How do you get a horrible smell out of an apartment?

Answer 1

I'm guessing that since you say apartment, you're not the owner, and you're not wanting to replace the carpet!

If it's mould growing under the carpet, t hough, you should discuss this with your landlord.

Assuming that's not the case, de-stinkify by thoroughly cleaning everything that might smell.

1) walls in the kitchen, and if smokers lived there before, the rest of the house. Wash down with TSP.
2) fabrics - get the drapes and carpets steam cleaned. Pricey, I know, but worth it. Otherwise, go nuts with Febreeze, daily, for two weeks. That'll cost too!
3) Pull stove and fridge out, clean underneath them. Clean the insides of them. Vacuum the fridge coils while you're at it. There should be a drip-tray on the fridge, empty and bleach it.
4) Clean the drains, kitchen and bathroom. Put lemon slices down the garbage disposal, if you have one.
5) Wash all floors
6) Clean the toilet, sink, tub. If there's mould in the tub, put on glasses and gloves and wear old clothes. Spray with bleach, let sit, then hose it down, then scrub.
7) musty smells in closets: put a dish of ammonia in there overnight

and

8) if all else fails, is there a chance something died between walls? Like a rat? Sorry to be gross, but there's always that chance. If nothing works, talk with your landlord.

HOpe that helps!

Answer 2

You've got a couple of good answers here: It would help to know what's causing the smell. But there is a good chance that it's soaked into your carpet so you'll want to get rid of that.

There is a sort of recipe I saw for a carpet freshener that calls for powdered lemon rind and baking soda, mixed together and spread on the carpet. That will probably help considerably. Also, try vinegar and baking soda down your drains.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Where is the "horrible smell" coming from? Sink drains can often get really nasty and put off a horrible gas odor....try dumping white vinegar down your sink drains, and let it sit all day without running water through it.

Vinegar is amazing for killing nasty smells, it just depends on where the smell is coming from. Try to describe it better.

Answer 4

Just keep litter trays clean. Wash all the baskets, scrub the carpets, vacuum , maybe wash her clothes too and use a pet friendly odour remover. Bathe and brush her pets with proper dog and cat shampoo and brushes. This should remove most of the odour but unfortunately for you the pets smell can't be completely removed without removing the pets for a few days. Maybe you could get closer to the pets and get to know them. The more you get to know them the less you should care what they smell like and you'll notice it less. If all of this fails then I'm afraid you'll just have to hold your nose and bear it. Hope it works!

Answer 5

well lets see...
did you boil potatoes dry? LOL
I put a paper towel saturated with pine sol in every single corner of my house and burned a candle in every room., vacuumed and dusted and washed the floors. Sprayed my curtains and furniture with Oust
I turned on the fans, first pointed in ward to circulate all the pine-sol , candles and oust .... after 20 min pointed them out the windows to give it to the neighbor hood. lol ..Then I blew out the candles , went to lunch and prayed for a miracle.
When I got home I made pop-corn and celebrated. it was all gone :)

Answer 6

It depends what the smell is, what caused or is still causing it and where it's coming from. Try to be a bit more specific.

Answer 7

Use Oust Or Another Air Freshener.

Answer 8

change the carpet and padding. But before you lay down the new padding, spray a bleach/water mixture onto the subfloor to kill any germs.. Let dry, then put down new pad and carpet..

Answer 9

Go through spraying Febreze everywhere. Everywhere!

Answer 10

buy lots of candles and incense.. but first clean all cabinets, fridge, under stove and fridge.... if carpet hire a cleaner.. then use the incense and candles.. should help