Identifying and Eliminating Odor Sources

Restrooms can be an obvious source of odor, as urine and bacteria can quickly build up on floors and walls. Schneringer recommends specifying bioactive cleaning chemicals to tackle odors caused by fat oils, grease, urine and other organic compounds on surfaces, particularly in grout lines. 

“These products can also go into the floor drain to mitigate odors emanating from them,” he adds.  

Distributors should educate customers on bioactive chemicals to help them understand their benefits and purpose, he adds. Bioactive chemicals harness live, cultured bacteria, known as “good” bacteria, and combine it with cleaning surfactants to remove “bad” bacteria.  

“These chemicals eat fat soils and greases until there is nothing left but water and a bit of carbon dioxide,” says Schneringer.  

Hydrogen peroxide chemicals also attack odors, especially those found in grout lines, adds Carrizales. The chemicals penetrate the grout line and eliminate any bacteria residing there.  

“It won’t happen overnight, but within a week or two, end users can eliminate a foul odor in the restrooms,” he says. 

Additionally, instructing end user customers to use flat mop systems correctly can help prevent odors.  

“So many times, cleaners use dirty mops and dirty water,” he says. “A flat mop system, like a microfiber system, might be a little more expensive on the front end and require more training to use properly, but frontline workers will be removing so much more of the yuck that causes odors.”  

Helping HVAC Systems 

When odors pop up, most people think of the restroom, but there are less obvious causes of facility odors to watch for. For example, HVAC systems use a coil to cool warm air and air condition buildings. When the air conditioning system powers down and isn't maintained, it will begin to grow mold and mildew. As the weather cools and the heating system turns on, the air that comes out of the vents will smell bad, according to Carrizales.  

To keep HVAC systems clean, he recommends end users change furnace filters as recommended by the manufacturer, usually every three months. Using quality filters with a high MERV rating will help catch smaller microns in the air.  

“End users might have a good HVAC system, but if they don’t have the right filters, they will need to do a better cleaning to get rid of all the sources that cause malodors,” says Sawchuk. “But there’s always a tradeoff. Excessive filtration can put too much pressure on the furnace, hindering CFM (cubic feet per minute) flow. Distributors need to recommend the best filter for the system without overloading it.”  

Regular ductwork cleaning and inspection also helps prevent odor-causing buildup, according to Sawchuk. 

Distributors can assist customers in creating a solid HVAC maintenance plan, which involves cleaning and inspecting coils twice a year; once before the cooling season begins and once before the heating system begins.  

Odor Education 

Once a distributor discovers odors, the next step is education. Equipment and chemicals can only do so much to combat smells, say experts. 

“A distributor must specify products for daily cleaning and products, procedures and equipment for deep cleaning,” says Sawchuk. “But they also need to provide education and training, so customers understand how to address the malodor, not mask it.” 

It also includes setting realistic expectations, he adds.  

“You cannot remove an odor overnight. It took months for it to accumulate,” he says. “But as a distributor, you can say, ‘There is no magic bullet. But I understand the source of this odor, and this is what you need to do.’ It doesn’t take just one magic product or piece of equipment. It is the right product. The right chemicals. The right equipment. And the right procedures. Along with an understanding that you don’t just clean for health, you clean for visible soils.”  

Ronnie Wendt is a freelance writer and owner of In Good Company Communications in Waukesha, Wisconsin.