Where Is that Smell Coming From and How Do I Get Rid of it? 7 Ways to Combat Smelly Teen Bedrooms

Right now at this very moment, a parent is walking into their child’s bedroom and saying, “What the fuck is that smell?”

You’re not alone!

My seventeen year old son and I battle about the state of his bedroom on a daily basis. It is all I can do not to smother him with his own dirty hockey socks.

The hubs and I have very different views on how to handle the ongoing disgusting bedroom issue.

Hubs: “Just shut the door”
Me: “I can’t! I know it’s there. I can’t take it!”
Hubs: “Who cares?”
Me: “I do! I owe it to his future wife!”
Hubs: “He smells like shit! Ain’t no one gonna marry him! Problem solved. Shut the door.”

So I shut the door

But it’s like it’s calling to me. Taunting me. Reminding me that my husband may be right and no one will ever date something so smelly, let alone marry him and I’ll still be doing his laundry when he’s thirty.

Oh hell NO! That is NOT happening!

The smell lingering in his room may be reminiscent of a flesh melting haze that terrorizes a small town in a horror film but at least it can be battled with a few cleaning tricks and not an exorcism. Although that may be your next step if these tips don’t work.

This stench is a putrid concoction of twenty seven pairs of broken in sneakers, piles of dirty laundry, hormones and farts. Oh dear Lord the farts! So tackling these these things is your only line of defense.

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Here’s how to remove the stink

Sneakers should be on a rack in the closet. I make the kids use this spray in all their shoes. It works so well in combating the odor. Having them on a rack also allows air to get in and keep them dry. Wet shoes=smellier shoes. These charcoal bags also help neutralize and absorb odors without spraying toxic sprays that really only mask the smells and aren’t good for you to breathe in. I tuck them all over the house actually. They’re great near the litter box.
Keep dirty laundry in a hamper, not on the floor (especially a carpeted floor). I love this double hamper to keep whites and colors separated.
Use a mattress pad and wash bedding weekly. Between sweat, body oils and I shudder to think of whatever else is on those sheets, they need to be washed regularly. Sheets can be washed on any temperature, but using a hot/cold setting helps sanitize, especially in the cold and flu season. Make sure not to overload the washer to adequately wash and rinse.
Vacuuming carpets helps keep dust mites and allergens at bay. I use a homemade carpet refresher on all my carpets. I’ll post about it soon. Pinky swear! It is natural, smells so good and is a whole lot cheaper than buying a commercial product. I sprinkle this on and let it sit for a at least a half hour then vacuum it up. Works like magic! And as a general rule of thumb, carpets should be steam cleaned every 12-18 months as well.
Open the windows! Even if it’s cold outside, cracking the windows for even a few minutes will help immensely with getting some air circulation and freshening the air in the room.
Use an air purifier. These help with allergens and odors. Depending on the size of the bedroom, a small one should be sufficient.
Use a dehumidifier. Remember wet=stinky? So during those warmer, humid months using a dehumidifier or air conditioner greatly helps.

If these don’t work, you may want to call in a professional cleaning service or maybe even a priest. Just a thought.

But since I love ya and I feel your pain, I’ve included a free cleaning checklist. Just click on the link below, download and print. When everything is checked off and mom-approved, the child can have his/her (phone, car, X-Box, life, etc) back. Easy-peasy! No yelling involved. You’re welcome.