feel nice under your feet, but it’s a breeding ground for microbes and mold. If your child spills drinks or drops food on the carpet, or walks on it with dirty feet or shoes, In addition, if a sick child sneezes or coughs, pathogenic bacteria can end up on the carpet, making it more harmful than helpful in your home. If possible, avoid using carpet in your child’s room. Furthermore, synthetic carpets release synthetic fibers into the air, which children inhale and absorb into their bodies.
- DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO EAT IN THEIR ROOM.
It’s easy for a child to leave food scraps in their room or forget a half-eaten sandwich under the bed until they start to smell bad. They’re also the perfect food for mold and bacteria. Establish a house rule that prohibits eating in the bedroom so your children don’t attract pests to their room and keep their room cleaner.
- GET AN AIR PURIFIER FOR YOUR CHILD’S ROOM
If you care about your child’s health and want their room to be clean and filled with fresh air, we recommend using a more powerful solution: an effective air purifier. An air purifier, such as COWAY, features a filtration system that combats viruses and bacteria, removes allergens, synthetic fibers, and airborne chemicals from the air—chemicals that come from cleaning products, interior furnishings, and building materials. Two Coway air purifiers are enough to ensure a child’s well-being and a healthy environment from infancy through college. We believe this is a good investment in a child’s health and future.
