How can I air out living room and make it smell good?

Question

Im in college, and just moved into a new house with some roomates.
The only windows are found in the bedrooms, and the front hallway and living room always feel stuffy and smelly, even though I try to keep the area clean.
What can I do to help air it out and make it smell better? Keep in mind that there aren't any windows around there.

I have a Glade plug in but that only makes everything smell more funky.

the whole house has wood flooring.

Answer 1

Give it a good cleaning with a cleaner and disinfectant(lysol) , even though the windows are in the bedrooms get the others to open them for a few hours while home. wash the floors, ceiling and walls. paint with a new color (lighter color) Get the furniture that is cloth material steam cleaned and pull up any old carpet. Once you done all of this add some oil essentials to some candles holders, heat the oils for a few minutes each day. fabreeze or use scented lysol cleaner on clothed furniture. Clean on a regular basis, get the others to help with the cleaning too.

Answer 2

Without good ventilation it will be tough. Try washing down the ceiling, walls and floor with OdoBan from Sam's Club. If not available, then whatever cleaner you can stand. Upholstery and drapes also need cleaning. Don't forget to clean as far as possible in heater vents......vacuum at least. Sniff the vents.....maybe something died back there......ick!

Invest in some room fans. Vornados were good, I haven't needed to purchase any lately so don't know if they are on the market any longer. Actually anything that will help exchange the air in the house will help.

Finally look in the cleaning section of the grocery for things like SmellsBeGone. They are a special silica (I think) that when opened and set around, will absorb foul odors.

Answer 3

Febreeze only masks the smell and makes it more funky too. I use ODOBAN which I get at Wal-Mart and it costs less than Febreeze. It kills the bacteria that causes the odor. It killed cat smell in my new house (the prev. owner had 3 inside) and my friend who chain smokes with her husband in their home started using it and now you can't tell. The best thing is, it doesn't smell like you were attacked by a florist, just a fresh light smell that goes away and takes the stink with it..

Answer 4

i would invest on a air purifier.that would help clean the air in your living room.the glade plug in only mask the smell.so i would stop using it.its not good for your lungs.so try the air purifier and see for yourself.and if you have a carpet pull it out and put in a hard wood flooring.there are cheap ones that are laminated wood just like the real thing and its not to costly.

Answer 5

Open any windows that you can and also try to get some fans running. Also spray some of that air freshener that also kills germs in the air. Maybe even light some candles.

Answer 6

Febreze... Glade only covers odors, you can aslo try Lysol.

How is the ventilation in the area?

Answer 7

I agree with MJ. I use odaban all the time in my own home. You can use it to clean most anything. It is a good disinfectant and deodorizer. Some hospitals use this product.

Answer 8

carpet fresh for pet oders by arm and hammer , also gonesh incense, what ever smells good to you , i lived in an apartment , for three years and i had a cigar smoker on top of me , and a smoker next door , incense really works check out www.goneshincense.com

Answer 9

vinegar put some vinegar in a jar and hide it it neutralize the room and not leaving it smelling like pickles i use it around the litter boxes and nobody can tell i have cats when they walk in my house

Answer 10

the only thing i know is get your landlord to put a small window in the livingroom or find a better house.