How to Get Rid of Odors Indoor vs. Outdoor

Friday, September 20, 2024
odor control

How to Get Rid of Odors Indoor vs. Outdoor

It’s one thing to treat odors in an indoor facility. Even if the exact method is up for debate, you’re probably aware of some of your options. But what are you supposed to do for odor problems in an outdoor space? You can’t exactly spray an air freshener into the air at a landfill or wastewater treatment plant and solve all your issues, so what are your options?

At State Chemical, we manufacture and distribute chemical solutions for a number of problems, including those for indoor and outdoor odors. Different spaces introduce tricky new odors, and it can be challenging to determine what will solve these problems.

To help you determine what method of odor control will be best for your facility, we will explain odors and treatment in indoor versus outdoor facilities. After reading, you’ll better understand where your odors may be coming from and how to appropriately treat them based on the setting.

Odors in Indoor Facilities

Indoor spaces tend to have odors that can range from mild to severe. Sometimes, their source is obvious—say your odors emanate from the trash room, for example. However, sometimes, rooms take on an odd stench that you just can’t get to the bottom of.

Some of the most common odors in indoor facilities include those of food, trash, smoke, cannabis, pets, mildew, mold, and body odors. These odors can permeate walls, carpeting, furniture, upholstery, and more. Sometimes, this can be so intense that even if you remove the source of the odor, the damage is already done and the scent lingers in the room.

Suppose You Manage a Hotel

After a guest checks out, your housekeeping crew discovers that this guest was frying fish in their room. Your crew tries air fresheners, cleaners, and more, but it’s been months, and the room still smells of oil and fish.

These kinds of situations can have lasting implications, and you don’t want to deal with the impact they may have on business. When an odor lingers in your facility, how can you resolve it?

How to Get Rid of Indoor Building Odors

There are several effective methods for eliminating odors from your building. Choosing the right method will depend on your individual situation.

For minor odors or odors correlated with a specific area (e.g., a trash can), you’ll likely choose a spot treatment product. This will mean using a handheld product (such as a fabric refresher, air freshener, or deodorizer) to directly treat a problem area.

Meanwhile, if your building has more severe odors or odors throughout an area (e.g., a lobby), you might consider ambient scenting. This will involve using an automated scent diffuser to consistently eliminate odors and add fragrance to your space. There are scent diffusers for spaces as small as an elevator and as large as an entire convention center.

Similarly, if you have both specific problem areas and facility-wide odors, you can use spot treatment and ambient scenting simultaneously. For broader issues, this is an all-encompassing solution.

Odors in Outdoor Facilities

Odors in outdoor facilities will usually vary from indoor odors in their intensity. Because they’re in open air, milder odors will fade with the breeze, so the ones that stick can be genuinely nauseating.

Oftentimes, outdoor odors will be those associated with manufacturing plants, food processing plants, wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and more. These odors certainly permeate the air, and you can receive nuisance complaints from the community and even be fined when odors get bad enough.

For example, let’s say that you oversee the operations of a food processing plant. Through normal production, foul-smelling gases are released through the air and tend to drift east. For a while, there was nothing in that direction, so it wasn’t a problem. However, a new neighborhood was recently built a mile east of your facility, and you’ve already received several nuisance complaints from residents.

In situations like this, you want to eliminate odors as efficiently as possible for the sake of your facility’s reputation, your neighbors’ quality of life, and potentially your organization’s financial well-being. But what does this entail in an outdoor setting?

How to Get Rid of Outdoor Odors

To treat the prevalence of odors through an outdoor space, use an automated industrial deodorization system. This will eliminate odors while also adding a strong fragrance to cover up remaining malodors.

Industrial deodorization systems are powerful, so they should usually only be used outdoors. Depending on the specific system, you can fragrance over 1,000 linear feet at once. Indoors, this could make the floors wet, cause paint to peel, and rust metal. However, outdoors, this is strong enough to fight severe odors, preventing nuisance complaints and employee discomfort.

If your problem area is outdoors but involves a specific spot (e.g., a dumpster) rather than an entire area, you also have options for spot treatment. A spray, deodorizer, or other solution might be perfect for stopping odors at the root.

Similarly, if you have whole-facility odors and specific problem areas, you can use an industrial deodorization system in tandem with a spot treatment method. In the right situation, this will be the most comprehensive solution.

Learn About State Chemical Air Care Agreements

Figuring out how to treat your facility’s odor problems is a hassle, but now, you know what treatment method will best fit your needs. To continue exploring odor control possibilities for your facility, learn what an air care agreement with State Chemical looks like in the video below.