Is there a stale smell in your nursery? Many moms try to solve that by using fragrances to mask the smell. It works. However, please note that it's not the best and your only option. Your nursery can smell new and fresh again by eliminating the source of the stale smell.
Usually, it can be attributed to dirty diapers, damp laundry, or poor air circulation in the room. Moreover, there are several options to address the situation, such as investing in odor-locking diaper pails. These can help hold in some of the odor. Keep reading to figure out other options to help your nursery smell fresh.
Key Takeaways
- Diapers are a very big reason nursery rooms can smell bad.
- An odor-locking diaper pail can help hold in the smell of the diapers. But remember that they need regular maintenance to remain effective.
- Damp clothes and poor airflow are also among the common smell sources.
- You should improve ventilation, dry fabrics, and do surface cleaning before relying on scented products.
Why Does a Nursery Start Smelling Stale?
Keep in mind that nurseries are usually a small, confined space inside a house. Once the door is closed, there is no way for the odors to escape. Thus, a nursery may have a stale smell, no matter how neat it may appear.
The usual culprit of the nursery's stale smell is dirty diapers. It just makes sense. They do contain pee and poop. But if you happen to use an odor-locking diaper pail, the smell should not be stifling. So why the stale air?
It's because dirty diapers are not the only cause of that stale smell. You should check other sources, which include:
- damp laundry
- milk/spit-up
- forgotten bottles
- changing pad covers
- dust/pet dander
- poor ventilation.
Start With Source Control Instead of Fragrance
People tend to use air fresheners or scented sprays to mask the stale odors right away. It works for some families. However, it's only a temporary solution. They don't really remove smells from diaper waste, sour milk, or damp fabrics. As such, the smell returns after some time.
If you want to go further than that, you must control the source. You can do it in five steps.
- Remove dirty diapers.
- Seal waste properly.
- Wash milk bottles and dry them.
- Dry the clothes that are in the nursery and replace the changing pad covers.
- Let fresh air circulate whenever possible.
Seal Dirty Diapers Quickly After Each Change
Here's a quick guide on how to seal dirty diapers after each change. You should put the used wipes inside a dirty diaper, and then roll the diaper closed. Afterward, dispose of it immediately into a lidded trash can or diaper pail.
The trash can or diaper pail in your nursery will usually do. Sometimes, the diaper will have a strong smell, though. For these, it's better to bring them immediately to a trash bin outside. Otherwise, they may still affect the smell of your nursery.
Choose a Diaper Disposal Setup That Fits the Nursery
Many parents can't choose between lidded trash cans and diaper pails. Each option has its pros and cons.
Odor Locking
Stinky trash cans are bad enough, but smelly trash cans are worse. Like normal trash cans, people end up dumping various things into them more frequently to help minimize the smell. They also end up keeping the lid open. This problem allows even more trash can smell to escape.
Diaper pails help lessen the odors in a room better than a normal trash can. Pails like the Momcozy Triple-Seal Diaper Pail use multiple mechanisms to help keep your room from smelling bad. This pail even has a lid that rotates to help keep even more smells in the can while moms are throwing dirty diapers away.
Convenience
The best thing about lidded trash cans is that you can use any trash bags. Most diaper pails require proprietary trash bags that are not as easy to find. Often, they are also more expensive.
However, please note that some diaper pails, like the Momcozy Triple-Seal Diaper Pail, are compatible with most trash bags.
For a more detailed comparison, please check our article about diaper pail vs. trash can.
Where Should the Diaper Pail Go?
The placement of the diaper pail is important. You should not leave your baby when you are changing their diaper. They may roll when no one's holding them, which is dangerous.
But if your diaper pail is far from your changing station, you would have to do that. That said, the CDC recommends placing the diaper pail within reach in the changing station.
Also, do not block a walkway, vent, door, heat source, or the space beside the crib. You don't want to move the diaper pail each time you have to use these.
