Bad odors in the home can be caused by a variety of things. Some things are easy to find and understand, for example, smoke, cooking fumes, or when the garbage bag has been left out for too long - it's easy to find and easy to solve. Other simple things are water traps and floor drains, as well as piles of old and dusty or damp materials such as paper or textiles. These can easily be cleaned and removed, and the odor will be gone. Other things are more difficult. Moisture and rotting materials are often the source, which cause various unpleasant odors. Looking for the source where moisture or food is present is a tip. A pile of "old mail" rarely spreads bad odors, while hidden water damage can cause several materials to smell very bad.
Here follows a list of chemicals that cause unpleasant odors; here, we want to clarify that the word chemical in everyday speech means one thing, while strictly linguistically, it also includes water:
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Cyclic compounds (methylpyrrole, pyridine)
Methylpyrrole is a cyclic amine that has a strong, unpleasant odor. Pyridine is an aromatic compound with a sharp, irritating odor.
Example: May occur in certain cleaning agents and lacquers.
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Aldehydes (octanal, nonanal)
These are organic compounds with a characteristic odor, often associated with overripe fruit.
Example: Found in perfumes and air fresheners.
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Acid-based compounds (isovaleric acid, hexenoic acid derivatives, acetic acid, thioglycolic acid)
Isovaleric acid has a strong odor of old cheese. Acetic acid gives a sour odor.
Example: Acetic acid can be found in vinegar, which is used in cooking.
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2-Pentylfuran
A chemical with a sweet odor that can give off unpleasant odors when broken down.
Example: May occur in certain foods or as a contamination product.
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Thiazoles
These are heterocyclic compounds with a pungent odor, often associated with rotten substances.
Example: May be found in certain foods or in products containing sulfur.
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Thiols (methanethiol, 2-ethyl-1-hexanethiol)
Methanethiol has a very strong, unpleasant odor of rotten eggs.
Example: Found in some sewage systems and gases.
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Amines (butylamine, trimethylamine, triethylamine)
These compounds have a strong, ammonia-like odor and can cause nausea.
Example: Found in certain cleaning agents and foods.
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Sulfur-containing compounds (dipropyl sulfide)
Has an unpleasant odor of rotten eggs and can cause irritation.
Example: May occur in some sulfur-containing foods.
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Skatole
A chemical that has a strong, fecal-like odor.
Example: May occur in sewage systems or in waste.
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Morpholines
Has an odor that can be described as sweet and ammonia-like.
Example: Found in some cleaning agents.
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Fatty acids
Can give off a rotten odor when they decompose.
Example: Found in food that has become old or spoiled.
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Fats
Rotten or oxidized fats give off an unpleasant odor.
Example: Can be found in old food and oils.
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Proteins
Decomposition of proteins can give off unpleasant odors.
Example: Found in rotten meat products.
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Blood
Has a metallic odor that is particularly noticeable in rotten food.
Example: May be present in waste or contaminated surfaces.
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Bacterial and fungal-based volatile organic compounds
These compounds can cause various unpleasant odors depending on the specific bacteria or fungal species.
Example: Mold in damp areas such as bathrooms or basements.
This list shows a variety of different chemicals and substances that can cause bad odors in the home, and their origin and effects on the indoor environment. It is not necessary to be able to or know all the chemical substances, but the list can be helpful if you have problems with bad odors in the home and are trying to find the cause.
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Questions and answers
1. What can I do to avoid bad odors at home?
Answer: Clean, tidy, and remove trash. Clean fragrance-free to be sure you are not just masking a bad odor.
2. Is dust or moisture the biggest problem when it smells bad?
Answer: Moisture tends to create bad odors.
3. Why do bad odors linger at home?
Semi-volatile odor molecules are adsorbed on porous surfaces such as soft furnishings. That's why it's important to find the source of the bad odor.
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