How do I make my room stop smelling so bad?

Question

My parents keep on complaining about the smell, but I don't smell anything at all.

I've put in two odor-maskers, but they're not helping at all.

I also try to ventilate, but it's almost always way too cold to open the windows here (yes, even in the middle of summer right now - Seattle has been unusually cool this summer)

The other thing is that it smells even after I leave the room for months on end (for college). So it's not me.

They've tried to aggressively identify the source, but to no avail.

Answer 1

Smells don't just appear out of nowhere. Something in your room is the source of the smell (dirty laundry, rotten food, etc). Find the source and remove it. If you can't identify it (too used to it?), then ask your parents to look for it.

If the smell seems to be everywhere in the room, consider deep-cleaning the carpets. (Buy/Rent a cleaner, or have a cleaning service come in.)

If you can't remove the source, all you can do is mitigate.

Leave the door to your room open to avoid stagnant air. Even if something is only mildly stinky, if you leave it in a sealed off room, the smell will permeate the room.

Consider getting an Air Purifier, which will churn the air in your room and filter it a bit. Make sure you stay on top of cleaning/replacing the filter in the unit.

If the smell is a musty/humid smell, consider a Dehumidifier. You will need to empty the drain pan periodically, or attach a drain line to your plumbing. You can also use Damp Rid.

Also, consider that the source of the smell may be you. Your parents may be trying to politely tell you something. Do you bathe every day? Do you wash your hair regularly (at least once every 2-3 days)? Do you put on a fresh change of clothes every day? Do you wear antiperspirant/deodorant? If you answer "no" to any of the above, it may be time to re-visit your hygiene.

Answer 2

What your problem was is no longer your issue. That smell is now in everything. What you will probably need to do is take all of your clothes, linens, curtains, and fabric out of your room and clean them well.

Remove all of your furniture as well. Move it to someplace like the garage where it can be aired out. Then clean it with Lysol well and allow it to air out.

Spray your mattress with Febreze and let your mattress air out for at least 24 hours. Then put it in a mattress bag with cedar balls for 24-48 hours.

Shampoo your carpet. You may need to paint as well, though washing the walls and ceiling may be enough depending on the paint/coverings. If its wallpaper and the smell is bad enough(ask your mom do not judge yourself if you think no) you may need to take it down as well. Paper absorbs well so it tends to hold smells.

To avoid this problem in the future, wash your sheets every week. Get a hamper for your dirty clothes and wash them at least weekly. Spray Lysol in your room regularly to help combat odors to help avoid the need for another deep-cleaning.