The Tradeoff in Small Nurseries
If you have a small nursery or one with poor ventilation, having a diaper pail next to the changing table will make diaper disposal easier. However, a diaper pail will still smell even when it is well sealed. This can make your nursery smell bad.
Consider having a diaper pail in the bathroom, laundry room, or another utility room that has better ventilation. This will keep your nursery smelling nice, but you will have to walk farther to dispose of the dirty diaper.
Think about the distance to the diaper pail versus the benefit of a better-smelling nursery and pick one that you think is best.
Empty and Maintain the Pail Before Odor Escapes
Diaper pails need maintenance and emptying. Skipping these will make the diaper pails ineffective. Many empty their diaper pails only when they are full. That can work, but sometimes it may not be enough. Here are some other factors that you need to consider:
- Smell: Often, the pail can get to a point where it’s starting to smell bad, even if it’s not full. In that case, it’s best to dump it.
- Diaper Volume: If the pail has the potential to be full or overpacked, it should be emptied.
- Room Temperature: In warmer weather, you can expect the smell of the pail to be much worse. Therefore, you’d want to empty it more often.
- Poop Diapers: If there are poop diapers in the pail, it will become smellier that much quicker. In that case, you should empty the pail sooner than you normally would.
Remember to seal the bag during removal so that the smell will not escape. Also, wipe the lid or diaper pail opening to clean it and let it dry fully.
Check these detailed guides on diaper pail maintenance:
Keep the Changing Area Clean, Not Just the Pail
As mentioned above, it's not just the diaper pail that you need to keep clean. You should also maintain the whole diaper changing area.
Changing Pad Seams
Moisture, some waste, and dirt can get caught in the seams of changing pads and hold onto odors.
- To get rid of odors, the changing pad should be cleaned with an appropriate cleaner daily.
- Focus on seams and creases deeply with residue buildup.
Washable Covers
Fabric changing pad covers can absorb small spills, diaper leaks, and odors over time.
- Replace soiled covers promptly.
- Wash covers regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Dresser or Changing Surface
Changing tables can hold odors from diaper cream, spills, and other residue.
- For a regular cleaning, spray a suitable sanitizing cleaner and wipe the entire surface.
- Always wipe up spills and cream immediately when you notice them.
Used Wipes
Used wipes can smell up the changing table even after the discarded diapers are gone.
- The best option after a diaper change is to immediately toss used wipes in the trash. Seal them inside the used diaper.
- Wipe the changing table surface as best you can, and try not to leave wipes even temporarily.
Diaper Cream Residue
Excess diaper cream can collect on the changing surface and attract dirt over time. So wipe away any leftover cream after diaper changes.
Blowout Clothing
Dirty baby clothes can cause awful smells and bad odors in your nursery.
- Try to get your dirty clothes to a laundry basket or a sealed hamper as quickly as you can.
- You should never leave your dirty clothes in your nursery.
Daily Reset
A quick clean at the end of the day can help prevent smells from building up.
What to do:
- Remove waste from the area.
- Wipe the changing surface with an appropriate cleaner.
- Move soiled fabrics to the laundry.
- Check that the diaper pail lid is fully closed and working properly.
For a more organized and stress-free nursery, check out our diaper changing station essentials collection.
Move Damp Laundry and Milk-Soiled Fabrics Out of the Nursery
Is there a sour or musty odor in your nursery? The root cause of that is highly likely to be damp or milk-soiled fabrics. It's not your diaper pail. Burp cloths, towels, sleepers, and changing covers often absorb milk leaks or spit-up.
You should put those things in a container outside of the sleeping area. Make sure to dry them fully before bringing them back. Don’t put them back in the nursery if you are going to wash them, and they are still damp.
Improve Airflow and Manage Humidity
The nursery probably has a lot of odors being trapped in a poor ventilation system. With lots of humidity in a closed area, mold might begin to form, which will add to the odor. There are ways to handle this.
