marika
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Joined: February 2010
Posts: 75
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Post by marika on Feb 10, 2010 23:00:14 GMT -5
Okay, my place looks decent, but it STINKS. Part of it is paint fumes, and I'm okay with that, but the rest is cigarette smoke, guy socks, cat litter, you name it,  . I don't notice it unless I go outside for a few minutes, but when I come back in...WHEW!!! It STANKS! How do people get rid of funky smells? I've got salt lamps, I use air fresheners, and I just mopped with a rose scented floor cleaner, but it still smells gross. Opening the windows is NOT an option unless I want to have a pile of snow in my floor (I live in a basement apartment). Any ideas? |
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Post by Evelyn on Feb 11, 2010 0:43:05 GMT -5
Okay, my place looks decent, but it STINKS. Part of it is paint fumes, and I'm okay with that, but the rest is cigarette smoke, guy socks, cat litter, you name it, . I don't notice it unless I go outside for a few minutes, but when I come back in...WHEW!!! It STANKS! How do people get rid of funky smells? I've got salt lamps, I use air fresheners, and I just mopped with a rose scented floor cleaner, but it still smells gross. Opening the windows is NOT an option unless I want to have a pile of snow in my floor (I live in a basement apartment). Any ideas? Assuming that your decor does not include burning cigarettes, guy socks, or used cat litter (if it does, I suggest you redecorate immediately): - Check all your air vents, ceiling fans, & wall heaters. Take the grills off if you can, vacuum out as much dust as possible, maybe even wipe down as much as you can reach safely (but do not touch wall-heater heating elements with anything at all). If there's any sort of a filter on any of them, clean or replace it. - Shampoo your carpet. If that's not feasible, sprinkle it with baking soda, wait an hour or two, and then vacuum - the baking soda will absorb some of the smell. You may need to repeat the baking soda treatment a few times, maybe even quite a few. - If at all possible, buy an air purifier with a "HEPA" filter. They run about $50-200 bucks, mine cost $100 and is quite adeqaute for a 500 sf studio apartment. - Burn candles - not necessariy scented ones. Something about a burning flame seems to attract and neutralize some of the nastier smell chemicals. (Take all the appropriate precautions with the candles so as not to set the house afire - the smell of charred, soggy, smoked-damaged furniture would definitely not be an improvement.  ) - Boil something. Eggs, pasta, that sadly-stained white shirt, whatever strikes your fancy. The airborne steam particles will absorb some of the smell chemicals and take them along as the steam condenses onto your windows and mirrors. - If the weather ever breaks long enough for you to sweep the snow away from them, open all the doors & windows you can and let in as much fresh air as you can get. Running the bathroom & kitchen exhaust fans will help pull in even more. (If the fresh air is very cold air, weigh the nastiness of the smell against the likely cost of re-heating your apt once you close it back up - it's a judgement call.) Hope this helps. |
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Post by moonglow on Feb 11, 2010 2:53:08 GMT -5
I love my Lampe Berger. It is somewhat like an oil burning lamp but not really. It seems to help remove smells pretty well. Not cheap, and you have to use their oils or the lamp can be ruined. Try googling them.
Also I burn Japanese incense which burns cleaner than regular incense.
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Feb 11, 2010 6:18:18 GMT -5
I used fabreese....spray it on everything....it helps....hugs btt
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Post by charis on Feb 11, 2010 9:11:22 GMT -5
the humidity from damp weather is helping the molecules of odor efficiently travel to your nose.
You can buy a dehumidifier and I promise you it will reduce the smell
guy socks--buy a can of dr. scholls shoe spray--or any brand--and spray guy's shoes every night. If he is washing his feet regularly already, the spray should take care of smell. Also--if guy is not wearing cotton socks, see if he will toss out his orlon/nylon ones and try breathable socks
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Post by gini on Feb 11, 2010 10:14:21 GMT -5
marika Ah, the nose knows. I find that fabric and paper hold on to bad smells. The possible culprits are upholstered furniture, draperies, carpeting, clothing, books and paper piles. So the more of those you can buy new/wash clean/pare down/throw out, the sweeter thine air shall be. It's -4 outside where I am, but I do open the windows for the few minutes it takes me in the morning to make my bed, swipe down the bathroom, empty the dishwasher, etc. Oops, okay, I see you're in a basement apartment. Nix that idea...........you don't want to have to shovel snow inside the house, . I like to cut up a lemon, toss it in a pot of water and simmer it on the stove. Or in the microwave for 5 or 10 minutes. Lemons just smell so CLEAN. Best of luck. gini |
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mamamcd
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Joined: February 2010
Posts: 25
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Post by mamamcd on Feb 11, 2010 11:30:34 GMT -5
Boiling cinnamon on the stove will help too. I use antibacterial febreeze to freshen up fabrics, but if you don't like using chemicals, a little vinegar and water can go a long way, and I'll second the idea of sprinkling around baking soda and then vacuuming it up.
