How To Keep A Small Apartment Smelling Fresh
Nobody wants to leave work, head back to their apartment, and enter a musty, smelly environment. However, that is the reality for many people who can’t figure out why their apartment smells bad. You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered how to keep your small apartment smelling fresh.
The best way to keep a small apartment smelling fresh is to run an air purifier and regularly replace the AC filter. You must also regularly declutter your apartment, or else the fabric in the area will absorb bad, stale odors. It also helps to use a diffuser, grow some houseplants, and run a dehumidifier to reduce musty smells.
If you have pets, you must regularly groom and brush them to keep them smelling nice. Follow along as we explore how to keep a small apartment smelling fresh.
How To Make Your Small Apartment Smell Good
Keeping an apartment smelling fresh isn’t as hard as you may think, but it does take a little bit of work. Before we get started, it’s important to note that some temporary fixes, like burning incense, may backfire. For example, you may get in trouble for burning incense if it violates your lease agreement, and it’s a fire hazard.
It takes an even mixture of preventive measures and simple solutions to keep a small apartment smelling fresh. You can make your apartment smell good with a few easy solutions.
1. Air It Out Daily
It’s easy to forget how important fresh air is, especially during the peak of summer and winter. Nobody wants to let brutally hot or cold air into their small apartment. That said, it’s hard to keep a small apartment smelling fresh if you don’t air it out daily.
The best way to do this is to open the windows for at least 15 minutes per day to let stale air out and fresh air in. This air exchange can make your apartment smell much better, and in many cases, can be quite relaxing. Opening multiple windows at other sides of the apartment is especially effective, and it’s known as cross ventilation.
However, it’s worth noting that this may not work for everyone, especially if you live near restaurants or in an industrial area. In that case, you may only want to air your apartment out briefly, so you don’t let the outside smells in.
2. Use A Diffuser
Essential oils have gradually become increasingly popular over the past 15 years, and it’s with good reason. That’s especially true for homeowners who put essential oils into their diffuser to freshen their apartment. Essential oils are typically extracted from plants, like eucalyptus, mint, and lavender, and sold in small vials.
You can dilute a few drops of such oils into water and run the mixture through a diffuser. The diffuser will disperse the scent throughout the air without any combustion, and the fragrant vapors will make your apartment smell great. Some diffusers use more heat than others, but typically only enough to evaporate the liquid.
Pick your favorite scent and let the fragrant vapors fill the air, freshen your apartment, and relax you. However, you must do some research if you have pets, as some essential oils can harm domesticated animals. For example, peppermint oil and cinnamon oil can harm cats, so avoid them if you have furry feline friends.
3. Use An Air Purifier
Air purifiers are invaluable, whether you have respiratory problems and allergies or you simply live in a small apartment. As the name implies, an air purifier filters pollutants out of the air, then release a cleaner, purer air. Some utilize carbon filters or high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to purify the air in an indoor environment.
Others use ultraviolet (UV) light to keep the air clean, but those aren’t quite as common. You can’t go wrong with a HEPA air purifier, especially if you struggle with dust and other allergens in your small apartment. Air purifiers are especially useful if your apartment is poorly ventilated or if your air ducts smell musty when your AC runs.
That said, you can’t solely count on an air purifier to make your apartment smell fresh. You must regularly dust the surfaces and sweep the floors to keep up with basic maintenance. However, an air purifier can work wonders to keep an apartment smelling fresh if you keep up with chores.
4. Heat Some Wax Melts
Much like essential oils and candles, wax melts can drastically alter how your apartment smells. They are made of a blend of wax and scented oils, which are often shaped into pucks. You can place these wax melt pucks into a warmer, place a candle underneath them, and let them melt.
Some warmers feature electronic heating elements, so no candles are necessary. You may think to yourself, “Aren’t wax melts the same as candles?” While they are similar to candles, they give people more freedom, and they’re much less messy.
