Do You Smell That? Why Some Homes Have That ‘Old People’ Scent?
By Ben L. – Sleep & Surface Specialist
You walk into a home and immediately catch that scent. It’s not foul, but it’s distinct — musty, sweet, sometimes powdery. Often called the “old people smell,” it clings to furniture, curtains, and the air itself.
What is it, really?
The Scent of Stale Living
That smell isn’t a quirk of aging — it’s a chemical cocktail. Research by Monell Chemical Senses Center found that as people age, body chemistry changes, producing more nonenal, a compound with a greasy, grassy odor. But that’s just the tip of the noseberg.
The real culprits?
- Trapped VOCs from decades of cleaning products, perfumes, and off-gassing furniture
- Dusty textiles like heavy curtains, carpets, and mattresses that haven’t seen daylight since the ‘90s
- Mildew and poor ventilation, especially in closed-up rooms or older HDBs with limited airflow
According to the EPA, indoor air can be heavily polluted with chemicals from everyday objects — and this buildup worsens over time when cleaning focuses only on what we see.
Why Air Fresheners Don’t Help
Sprays and plug-ins don’t eliminate the problem; they just layer scent over scent, adding more VOCs to an already burdened environment. It’s the olfactory version of putting perfume on sweaty gym clothes.
And while “that smell” is often associated with elderly homes, it’s really a signal: this space hasn’t been deep-cleaned in a long time.
What Can You Do?
- Air it out: Open windows regularly to flush out stale air — especially in spare rooms.
- Clean soft furnishings: Mattresses, sofas, curtains, and even fabric chairs hold on to odors like old secrets.
- Replace or clean carpets and rugs — they’re VOC and dust reservoirs.
- Use a HEPA vacuum and air purifier — particularly if you’re inheriting or moving into an older space.
🛏️ When the air smells old, chances are the fabric surfaces are older.
SmartClean specializes in deep-cleaning mattresses, sofas, and soft furnishings — removing the stuff you can’t see (but definitely smell).
Book your cleaning today.
Ben L. investigates the overlooked surfaces where sleep, skin, and air all collide. He believes every mattress has a story — and some are better erased.
