Workplace Odour Control – Banishing Bothersome Smells

It may not seem like the most important of considerations, but bad smells in the workplace really can take a toll on the workforce. These are exactly the kinds of things that tend to impact morale, productivity and overall business output – it’s amazing just how detrimental unpleasant odours can be for business. And of course, if they the kinds of odours your clients and customers will also be exposed to…well, the rest is pretty much self-explanatory!

Bad smells take on a variety of forms in relation to the workplace in question and the specific area affected. From food smells to urine to damp to mildew to smoke and so on, it seems like almost every workplace is to some extent under constant attack from bothersome odours. Which in some cases can seem almost impossible to get rid of, though with something of a strategic action plan (rather than a haphazard and random approach), it is usually possible to bring workplace freshness back under control.

Here’s how:

1. The first step in the process is of course the most obvious – identifying the source. Before even thinking about investing any time or effort in making the place smell fresher, you first need to find out what it is that’s causing the problem and make the necessary efforts to address or reduce it.
2. Once the source has been to some extent addressed, it’s then a case of tackling the lingering odours hanging around the workplace. In this instance, it’s important to remember that bad smells tend to cling like glue to soft furnishings – everything from carpets to curtains to furniture and so on. As such, arranging for soft furnishings like these to be given a thorough and professional clean is usually a good place to start.
3. After this, there’s always the chance that the bothersome smells in question will have been making their way through the workplace via its internal air vents. In many instances, it is in fact the air vents and ducts themselves that turn out to be responsible for bad smells. As such it is worth arranging for ventilation systems to be cleaned professionally, or at least changing/cleaning the filters if the job can be done manually.
4. Try to get out of the habit of using overly-powerful air fresheners to mask the problem, as in most instances this will only ever make things worse. By masking the problem, you not only leave it unaddressed and thus give it plenty of time to get even worse, but the slow yet steady buildup of air freshener residue all over the workplace will itself over time become something of a magnet for germs and bacteria.
5. If not already up and running, a regular cleaning schedule should be devised and implemented for the workplace as a whole – one that every member of the workforce plays a role in. Even if it’s just a case of basic everyday hygiene and cleanliness, staff members should be involved in keeping the place clean.
6. Last but not least, try to remember that there’s absolutely nothing better in the world when it comes to odours control than fresh air. Exhaust fans and cutting-edge ventilation systems can of course work wonders, but at the same time so too can simply keeping the workplace’s windows open as long as possible as regularly as plausible – particularly in problem areas.