For example, you don’t have to worry about wax dripping onto whatever surface you set your warmer on. You can also mix and match different wax melts to create unique fragrances. The warmers themselves are often visually appealing and serve as nice decorations.
5. Grow Some Houseplants
It’s hard to explain just how much houseplants can improve any household. Not only do they look great, boost mental health, and provide a fun hobby, but they also smell good. That’s especially true if you grow geraniums, orange blossoms, and gardenias, among other fragrant plants.
You can get creative and curate a unique blend of fragrant flowers to make a particularly enticing household fragrance. The key is to space your fragrant houseplants out, so the good smells aren’t stuck in one spot. For example, you can grow some geraniums and orange blossoms in one spot and some begonias in another room.
That way, you can walk from room to room in your small apartment and smell some nice, natural fragrances. Taking care of houseplants requires patience and a consistent routine. However, it’s worthwhile for the nice decor it brings and the pleasant smells.
6. Clean The Space
No matter how hard you try, you can’t make an apartment smell fresh if it’s dirty and cluttered. Piles of clutter can restrict airflow and eventually grow musty due to moisture in the air. Naturally, this smell will spread when your air conditioner, furnace, or ceiling fans run throughout the day.
Declutter your apartment to clear some space, improve the smell, and reduce your anxiety. You’d be surprised at how much a clean home can affect your overall mental health. Never leave dirty clothes in a hamper for too long, or else they will quickly smell stale, and it’ll permeate.
It’s worth going through your closet and donating or getting rid of old clothes you don’t wear anymore. Otherwise, it will take up space and make the space smell stale until you do something about it. The same can be said for old bedding, which can absorb bad apartment odors and release them throughout the environment.
7. Groom And Clean Up After Your Pets
A pet can make an indoor space smell bad, even if you live in a huge house. However, bad pet smells can quickly get out of control in small apartments, and they can ruin the vibe. You must regularly bathe, brush, and clean up after your pets to make your small apartment smell fresh.
Brushing your pets can ensure your small apartment doesn’t get covered with cat hair. It can also keep loose hair out of your air ducts and AC filter, which can reduce musty odors. Similarly, you must immediately clean up after your pets if they have accidents in the apartment.
Dump the empty cat litter out of your cat’s litter box weekly, or else the smell will linger. It’s also worth bathing your cat or taking it to a professional groomer throughout the year.
8. Replace The Air Filter
Many landlords require their tenants to keep up with basic apartment maintenance as part of the lease agreement. In many cases, that includes simple tasks, such as replacing the light bulbs and air filters. Air filters help keep your indoor air quality nice and livable, that is, if you replace them often enough.
You must replace your AC filter every 3 months in most cases, or else the air quality will suffer. If not, you’ll notice more dust on your countertops, floors, and furniture. Even worse, you will likely notice a musty, stale odor that cannot be fixed with candles and room sprays.
Inspect the label on the existing, dirty air filter and take a picture of it. That way, you can know exactly which size and brand you should buy. Stock up on a few of them if possible, so you can replace the dirty filters as needed.
9. Use A Dehumidifier
Does your apartment smell cavernous or similar to a wet dog? If so, that is most likely because of excess moisture in the air, which is bad for many reasons beyond musty smells. For example, excessive moisture can cause mold and mildew to form in your apartment, which can create health risks.
Excess humidity can also damage your wooden floors, furniture, walls, and ceilings. Run a dehumidifier to get the moisture level in your small apartment under control. Program the dehumidifier to keep the indoor humidity level between 30% and 60% to be safe.
During the winter, the humidity level shouldn’t exceed 50% in your apartment, but it can be slightly more humid during summer. A healthy humidity level will prevent mold, protect your furniture, and keep your small apartment smelling fresh.
Summing It Up
Open your windows for roughly 15 minutes per day to let stale air out of your apartment and keep it smelling fresh. It’s also a great idea to run a diffuser with essential oils to make your apartment smell like a nice spa or fancy hotel. Regularly declutter your apartment, clean up after your pets, and replace the air filter to prevent musty odors.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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