I confess: it has been a problem most of my married life. I’ve tried several ways of dealing with this ‘problem’ and I could never find the right combination of events. What ‘problem’, you say?
The boy smell.
Ever walk in to a boy’s college dorm room? Did you have a brother?
Yes. That is the one. And it was running rampant in my bedroom.
That oily-headed-thick-in-the-air smell. How do you describe that really?
Let’s not…and move on with how to fix it.
Since implementing this new method, I haven’t smelled this scent not one time. Here’s how I keep it from coming back. It takes a little bit of work, but I’d much rather work a little harder and keep the smell at bay.
- I religiously change my sheets once a week. Besides the fact that clean sheets are one of my favorite things, it really helps keep the boy smell in check. In my current laundry routine, they are changed on Thursdays.
- I use pillow protectors. I use these pillow protectors that I purchased cheaply from Target for about $6 each. The key to these is changing them every time you change the sheets. These must stay fresh to keep the boy smell away. If your pillows ever get the smell in them, it can take some real work to remove the smell completely. So the idea here is prevention. To make sure they are always on our pillows, I have 2 sets.
- I wash our comforter and bed blanket every 5-6 weeks. I know that seems really often…and it is. More often than I’d like. But like I said, I’d rather work a little harder than have boy smell.
- I wash our mattress pad every 2.5-3 months. Again, I know this seems like a lot. But it’s really not that bad.
I know – it’s an embarrassing problem. Don’t feel obligated to leave a comment… unless you’d like me to feel better that I’m not the only one battling the boy smell. 
I’m pleased to link this post to WFMW over at We are THAT Family.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: DomesticDebacle
February 25, 2010 at 11:19 am
LOL I LOVE THIS POST! And yes, I just yelled that. Thanks for the reminder to change the pillow covers too. I sometimes forget to do it.
.-= Katie@DomesticDebacle´s last blog ..Disney Annual Pass Payment Plan =-.
Twitter: MamaLaundry
February 25, 2010 at 11:33 am
Oh I’m so glad I’m not the only one with the boy smell in the house!
Thanks for commenting, you brave girl.
-Lauren
Twitter: AnotherMomOf2
February 25, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Oh, the boy smell! I completely understand. I change the pillow protectors in between sheet changes- and I do the same for my 4 year old son!
.-= Ashley @ Just Another Mom of 2´s last blog ..Time out for Theta Mom Thursday =-.
Twitter: CrystalandComp
February 25, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Yes, yes, yes!!
Boys and men have this smell.
And when they play outside, it turns into a wet dog smell.
I TOTALLY know what you are talking about, with 5 boys and a husband.
.-= Crystal & Co´s last blog ..Once Upon a Time You Trusted Yourself =-.
Twitter: MamaLaundry
February 25, 2010 at 3:27 pm
6 total boys + boy smell = yikes!
You definitely have your laundry work cut out for you!
-Lauren
Twitter: MavenOfSavin
February 25, 2010 at 10:10 pm
WOW – you are right. Thought it was just my hubby! I have a LONG way to go, but am enjoying your blog very much!
.-= lynn @ Maven of Savin´s last blog ..20 SwagBucks available NOW =-.
Twitter: MamaLaundry
February 26, 2010 at 5:34 am
Oh Lynn….It’s definitely not just your hubby! I do believe it is universal!
Thanks for your kind words!
-Lauren
Twitter: weekendcowgirl
February 26, 2010 at 4:23 pm
I do all these things also and use Febreeze also!
.-= Weekend Cowgirl´s last blog ..New Shetland Pony for Sister & Me =-.
Twitter: MamaLaundry
February 26, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Hmmmm… I’ve never used Febreeze but I’ve heard such fabulous things about it. I’ll have to give it a try next time I have a coupon!
There is one other thing that really helps–open your windows EVERY day. I the weather is really cold or really hot, make it a short time–but still do it. If the weather is nice, open them as long as possible.
Bedrooms get stuffy every night. Opening the windows helps SO much! This is also important in the rest of the house, but especially in bedrooms.
Cheryl Mendelson goes over the proper way to air a house in her book Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House.
In the bedroom, she suggests airing the room out while the bed is unmade, and then making the bed after that. Doing that made a huge difference at my house.
Twitter: MamaLaundry
March 3, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Yes, I too am a huge Cheryl Mendelson fan.
And you’re right – she gives a great description in airing out the bedroom! Thanks for the reminder!
-Lauren
Oh my gosh – THANK YOU for this post. I have been complaining to my husband about the smell in the bedroom for WEEKS and I haven’t been able to do anything about it.
The sheets is definitely a good tip, but I hadn’t thought about the comforter. I’ll have to try that!
Twitter: MamaLaundry
April 8, 2010 at 11:51 am
Oh your’re welcome! I hope it works for you!
First, I want to applaud your courage. Your bravery in the face of this issue. (Especially in the winter… doesn’t it seem worse in the winter?)
Second, I want to thank you. I have long suspected that my husband & I were the only ones with this problem. I feel better now that I know we are not alone.
Third, I must say this: HOLY MOSES! Why have I never heard of the pillow cover thingies? I mean, seriously, people! I really must get some of those.
And since you’re making this confession, I’ll make a related one of my own. It’s a little gross. Ready? I am currently sleeping on the exact same pillow that I have had since I was about 12 years old. I know. It’s really old. And I don’t want to think about what is actually going on inside there (especially since I didn’t know about this pillow cover invention). But the polyfill has broken down perfectly (it’s like a lighter version of a down pillow). And it has lumps in all the right places. And I just can’t bear to part with it…
Especially now that I know I can stick it in a pillow cover!
Twitter: MamaLaundry
April 10, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Kelly – you are so funny.
The thoughts of that old pillow just make me laugh. You are braver than me!
The pillow covers are a lifesaver! You’ll love ‘em! Don’t buy the allergy ones unless you don’t mind a ‘crinkly’ pillow – they feel like paper and sound like it under your head!
Hope this all works for you! Thanks for commenting…
-Lauren
Oh, thank you for posting this! This has turned into a real problem in my marriage. I’ve always had a strong sense of smell and I grew up with a brother that had the same smell my own bedroom has now and I wouldn’t step foot in his room then and now if I want to sleep in my own bed i have no choice but to go in my room!
They say smells can trigger childhood memories, who wants to be thinking about their brother while laying in bed with their husband. In the morning my husband wants to cuddle and I just want to get out of the room. I love my husband very much so I’ve been searching the net for a solution. If I can get rid of the smell, you may have just spiced up my marriage!
Thanks again!
Twitter: MamaLaundry
November 21, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Monique, I’m so glad it was helpful! I totally agree – the boy smell is awful and gross.
Hope this works for you! Thanks for commenting!
-Lauren
Desperate times…I’ve resorted to putting a dryer sheet or two or twenty inside the pillow protector and under the mattress pad. Thank you for this article…now, I don’t feel guilty about it!
Twitter: MamaLaundry
April 4, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Oh I never thought about using dryer sheets! That would be great after washing the pillows. Smart
-Lauren
This is fascinating. I had no idea this was a universal guy thing! I am so relieved! Thank you for the “game plan” to combat it!!!
A couple of ideas…use 2 pillow cases on each pillow and change both each time. Another idea, have extra pillow cases and change the cases out for clean ones every couple of days. (Between sheet washing)
Twitter: MamaLaundry
January 11, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Fabulous ideas
Thanks for sharing them!
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