Have a terrible odor that’s keeping customers away from your business? Simply masking the problem won’t make it go away. You need to identify the source of the smell and eliminate it entirely. Putting perfume on a skunk won’t make it smell like roses – why would it do anything different for your business? Here are some tips to help you find the source of the bad smell in your office.
Narrow It Down By Area
Is there one specific place in your office that the odor seems to be centered around? Finding the general location of the smell will greatly narrow down your search. Bathrooms and kitchens are the two most common locations for foul odors in the workplace, but you can have a stinky smell just about anywhere. Check for the smell first thing in the morning when no one else is around and see where your nose takes you.
Common Odor Sources in Bathrooms
In men’s bathrooms, the most common source of foul odors is urine, especially around urinals and toilets. Unfortunately, splashing is a frequent problem when men use the restroom, and most of them do not clean up after themselves. Your janitorial crew should clean the walls and floors around the urinals thoroughly to minimize the chance of bad smells. You may also use urinal deodorizers to keep smells down and control splatters.
In women’s restrooms, sanitary napkins and other feminine hygiene products can play a role in odor problems. Installing metal bins for feminine waste inside the stalls can help to localize the odors, but the smell will continue if these bins are not emptied at least once a day. If you have a high volume of traffic in your bathrooms, you may need to clear the bins multiple times a day.
Common Odor Sources in Kitchens and Break Rooms
If you have a kitchen or break room in your office, you may be getting an odor from dirty dishes. Make sure your employees wash their dishes after using them, or opt for disposable plates, cups, and silverware instead. If you have a dishwasher in the room, run it at least once a day to minimize the amount of dry, stuck-on foods lingering around.
Another common odor source is the trash can, which may get neglected if it is not in view for customers. Since this is an area where a lot of trash can pile up in a short period of time, you should get your janitorial crew to clear it out a couple times a day – especially after meal periods and routine break times.
Common Odor Sources Everywhere Else
Trash and leftover food are the most common sources of odors in the rest of the office. You can keep these issues down by asking your employees to only eat in one specific area of the workplace. Give each employee a trash can at his or her desk, to be cleared out at the end of the day. If you make it convenient for your workers to stay clean, you won’t have to worry about odors as much. Your customers and visitors will thank you for it in the end!
