The last thing you want someone to think when they visit your facility is, what’s that smell? You want to leave a positive impression on guests and customers. Did you know that foul smells can also affect a worker’s mood and performance?
An easy and effective way to cover unpleasant odors is with an air freshener. However, not all air fresheners are the same.
We’ll go over each type in detail in this article. We’ll also discuss how to make the most of air fresheners at your facility, sharing tips on placement for maximum effectiveness.
Let’s jump in.
Before we can explain where to place air fresheners, it is important to understand the different types and their uses.
Types of Air Fresheners Explained
Passive vs. Active Air Fresheners
There are two categories of air fresheners: passive and active.
Passive Fresheners rely on natural airflow. A passive air freshener doesn’t need to be powered or managed and relies on natural air movement to dispense fragrance.
They are great for smaller areas or as a complement to active ones.
Examples of passive air fresheners include:
- Hanging Tags
- Reed Diffusers
- Toilet Bowl Clips
- Urinal Screens
- Gel Fresheners
Active Fresheners use batteries or plugs for continuous fragrance, perfect for large or high-traffic spaces. It is ideal for larger spaces like lobbies, restrooms, and conference rooms.
Examples of active air fresheners include:
- Spray Air Fresheners
- Diffusers
- Nebulizers
- Fan Air Fresheners
For best-in-class odor control, use them together!
A Closer Look: Types of Air Fresheners
Plug-in Air Fresheners
Traditional plug-in air fresheners plug into an outlet and have a built-in warmer. When plugged in, the warming element heats and circulates the fragrance. With these air fresheners, you can often adjust the settings for fragrance intensity.
With a plug-in air freshener, you won’t need to do much maintenance other than replacing it when the scent runs out. They usually last several weeks before needing to be replaced.
Aerosol Spray Air Fresheners
Aerosol sprays are the most popular type of air freshener. They come in a can that you manually spray but typically only cover a small area at a time. Because of their design, they provide instant freshness and are usually available in a wide variety of scents.
Aerosol sprays can be used in any environment and, if stored correctly in cool and dry conditions, have a shelf life of around two years.
Aerosols should never be used in areas where they could spray into someone’s face or create a slip-and-fall hazard.
Gel Air Fresheners
Air fresheners of the gel variety involve peeling back a seal that releases fragrance. They slowly release fragrance over time, until the aroma evaporates.
Gel air fresheners can be used to target small areas. They should be placed in out-of-the-way locations, such as closets or bathrooms.
Diffuser Air Fresheners
To help cover odors, you can freshen your air using essential oils and a diffuser. A diffuser breaks oils down into smaller molecules and disperses them into the air.
Identify the Odor Source
Now that you have an understanding of the different types of air fresheners, let’s talk about how to identify which one or ones is right for your facility.
To select the right combination of air fresheners, you will first need to identify the source of foul smells.
Here are some of the most common:
Restroom Odors
Floor Grout
Most commercial restrooms have tiled floors that use grout. The grouted areas of your floors are likely the number one source of odors in your restroom.
Since grout is porous it absorbs urine, moisture, and soils. Trapped urine, in particular, can lead to increased bacteria growth that creates a smelly restroom.
Floor Drains
Hair, food, and debris can clog drains, and when not cleaned properly, become a breeding ground for bacteria and bad odors.
Toilets & Urinals
Public restrooms are a hotspot for urine odors. In men’s restrooms, urine seeps behind urinals and splashes on the walls.
In women’s restrooms, odors can linger from feminine hygiene waste disposals.
Additionally, unflushed or clogged toilets, broken auto flushers, and poor maintenance practices can cause odors to sit in the toilet bowl, emitting offensive odors.
Kitchen Odors
Oven
Whether cooking at home or in a commercial kitchen, fat deposits in the oven are the main culprit for foul kitchen odors.
Fat deposits create grease that spreads throughout the oven, and when not cleaned properly, can harbor lingering smells.
Garbage Disposals & Sink Drains
You might find that the garbage disposal and sink drain have foul odors in your kitchen. Even after a hot water and/or dish soap flush, food residue can still cling to the sink, making those places smelly.
Dishwasher
Even though running the dishwasher gets dishes cleaner, not all foods break down during the wash cycle. This means that any food particles left have the potential to cause unpleasant smells that come out of the dishwasher.
Food
Stale, expired, or freshly microwaved food can leave lingering odors in breakrooms, kitchens, and other areas in the workplace.
General Odors
Poor Ventilation
HVAC systems circulate air around your facility, which means any debris that is collected in filters and duct work can contain mold and bacteria that give off foul odors.
Water Contamination
Mineral deposits in the ground can contaminate well water. This can clog pipework and damage machinery, leading to unpleasant smells.
Mold & Mildew
It’s not uncommon to find mold & mildew in walls, basements, or areas with high moisture and low ventilation, like elevator shafts. Mold & mildew have a “musty” smell that can linger inside your facility.
Where to Position Air Fresheners for Maximum Effectiveness?
And with all that, now we can talk about where to place air fresheners to best combat odors. Let’s break it down by room type:
Restroom
To maintain as much freshness as possible, you want to place air fresheners in the most odorous areas of a restroom. For passive air fresheners, this would be near or in the toilets and urinals.
For active air fresheners, place near or above doors, under sinks, and near air vents, to ensure the fragrance spreads throughout the entire restroom.
Kitchen
In kitchens, you want to place air fresheners where strong odors come from, but also not too close to a food source. The fragrance should not be able to affect the taste of the food.
General
In most cases, active air fresheners should be placed in larger, high-traffic areas to provide consistent odor control. This includes airways and vents, which release the scent throughout the room.
Passive air fresheners are best suited for smaller areas, like behind toilets and under sinks.
Tips for Long-Lasting Effectiveness
Consider Pairing Air Fresheners With Odor Neutralizers
Air fresheners work to cover odors in the short term, however, they are not effective at getting rid of malodors. In some cases, you’ll want to use an air freshener along with another odor eliminator or neutralizer. Air fresheners are not effective at destroying malodors because they simply mask a bad smell with perfumes rather than destroying the malodor. Once the perfumes wear off, the malodors will return.
Odor neutralizers actively work to eliminate malodors. These products target the source of the odor, encapsulate it, and then destroy it. This prevents the odors from returning.
Attacking odors at the source with thorough, consistent, and appropriate cleaning is key to long-term freshness. But air fresheners definitely help keep smells at bay.
Pair Fragrances Effectively
When it comes to choosing a scent, sometimes it’s fun to mix different fragrances and experiment with complementary scents.
You don’t want to mix scents that are contrasting (lavender and pumpkin, for example) and make sure to avoid using extremely strong scents too. Start with a small amount of fragrance and increase it as necessary. Be mindful of the size of the space where the freshener is being released and adjust fragrance amount as needed.
Consider Occupant Health
It’s also important to keep in mind occupant preferences, as well as the possibility some may have an allergy to fragrances. If this is the case, minimize the amount of fragrance being released, or use an alternative method of odor elimination.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to which air freshener to use and where to place one, you want to consider the area(s) you are trying to cover. High-traffic areas are ideal places to get maximum impact. You can always experiment with different locations in order to find the best spot for scent diffusion.
Make sure to position air fresheners away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and anything that might obstruct airflow. Store them in a cool, dry place to maintain effectiveness. When disposing of air fresheners, always check the packaging for guidance on proper disposal.
Imperial Dade is here to help you find air fresheners that will help reduce unpleasant smells in your facility. Contact one of our experts to help you determine which type of air freshener is most suited for your needs.