July 6, 2007

Something in the Air Tonight

when hard pressed, anchovies will take refuge in the closest pair of shoes or other italian leather goods

How do your friends remember their visits to your home?

Is it the stylish décor or the delectable meal that has left the greatest impression on guests? Or was it the smell that greeted them at the threshold and imbued the evening with a distasteful tone?

Maybe the previous night’s dinner has left a fog of salmon scent, which, coupled with the aroma from Fluffy and Fido seems to taken on a life of its own. Or perhaps the musty smell from the basement has made its way upstairs again to haunt the kitchen. My personal favorite is the allergy-nightmare combination of second hand smoke and bathroom cleansers.

Well, if you have a house full of unexplained and equally unpleasant scents, you can take heart. Most of the odors that linger in your air may have nothing to do with you, but are the not-so-endearing parting gifts from previous owners.

The problem often is this: odors are tiny molecules that are absorbed by any porous surface in your house, including carpets, furniture, curtains, wood, etc. Even when the cause of the smell is removed, the molecules that have sunk into these surfaces are re-emitted into the air.

For allergy and asthma sufferers, there is an added concern: strong odors can actually trigger an attack or reaction. Scents like those found in perfumes, cleaning products and smoke (wood or tobacco) are the most common elements that spark odor-triggered asthma and allergies. Yet, even someone those nasty scents, such as those from pets or musty basements will act as clues for the quality of your air.

The unmistakable “wet dog” smell can be an indicator of allergens—and typically most people with animal dander allergies will experience more irritation in moist weather. As for the musty scent of an old basement, typically this is from mold spores, which are also very common allergy irritants.

Rather than let musty, smoky, pet or the ever-popular mystery smells and odors rule your house, let us offer a solution:

Use an air purifier to neutralize odors (this is the most effective way to combat odors, no matter what variety)
“Air out” your house every once in a while (on warm, dry days)
If you use any de-odorizing sprays or air fresheners, just be aware that the fragrance could be just as much of an irritant to allergies and asthma as the odor your are trying to remove.

Filed under Odors, Asthma, Air Quality by Dan Buglio