Say Farewell to Lingering Smells – 5 Ways to Refresh Your New Apartment

You take a quick walk through your new apartment and notice something. It doesn’t smell that good. The apartment has been vacuumed and cleaned, but it didn’t get rid of some lingering odors left by the last tenants. Let’s look at five ways you can refresh your new apartment and say farewell to those malodorous odors. 

Wash the Walls 

Walls seem to soak up strong odors. A good way to get rid of any build-up on the surface is to wash it down with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This will help remove residual smoke, tar, and dirt. You may have to go over it a couple of times to remove it all. Rinse it down with clean water. 

Use Essential Oils 

Another way to freshen up the smell of your new apartment is through the use of essential oils. Add a few drops in the filters of your heating and cooling vents. Mix a few drops into baking soda, sprinkle on the carpet, and vacuum it up. Make your own cleaning products using baking soda, vinegar and a few drops of oil for scent. 

Place Cedar Rings in Closets, Cabinets, and Drawers 

Cedar rings offer an easy way to deodorize closed in spaces like closets and kitchen cupboards. Place one on a hanger in each closet. Tuck one in the back of your cabinets. Slip one into your sock drawer. 

Deep Clean the Carpets 

Carpets soak in odors. The carpets in your new apartment may or may not have been deep cleaned before you were supposed to move in. If you are dealing with lingering odors, it’s a good plan to have the carpets deep cleaned to remove the smell. 

Wash the Windows and Window Coverings 

Tobacco smoke residue can coat glass and leave lingering smells. Use a quality window cleaner and wash the windows. You can make a paste with baking soda and white distilled vinegar. Place it on furniture, appliances and walls that smell. Wipe clean after it’s soaked the smell for a couple of hours. Repeat as necessary.  If the apartment came with blinds or other window coverings, wash them down as well. It will help reduce the odors you have to deal with. 

Paint the Walls 

If cleaning the walls doesn’t do the trick, you may have to paint them. Paint can provide a barrier between the smell-producing substance and the apartment. Hiring local painting services professionals to do the work will ensure a thorough job and not add to your moving hassle. 

Use these tips to give your new apartment a pleasant smell. It will cover up lingering tobacco or pet residue smells and will make it enjoyable to live in your new home.  It will make your new place that much better than your last.