I didn’t use the pads, I just added the oil to the water. I don’t actually have Thieves, but I have the various oils that it is made with. I think I put about 2 or 3 drops of each oil in the water.
I might try and use the pads. My daughter’s room smells like a locker room too. Her shoes smell terrible, let alone her socks and underwear. I really don’t know what to do. She doesn’t actually look dirty but she smells.
My first thought, and I hate to say it, but if you have an inside animal that is in your son’s room often, it could be peeing in there. I read a report on dogs in the house and they DO urinate in the house in small, undetectable amounts even if they’re trained to go outdoors. It’s not really a big deal since you clean/sanitize often, but even clean homes can have lingering scents if they have an animal indoors.
That said, I would love having a cat or dog indoors though, and plan to do that one day after all my kids are much bigger! 🙂
Also, I second keeping play shoes in a separate mud room!