8 Tips to Eliminate Odors

You’ll want to clean your apartment on a regular basis in order to eliminate odors. Depending on your neighborhood and the climate where you live, it might not be an option to just throw open the windows and doors to air the place out. There are also a number of problem spots that you can forget to clean regularly, and these can contribute to unpleasant smells as well. Here are 8 tips to help you eliminate odors in your apartment.

1. Carpet Cleaning

This involves more than simply vacuuming the floor. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and leave it there for a few minutes. Baking soda absorbs odors well. Vacuum after using baking soda to help keep carpet odors down. It may be costly, but you should consider having your carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year.

2. Trash Cans

If your trash can starts to smell, it’s time to give it a good cleaning. Rinse it out with a hose (go to the car wash if you don’t have access to one), and give it a good soap and water scrubbing. Once it’s clean you can let it air dry before using it again.

3. Kitchen Sink

Pour some drain clog remover down the sink, because food can occasionally get stuck there. Scrub the sink out with soap and water.

4. Garbage Disposal

Sometimes small pieces of food can get stuck in the garbage disposal. Unplug the disposal before working on it. Wear some rubber gloves and remove and food that’s stuck in it. Have your landlord or his maintenance person work on the garbage disposal if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself. Another tip is to grind up some acidic citrus fruits in the disposal, such as lemon or grapefruit wedges.

5. Kitchen Stove & Microwave

These can give off more subtle odors that invade your kitchen. Clean your stove burners and the inside of the oven every few months. This should be done more often if you cook on a regular basis. Scrub out the inside of the microwave as well.

6. The Refrigerator

Not only should you scrub out the inside of the fridge, you should also pull it out and clean underneath it. This can be a nasty job if it’s never been done. Bits of food and drink can accumulate there, and mold can build up over time as well. It may have an absorbent pad underneath it that can be pulled out and replaced. If you’re not comfortable doing this job yourself, have your landlord take care of it.

7. The Bathroom

Mold and mildew grow over time in the bathroom, because of the moisture and steam from constant use. Give it a good scrubbing with sponges and cleaning supplies.

8. Furniture

Couch cushions should be aired out give the furniture a good cleaning. If your furniture is made of any type of cloth that can absorb odors, sprinkle it with baking powder. The vacuum it with a small hand vacuum.

Those are some of the most common spots in your apartment that can build up odor over time. If you stay on top of cleaning your apartment, it can go a long way toward eliminating odors.