- The best way to ventilate a space is to open the windows, but rain or safety concerns can restrict this. Keeping the windows open will allow the room to have fresh, new air to get rid of the old, stagnant air. You should also clear out any blocked HVAC vents to help air move about the room. You can also use a fan; just be sure to not point it at the baby.
- To keep a room from getting too humid, there should not be any damp fabric. Wash these as soon as possible and be sure to dry them completely. You should also dry any wet surfaces or spills as soon as possible.
- You should have professionals take care of mold, moisture, or leaks as soon as possible.
Using Air Purifiers
You can use air purifiers to improve the air quality in the room. These pull in dust and odors and use internal filters to circulate the clean air back into the room.
But please note that air purifiers do not actually remove the problem. Turn it off or remove it from the room. The sour or musty smell will return. That said, it's still better to clean the nursery and remove the odor sources. After that, you can use air purifiers to further make the nursery air cleaner.
Use Odor Absorbers Carefully
Better than fragrance that just covers up bad smells, odor absorbers help break down the compounds that create bad smells.
Baking soda and activated charcoal are popular odor absorbers people use in nurseries. These products are very easily found and accessible. Like with any product, follow the instructions given. And make sure they are stored up high and out of reach of children.
Are Air Fresheners, Candles, or Essential Oils Appropriate for a Nursery?
A nursery can hold a lot of odors, and we know that for many parents, this is a top safety concern. When the nursery has odors, it is best to reach for odor source control and not scents.
- Do not use air fresheners, candles, or essential oils as your first attempts to solve odors that linger in a nursery. Instead, consider scent-free cleaning and periodic ventilation to refresh the nursery air.
- If your baby is a newborn or has a sensitive respiratory system, it’s best to leave air fresheners and any other scented products out of the nursery and to consult your baby’s doctor first. This includes “natural” air fresheners as well as “plant-based” and “essential oil” products.
- Just because something is “natural”, “plant-based”, or “essential oil” does not mean that it is baby safe. Also, products that are “green” and “organic” and have a low level of VOCs can still irritate the sensitive airways of a baby.
For more information on nursery safety and indoor air quality, check HealthyChildren.org or the U.S. EPA.
A Simple Daily and Weekly Nursery Freshness Routine
To keep a nursery naturally fresh, it takes a little time and regular cleaning rather than putting in effort for a heavy, artificial scent to cover unpleasant smells. The routine we built channels the regular cleaning and has no complex instructions. Control your nursery smells with this guide. No added stress. No added chemicals to your nursery.
It will keep your nursery smelling fresh, and it is super simple to follow. The guide is divided into daily, every few days, and weekly tasks. Each division targets the most common sources of odors in a nursery.
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Daily Tasks:
- Put the dirty diaper in a diaper pail that seals in the smell.
- Wipe and reset the changing table after each use.
- Remove used wipes, empty baby bottles, and any damp/dirty fabrics from the nursery.
- Ventilate the nursery by opening a window.
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Every Few Days:
- Empty the diaper pail every few days and especially during hot, humid days.
- Washing the changing pad cover and any other soiled laundry is done without delay.
- Milk and other possible spills should be checked and wiped off the furniture.
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Weekly:
- Wipe down the area around the diaper pail and under the pail. (see our guide on how to clean a diaper pail).
- Dust and vacuum the nursery and all the furniture.
- Wash all the soft toys and the bedding.
- Remove filters and replace the air filters and order absorbers.
Where Momcozy Fits in a Fresh-Smelling Nursery
Here’s the reality: you can’t find a single product that will tackle every nursery odor. However, the right diaper pail can really set the foundation for your nursery odor control plan. The Momcozy Diaper Pail was created with parents in mind and includes the following features:
- Triple-Seal Odor Control: We patented a triple-seal system that captures odor whenever a diaper is (1) dropped in, (2) stored, or (3) the full bag is removed. The Rotating Viewing Ball closes with every drop and keeps the bag opening sealed during a bag change to limit any odor release throughout the day.
