How to Get Rid of Care Home Smells & Improve Air Quality

Be a home of diginity, not neglect

Your care home is a sanctuary of care, dignity, and comfort — or at least, it should be. Yet, in a home where there's a persistent and unpleasant smell, it feels like a place of neglect. It gives an immediate bad perception to visitors. But there’s a fix for this: the Smell Away® Odour Neutraliser. 

The impact of odours on occupancy rates

Occupancy rates in care homes are influenced by odour management and air quality.

Poor odour management can lead to negative reviews and lower ratings by UK regulatory bodies.

By ensuring good odour control and cleanliness, care homes can not only enhance resident well-being but also boost their reputation and attractiveness, leading to higher occupancy.

Care homes with high standards of cleanliness and pleasant smells tend to have better occupancy rates, because no one wants to leave their loved ones in a smelly home. They want a home that conveys a sense of comfort and dignity.

Smells linger, not just in the air, but in the memory.

HIgher Care Quality Commission ratings often correlate to better financial performance

According to The Carer, care homes with a higher Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating, which often correlates with better management of aspects like odour control, see improved profitability margins and higher occupancy.

Specifically, homes with "outstanding" ratings perform better financially and are more likely to operate at higher occupancy levels compared to those with "inadequate" ratings​.

When odour management goes wrong

Bad odour management contributes to a concerning experience for residents and shows up in Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports. 

For instance, in early 2024 a care home in Plymouth was reported by Plymouth Herald to have poor conditions, including being cold and having persistent odour problems. Residents experienced substandard care, which led to a negative inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 

Simarily, a care home in Gosport was found to have safety and hygiene issues, including stained and odorous carpets that contributed to an overall environment of concern, as reported in Portsmouth News. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the home as “Requires Improvement”.

And lastly, in another story, a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report stated that a care home shut after neglect went unchallenged. As the BBC wrote, the report stated that “There was an overpowering malodour which pervaded into the corridor outside the room."

The easy and cost-effective way to manage odours and air quality in care homes: Smell Away®

Effective removal of odours and airborne pathogens

The Smell Away® Odour Neutraliser offers an effective solution by eliminating a wide range of odours, and also airborne dust, dirt, and pathogens. 

It neutralises odours caused by urine, incontinence, hygiene issues, and general living conditions. It contributes to a healthier environment for residents, staff and visitors alike.

All you have to do is simply plug it in, move it away from a wall and switch on. You'll experience cleaner, fresher air in your care home.

With advanced air purification technology, it’s suitable for common areas, private rooms, or any space where maintaining air quality is essential.

Depending on how bad the odours and air quality are (and how big the room is), you may find that 30 minutes per day is all that's needed. If the odours are strong or deeply ingrained, the Smell Away® will need be left for several hours a day.

Less than half a penny to run per hour

This versatile device can be left running for hours (if needed), purifying large spaces at a cost of less than half a penny per hour in electricity.*

Its low energy consumption means it can be left on for hours, ensuring a consistent level of air cleanliness with minimal running costs. This makes it ideal for care homes needing an affordable, reliable solution to enhance air quality.

The Smell Away® uses just 14 watts (14W) of electricity per hour, meaning that the average UK customer pay less than half of 1p to run the Smell Away® an hour.* 😊

*Here's the maths to get to "less than half a penny per hour" clain: the Energy Saving Trust report that the UK national average price per pence of kWh of electricity is 22p (£0.22), as of July 2024. So the calculation for Smell Away® usage is: 0.014kWh x 22p = 0.308p … less than half a penny.

Built to last

The Smell Away® is powerful. 

It's also strong.

It can run continuously for hours, when needed.

Some of our customers have to do this when they're experiencing particularly strong or persistent odours. 

The Smell Away® filter will last 1-2 years of heavy use, and replacement filters can be purchased for a reasonable price, with free UK delivery within 2 working days. 

Easy to use: how to use the Smell Away®

• Place the Smell Away® on the floor and keep it upright. For safety, always place the Smell Away® on a firm surface and in a place where it is not likely to be knocked over.
• Place the Smell Away® near the source of the smell and do not place it right next to anything.
• The Smell Away® will work best if you close doors and windows in the room. If you can’t, not to worry, it will just take longer to clear the smells.

As seen in The Carer magazine

We are proud to be featured in The Carer magazine, a one-stop trade and digital publication for the independent nursing and residential care home sector. See the Smell Away® feature.

We're so confident you'll be satisfied with your Smell Away® that you can return it within 30 days of purchase, even if you've used it, for any reason.

See our full returns and refunds policy.

Give the Smell Away® Odour Neutraliser a try - you won't be disappointed.