A Breath of Fresh Air: Harnessing Microbes to Mitigate Odors in the Built Environment

Maintaining a fresh and clean-living space is not an easy feat. Homeowners often face challenges such as pet accidents, spills, and waste bins that can lead to unpleasant odors lingering in their homes. To address these issues, we explore incorporating microbes into cleaning formulations. Here we delve into the benefits of the bacterial genus, Bacillus, in tackling odors found in the home (or built environment). These microbes possess the distinct ability to enter a durable, shelf-stable spore form and respond to their surroundings by producing a diverse range of enzymes to degrade soils that often remain behind after using traditional, chemical-based cleaners.

The benefit of chemical-based cleaners can be short lived or simply rely on fragrances to mask the source of odor instead of tackling its root cause. Conversely, microbe-based cleaners may offer a unique benefit to routine cleaning by remaining on surfaces and acting on residual soils that lead to odors. Here, we highlight key considerations when formulating with microbes and demonstrate that Bacillus can remain behind on surfaces ready to respond when presented with common odor-causing soils. AOCS members who work with formulation components for cleaning products may find this discussion on microbial cleaning solutions relevant.