smell in bedroom

[Anonymous]

My ten year old son has recently started needing deodorant. He bathes each evening, uses deodorant daily, and wears fresh clothes each day. He does not smell, but his bedroom does. I can't figure it out. I keep changing the sheets - that really doesn't help. He doesn't keep dirty clothes in his room (and I've checked all the corners, under the bed to make sure of that). I can't figure this out. Any hints?

[Anonymous]

Is there a stain on his rug? On the wood floor? Something hiding in the closet? In the dresser drawers?

[Anonymous]

or a stain on the mattress? something between the mattress and boxspring?

[Anonymous]

Is it a body odor smell or something else?

[Anonymous]

stinky shoes?

Also think about the duct work that goes into his room. could funky odors be coming from the basement/garage/laundry room?

If a mouse or other rodent died in the walls or floor joists, it can stink for a while, too.

[Anonymous]

OP here - it smells like he does if he doesn't wear deodorant, so I think it is bo. We are a no shoes in the house family, so no dirty shoes are kept in his room. I checked his room pretty well, so I don't think it is stray sweaty clothes (and the hamper where those are kept is not in his room). It is just so strange because he doesn't smell. Anyway. . .

[Anonymous]

My kids bedrooms aren't well ventilated in the winter and sometimes get an odor that is a little "off". I use those containers of "odor absorber" and it keeps them smelling fresh. (ugh, I sound like a commercial..)

[Anonymous]

I kind of remember that "boy funk" smell with my brother's room. I think sometimes it is just hormones. Putting a small bowl of white vinegar in the room can do wonders if he will tolerate it (kind of a salad smell).

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the suggestions - I'll try them.

[Anonymous]

My ds's room smelled no matter how often he showered, etc. I put a bowl of that scented carpet deodorizer in there for a while. (Arm and Hammer I think.. but there's others) That freshened the room and absorbed the smell. Plain baking soda would work too but wouldn't have a better smell until it worked. DS hates the smell of vinegar, hence the baking soda.

I think it's just a teenager thing. They sweat when they sleep, it just gets in there. As soon as a warm enough day happens windows get opened again.

[Anonymous]

Is his door closed all the time? Maybe there needs to be more circulation through there.

[Anonymous]

This happened when my son turned 13 or so and has continued -- and all my friends who have teenage boys say the same thing. Sheets, pillows, mattress, shoes and the hidden sock are the worst offenders, but it's hard to eradicate.

[Anonymous]

During the winter, when my house stays closed most of the time, sometimes it smells kind of funky (it is a small condo and we have pets) so, at least once a week I open the windows and patio door to ventilate and bring in fresh air - sometimes more than once a week. I keep it short, like 10 min or so, but it does wonders!

[Anonymous]

Check that he's really washing his pits and putting the deodorant on the right place. My son wasn't doing it right, like not using enough soap in the pit area and putting the deo away from the actual pit area, and would either still stink a little after a shower, or soon after. It's hard to imagine it would be that complicated, but he wasn't paying attention to careful grooming, and he's got ADD. Just a thought...

[Anonymous]

OP here - I put two of those refrigerator baking soda things in his room and the smell has gone away.