caucasian man unpleasant smell studio portrait on isolated white background

Unpleasant odors in indoor environments can result in customer complaints, lost business and even evacuations and closures in extreme cases. To avoid these odor pitfalls, Oxy-Gen Powered is offering suggestions on how to best manage malodors.

“When facilities prioritize odor control, they set themselves up for success by providing employees and guests with a pleasant-smelling environment every day,” says Chris Whiting, executive vice president – North America, Oxy-Gen Powered. “With so many options available in the market, it’s important to find an odor eliminating system that is not only effective but also sustainable and customizable.”

Oxy-Gen says professionals should consider the following practices to eliminate malodors within a facility:

Identify odor hot spots

Facilities must manage a wide range of malodors that occur in various areas of a building. For instance, odors from urine and feces often plague restrooms while cooking odors can linger in kitchens and dining areas. Mold and mildew, pet odors and body odors can occur anywhere and anytime.

Select a scent that suits the business

Look for an odor eliminating system that offers a wide range of fragrances as well as non-fragrant options. Some facilities prefer using the same fragrance throughout to build brand recognition. Yet other businesses may like using one fragrance in restrooms and different fragrances in areas like lobbies, dining areas and corridors. Regardless of which option a facility selects, the cartridges should contain a malodor counteractant to effectively neutralize airborne odor molecules and maintain indoor air freshness.

Consider the sustainability of the system

Aerosol air fresheners release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like butane, propane and isopropyl alcohol that pollute the air, and they require frequent replacement, resulting in excess waste. To promote good indoor air quality, the system a facility installs should have no chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), propellants, alcohols or allergens, and no added VOCs or solvents. An oxygen fuel cell powered option releases fragrance through evaporation and thus is better for the environment and building occupants. 

Set a fragrance intensity and duration

Customizable air fresheners allow users to set the fragrance intensity and duration to their preferences. Consider purchasing cartridges that allow for 30-, 60- or 90-day scent delivery. With a 30-day setting the system will provide a more powerful fragrance; at 60 days the fragrance level will be normal; at 90 days the system will be equally effective, but the scent will be less intense.

Replace cartridges as needed 

To ensure continuous odor elimination, make sure that employees responsible for facility maintenance change the system’s cartridges as needed. Ideally, the solution will offer visual clues when replacement is required, such as a red flashing light when the cartridge is no longer releasing fragrance.