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marika
New Member
Joined: February 2010
Posts: 75
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Post by marika on Feb 11, 2010 11:53:58 GMT -5
...I'm using my patented "let's-wash-everything-in-the-house" method of de-funkifying today. I've done four loads of laundry and have four more to go. My sofa, beds, and most of my furniture is pretty new; we had to replace almost everything we owned. So I'm pretty sure the funk isn't the furniture. I did discover one stink source this morning, though-it looks like one of my cats peed in my daughter's closet, so I tore it apart and cleaned everything in it. DH now thinks I've lost my mind. He's also started to make worried noises about, "Could you be pregnant?" .... |
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Feb 11, 2010 12:20:31 GMT -5
Are you smoking indoors, or is it smoke from a previous tennant? IF you're smoking, any or all of these will help. The order listed is the order I'd try them:
Pour a layer of baking soda or borax in the ashtray. Empty and wash as often as possible--daily is best. Spray the ashtray with air freshener before adding more soda/borax; it will smell nice, and leave a film that makes it easier to clean. Keep the brush/sponge/rag that you use for washing separate from the stuff you use to clean your dishes.
You could also make a big ashtray out of a metal bucket filled with baking soda or borax, and scoop the butts out daily or as often as possible, sort of like a kitty box. Even better if the container has a tight-fitting lid. I used to flush the butts down the toilet, but that's probably not eco-friendly, so you could transfer the butts to a metal container with w tight-fiting lid that's stored outside.
My ex-BIL mounted an exhaust fan in a piece of plywood that fit in our window. You could insert it in an open window when the weather's nicer.
Any porous surface will absorb the odors. Shampoo any upholstered furniture (turn of a fan to make then dry faster,) wash any curtains, throws, blankets, etc.
If the walls are painted, you might also need to wash them. If I were doing this, I'd use a sponge mop. If that's too big a project, try the areas near the ashtrays first. If the surface of the ceiling will permit it, you should wash them, too.
Vacuum the mattress. If possible, lean it against a wall, and shampoo it. When done, lay it on the floor, place some towels on top, and walk around on them to blot up as much water as possible, then stand it back up and turn on the fan to hasten drying.
Prevention:
Vacuum the furniture and mattress as often as once a week.
Keep as many books and other porous but difficult-to-clean items as possible enclosed in cabinets with doors, or plastic totes. Books can be vacuumed with a nozzle and a soft brush, a few pages at a time. If you can't encase all your books, protect the oldest/mustiest ones.
Vacuum the carpet as often as twice a week.
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Post by sporadic on Feb 11, 2010 12:42:20 GMT -5
Marikia - why does your place stink? You first have to locate the source of the odors.
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Post by Rennie Ellen on Feb 11, 2010 14:30:38 GMT -5
Marika,
I don't know where you live, but a great product to get rid of odors (and not just mask the existing ones) is OdoBan.
You can get it at Home Depot, Sam's Club, or order it from the OdoBan website.
I have a recliner that is starting to smell funky because I sleep in it every other night. I tried Febreezing it but it now smells like Febreeze and funky mixed together, which is worse than just the funky smell. When I can afford it, I'm getting some OdoBan for my recliner. For some strange reason, my couch does NOT smell funky. I have no idea why. But I do Febreeze it once a week to keep it smelling fresh.
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marika
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Joined: February 2010
Posts: 75
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Post by marika on Feb 12, 2010 16:06:12 GMT -5
House is de-funkified!!! The "wash everything" method seems to have worked. My house still smells like smoke, but I can deal with that, since, ya know, I DO smoke, . And it helps that DH brought me lilies, ...I love lilies, because the scent just spreads throughout the whole house like incense. The cable guy didn't choke to death when he came in this morning, so I guess I did good, . Next project? The stairwell! My neighbor may let her mutt pee in there, but that does not mean I have to smell it! Whahahaha!!! I think I'll be REALLY evil and put a big ol' vase of flowers right by the front entry...see how long it takes before she "accidentally" knocks them over, .... |
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