- Deodorizer Pack Included: A new deodorizer pack is included with each new pail to combat any odors that may still be hanging out. We do recommend you swap out the pack every 30 days.
- No Special Refills Required: A Diaper Pail that accepts standard 13-gallon trash bags is a huge money saver! It is your choice of drawstring, flat-top, or handled. In fact, to help you get started, we have even included a roll of 15 drawstring bags!
- One-Handed, Mess-Free Disposal: Easily hold your baby while disposing of dirty diapers. The diaper pail was made with an extra-wide opening and the ergonomic height to fit large toddler diapers without making you bend over. The pail keeps your hands clean by keeping the bag in place and clamping it, so lifting the bag is mess-free.
- Large Capacity, Easy to Check: This pail can hold 60 newborn diapers or 24 toddler diapers and has a capacity of 13 gallons. The transparent viewing ball shows you how close the pail is to being overfilled, so you know when to empty the pail.
- Dual-Lock Safety Design: Child safety and side fastener locks both keep the pail closed to prevent curious hands and pails from getting in and to prevent spills from the pail being knocked over.
- Modern, Nursery-Friendly Style: This sleek and minimalistic design makes the pail fit in with any decor and makes it a great gift.
The Momcozy Diaper Pail is great against diaper odors, but works best when used along with other products to eliminate other odors such as milk and other odors that come along with a baby. Visit the Momcozy diaper pail collection to find the best fit for you.
Introducing the New Momcozy Playard
As you furnish your nursery, you want it to feel fresh and inviting, and convenience is just as crucial. We are excited to introduce the Momcozy Playard. This portable crib is designed to fit your family’s needs. It’s so easy to change from bassinet to playard mode, making it the ideal choice for nap time, play time, and even overnight trips to relatives. The lightweight design makes it easy to set up in seconds, whether in your house or on the road.
Ready for a complete diaper changing solution? Pair the Playard with our changing table attachment (sold separately). You’ll get a changing table designed to fit in your Playard.
Key features include:
- Bassinet and playard modes switch with a single touch
- Lightweight design for easy setup at home or on the road
- Can be paired with a changing table attachment
- Safe, sturdy materials with a modern design
FAQ
Why does my nursery still smell after I take out the diapers?
The smell could be from other sources such as wet laundry, milk spills, or other sources. Check all places that could potentially have odors, not just the diaper pail.
Is it safe to use an air freshener in a baby’s nursery?
Air fresheners and fragrances should be the last resort for odor problems. Make sure to ventilate and clean the room regularly, and consult your pediatrician before using any product that has fragrance.
Should the diaper pail stay in the nursery or a nearby bathroom?
It is up to the available space and the routine you do. Conveniently, the diaper pail could stay in the nursery. However, a ventilated bathroom or a utility space could be better for the odor.
Can an air purifier remove diaper odor?
Air purifiers eliminate airborne particles and dust, but will not eliminate the source of the diaper odor. The main focus should be on cleaning and disposal.
How do I remove a sour milk smell from nursery fabrics?
Remove all soiled or wet fabric, clean and wash the fabric, and make sure the fabric completely dries before putting it back in the nursery.
Why does the nursery smell stale only after the door is closed?
Odors will build up over time once there is no airflow. Check all sources for potential odor sources and regularly ventilate the nursery.
Conclusion
A freshly decorated nursery shouldn’t have a heavy scent. You should find the source of the smell and then go from there. This includes taking out the diapers, removing wet or soiled fabrics, and cleaning the surfaces. This also includes ventilating the room by opening the windows.
An odor-locking diaper pail will trap the smell of the diapers and is great to have, but do not eliminate the smell if you don’t follow a daily reset routine. Choose where you are going to dispose of the diapers and what time daily you are going to clean to keep your nursery smelling fresh.
