How do you freshen up your teenagers rooms?

[hiddenhome]

I have a 14 year old boy and his room is becoming a bit whiffy

I keep the window open all the time, open the door during the day and change his bedding regularly, but it still has that smell.

I don't use air freshener as I'm sensitive to it.

What kind of stuff can I do to really freshen it up without having to resort to air fresheners?

Any tips?

Does he have a washing basket? I find if I don't empty my oldest DS's for a couple of days a pong emanates - and check he isn't putting worn clothes away in the wardrobe/chest; DD has been guilty of this in the past.
Obviously, keep shoes out of the room.

Sorry not too much help - I find it a bit of a mystery how it can be fine one day, then the next very unpleasant. Air fresheners not poss here either.

Burn a candle occassionally.

Yes, he's not allowed to keep dirty clothes in there, he brings them straight down to the wash. I check his room every day for rogue socks

I've just changed his bed there this morning and it feels fresher already. Perhaps I need to do it more often. It's not really done every week tbh

I did think about a candle. I bought some nice scented ones from Ikea which aren't too strong

Do you turn the duvet down in the morning? This will "air" the bed a bit more.

Does he dust? I would make dusting then polishing a once a week chore for him to do, and then vacuuming.

Is he showering every day? That might help.
Keep shoes downstairs, out of the way in a cupboard.
Get him to put socks and pants straight into the main laundry basket so they don't hang around in his room.
Do a stray cups and plates check every couple of days.
use washing powder with in built febreze if that doesn't mess with your allergies.
Close his door?

I vacuum with a ball of cotton wool soaked in essential oil in the vacuum bag - scents the DCs rooms without overpowering them with artificial smells. A cook's candle or essential oil candle in a fresh lemon scent might help too.

Sounds daft but is he showering regularly?

My ds doesnt wash his hair often... The greasy smell is the smell I get when I go in his room. He needs new pillows as it lingers in them

Sorry, that's grim... He's 14 too btw

Yip, I get him to shower each day, but I think he mainly uses just water and whatever the shampoo suds get onto as the soap never seems to go down He has just discovered anti perspirant as well, but dh says it's too strong and then hides it from him Grrr

Like the idea of the cotton wool ball - would this work in a dyson?

Candle is now in room

Reed diffusers. I think that's what they're called! The pots of smelly stuff with the wooden sticks. I have some very nice smelling ones.

I have the same issue with my almost 14 yr old. He showers daily and washes his hair, he puts his dirty clothes in the laundry basket on the landing, no shoes in his room, I change the sheets regularly, he wears deo yet his room still has a whiff if in the mornings. I open his window every day and that helps but I would still love some solution to this. I fabreeze his curtains etc also and dust/hoover once or twice a week! What more can I do??

We have a reed diffuser at work in the toilet, but it's a bit strong. Scented candles are about as much as I can cope with [feeble emoticon]

I'm considering sealing the door and making him go out the front door, around the back of the house and in the window.

That way we wouldn't get the smell.

Would that help?

My boys shower twice a day, but ds1 would rather pull teeth than change his bedclothes. And on principle I don't go in there (he's 18 now), so I have no idea how long it's been .

ds2's room simply smells of Deep Heat and socks. I hate to think of what ds1's room smells of.

Can't do candles/diffisers here any more than I could do fresheners .

I tend to get him to strip the bed before going to school once a week or so, then leave the clean linen in the room for him to put on the bed after several days.

I dont think you even need scented candles. A plain candle will probably burn off the smell.

I air DS bed daily change it once a week dust and polish weekly too. All clothes are put straight into a family wash basket. He showers daily but his room stinks a bit. I open the window in there even in the deepest of winter half an hour and its smells loads better his bedding is airing while window is open.

I am soooooo looking forward to teenage years with my son! He already hates washing.

Wash the pillows and duvets occasionally too, pillows in particular harbour that dirty hair smell.
My DSS is back from Uni - one night - and his room had the aroma back!!

14 year old boys do have a whiff about them don't they?

Yes, to changing sheets, removing dirty washing and opening the window.

ds also has quited pillow protectors from ikea and a mattress protector so I can change them too every other time.

You need to clean it! Wash down the walls with a light bleach solution, wash the floor (or have the carpets cleaned), wash the curtains and bedding.

I've just used the vanish aerosol carpet cleaner in one of the bedrooms and the difference is amazing! It took a fair bit of scrubbing but is certainly worth it.