No matter what type of commercial space you own or manage, be it rental property, educational facilities, retirement communities, business office, or other type of property, you want a clean, well-organized appearance in this space. Of course, this should also include a pleasant smell. After all, even if a space appears clean, if there is an unpleasant odor present, it can create a negative impression and, in essence, negate the work that has been done to create that clean appearance. Fortunately, the tips below will help you identify and eliminate odors in your commercial property, ensuring a positive impression on visitors, residents, and employees.
Which Commercial Rooms Have the Worst Odors?
Many potential sources can cause a space to have an unpleasant odor. The following is a breakdown of the types of odors that could impact various commercial spaces. Often, as you will see in these spaces when they are kept consistently clean, odors are much less likely to be present:
Bathrooms
Commercial facilities with publicly accessible restrooms will often suffer from odors due to dirty urinals or toilets as well as uncleaned sinks. This is a common issue in schools or other bathroom areas, where many people use the facilities throughout the day. That is if the space isn’t given proper cleaning attention.
Offices
When it comes to office spaces, the general causes of odors include garbage left set out for too long or upholstery or carpeting holding unpleasant odors. If pets are allowed access, this can also contribute to lingering odors.
Hallways & Stairwells
Hallways and stairwells are often high-traffic areas that can contain lots of carpet odors. Smoking odors can also find their way into these communal areas.
Industrial Kitchens
Built-up grease, smoke, and other forms of cooking odors can cause lots of issues in industrial kitchens when it comes to smells. These types of odors can build up over time, so they can be pretty challenging to get rid of without having professional methods and tools.
Gyms
Bacteria from sweat often cause odors in gyms. This can also include mold growth, which of course needs to be addressed to eliminate it properly. The equipment itself can also develop a smell through repetitive use, so cleaning the equipment and flooring properly is a must to truly address and prevent the buildup of odors in these areas.
Indoor & Outdoor Recreational Areas
Recreational areas, both indoor and outdoor, are often problematic when it comes to developing odors in retirement communities or medical buildings. The high volume of people using these spaces contributes to the buildup of odors. Outdoor recreation areas will be a bit easier to keep odor-free just from fresh air; the internal spaces do require a bit of a specialized approach to remove odors effectively.
Four Ways to Remove Odors
There are many ways to address the odors that tend to build up in commercial properties. The following is a list of the four most effective ways to give odors the boot and to create a pleasant, clean smell:
Reduce Odor Sources
Obviously, there is only so much you can do to address the cause of odors at its source. However, if you have the ability to prohibit practices that lead to odor buildup, that’s a good idea. For example, put a strict no-smoking rule in place along with a requirement to regularly remove any trash bags containing food remains or residual smells. Also, ensure that any commercial space is cleaned regularly to remove the more ground-in odors that seep into upholstery and carpeting. Generally, the following are common causes of odors you will want to eliminate by banning or limiting:
- Cigarette and tobacco smoke
- Old food
- Heavy scents
- Animals
- Garbage
Replace HVAC Ventilation
Check HVAC ventilation regularly, as bacteria can easily grow on HVAC coils and other parts of the system. This can cause odor to seep throughout an entire business, so you want to make sure that your vents are clear and clean and there is no buildup on any HVAC components that could lead to odor. You also want to ensure that every space is properly ventilated to ensure the optimal quality of air inside the space.
Improve IAQ with Air Filters
Speaking of filters, it’s also important to ensure that indoor air quality is kept healthy by using the right kind of air filters and making sure that they are regularly replaced. Air quality is especially important when it comes to creating a healthy environment in a public location like an educational facility or even an office building. Poor indoor air quality can lead to the development of illnesses and all sorts of issues, including being the source of an unpleasant smell.
Hire a Third-Party Cleaning Company
While you can take many steps to eliminate odors on your own, in some cases, especially when you are dealing with a deep set-in odor or one that encompasses an entire building, there is only so much you can do on your own. Acquiring the services of a professional third-party cleaning company, like ours at Oracle Cleaning Solutions, will help you track down the source of the odor that is impacting your commercial property. We can also help you establish a schedule of professional cleanings that will prevent the development of odors once again after they have been removed.
Oracle Cleaning Solutions Can Tackle any Odor Problem
Odor issues can be especially challenging and frustrating to deal with since it’s not always obvious what is the source of the odor. It’s also not typically easy to properly address the odor and remove it safely and efficiently. Thankfully, our commercial cleaning services and commercial odor removal at Oracle Cleaning Solutions address the source of your odors and prevent them from coming back by maintaining a regular cleaning schedule to keep your commercial property clean and in good order. Contact us today to learn more about our commercial cleaning services and determine how we can help you with our variety of commercial cleaning services, from our regular janitorial services to our sanitizing services that are designed to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and more from surfaces all over your commercial space.