how to get the smells out?

hey, i live in an apartment, and there's no cross-breeze, only windows on one wall...
sometimes it smells a bit musky. i light candles and sage (smudge sticks), but nothing sticks around long.
any suggestions? something i can leave out, so it doesn't smell funky when we're gone for a few hrs?
thanks.

 

I would try Febreze, love. You can find it in your laundry area of your store. They have plug ins or spray bottles. I think they have different ones (clothes etc), go check it out.

 

you have to get a ventilator or an air cleaner with filter.
thats the alone way to do this. the air has to be renewed and cant as ther eis only one window... so oyu need this small machine that absorb the air and clean it out.
it cost about 30-50 dollars, and is a perfct solutio for oyu also by night. it is big like a smalll handbag.. so thats perfect.

 

No, no, don't listen to her. lol Get Febreze ! NA NA NA NA !

Ok, try my way first than if that doesn't do it for ya. Go with what Lorna said.

 

I was about to say an air filter - it is your best bet, and it's a good way to both keep air clean and circulating in a room or house. Febreeze is great too, or even Lysol sells a spray with disinfectant in it, both work for immediate use, but for long term, an air filter of some kind is awesome.

Also, if you've a lot of carpet in your place, lay down some baking soda into the carpet and let it sit for about 10 minutes before you vacuum, it'll help absorb a lot of musty stuff that's there!

 

sprays MUST be use only in well aerated places cause what they contain isnt good for health..
and in a place whos main problem is aeraton it isnt good.

could be mushrooms in the walls too, as humidity cant get out. so buy those pack of stuff to hang on the roof for some days to absorb humidity, with a spand under.
repeat a week after, and use it with the air filter machine..

 

You can also use a little diluted fabric softener in a spray bottle. I use to use this back when febreeze was too costly for me. They now have generic walmart version for $1.24

 

drumminmama~we have that damp towels/old shoes smell in our place. I actually have to hold my nose when we walk in cuz of the smell...I'm not sure if it's the couches or the carpet that are doing the stinkin...the couches smell pretty horrible (time for a steam clean)...
so what should I do if it smells like that???

 

oh, and febreeze sucks...
I love it when you spray it on everything, the house smells great for a while...but the bottles are so damn expensive, and I found I was using on every 2-3 days just to keep the nice smell...that added up to about $80/month in febreeze...ouch

 

thanks drummin mama
our carpets were just professionally cleaned in feburary...not too long ago. We rent, so every time someone moves, it's done. Before feb, it was done in september.
we're supposed to be getting all new flooring in this place (of course, since we rent, I have no idea when that is going to happen) so if there is a problem I'm sure it'll be found then...I'm a little iffy about peeling up a carpet in a place we rent....
as for the couches.........we live on the 4th story, lol, and I don't have the slightest clue how I would get them outside! But that really is an awesome idea...I'm forever putting stuff out on our little balcony so the sun can hit it. I cannot wait til we move to an acredge (sp?) and I can set up a clothes line and hang everything outside, lol
But yeah, I am definately getting the couches professionally steam cleaned in the summer...I still have no idea what's causing it, so hopefully the cleaning will do them some good. The smell is littlerally neauseating (sp?)
The humidity here isn't overly bad at all. Funny, as it's gotten warmer here, the apartment has been smelling better, but the windows and balcony doors are also contsantly opened now. OY...

 

yea, me and my fiance as well as my unborn baby bun still bakin in the oven just moved into an apartment with that musty smell.... i just keep windows open and a fan or two going and burn nag champa and sage and such and it seems to help abit... untill i am gone to work and come home to smell it the same.... uhhhggg... so i think that a carpet shampoo may help or an air filter.... but i was wondering do you think that it may get worse in the winter with all the windows closed?????

 

I would definitely say try vinager

leave a bowl of it sitting on the counter while your out, boil it on the stove, put some in a spray bottle and lightly spray everywhere--the vinager smell goes away pretty quick and leaves everything smelling amazing

just a thought

 

leave charcoal under your couch for a day or two. no really noticeable odor to it, but it will absorb the smells of the room way better than any stupid flower-scented crap. prob cheaper, too. change it out with new charcoal every couple of days. my saturn has bad gaskets that leak profusely, so i do this after every rainstorm and it truly helps. i think it'd be a good solution for barefoot since she can't sun her stuff.

 

We had that problem and we got an air purifier. It makes a real difference-smells like fresh mountain breeze-haha...at least that's what the package said-I don't know what the mountains smell like

 

hmmm i did not know that... it doesnt seem like insense would be as bad as cigarettes though..

 

may not be AS bad, but incense is made from chemicals and such...

 

Get an ozone generator...cheap & VERY effective...my cat got locked in my car for 3 days (dont ask LOL) and that was the only cure i found to help at all, ran it in there for a couple days then sprayed febreze & it smells as good as new!

I also use it in my house for mold in the basement & cigarette smell.

If you leave it run too long though while you are in the room with it, your eyes will get a bit scratchy!! LOL it usually takes about 2 days for that to happen though.

Good luck