Smelly Apartment
 

I just moved into a new apartment 2 weeks ago. They painted and put new carpet in before I moved in. I thought that is why my apartment smelled a little funny. Kind of a mix between a chemical/musty/cigarette smokey smell. It is really bothering my allergies too. I guess I have been getting used to the smell of it, but this weekend I went to my parents house (evacuating from Hurricane Charley), and when I opened up my suitcase, my clothes REEKED of the odor from my apt. I've gotten down on the ground and smelled the carpet, I don't think this is the problem. I've tried opening my windows, burning candles, and now I have boxes of baking soda lying all around to try to absorb the odor. Does anyone have any surefire ways of getting rid of a bad smell in your house? I would really appreciate it!

It sounds like mold in your insulation to me (of course I'm not a contractor, so don't take my word). And I don't think there's a quick fix to that.

Try to find the source of the smell. Paint, new carpeting, and new furniture all have a smell that can trigger allergies so maybe that's the source. I suggest you clean the apartment throughly including the refrigerator, oven, carpet and draperies. Febreeze can help eliminate unpleasant odors. Also an air purifier can really help.

If the smell is musty, it can indicate a mold problem. If that is the type of smell you have, contact the landlord and ask if there has been a leak or flood in the apartment. That can be serious and can cause health problems. It's probably the paint and new carpet causing the smell, but you never know. Good luck!

Ionic Breeze air freshener

EEK! That sounds horrible...I would contact my landlord right away! I would not be paying rent to stay somewhere like that! Could be dangerous to your health depending on what it is!

I used to work at The Sharper Image.

Those things do a crappy job for what you pay.

Definitely call the landlord.

To get the smell out of your clothes, bedding, and furniture spray it with Febreeze.

For it to be that strong of a scent that you caught a whiff of it from opening your suitcase, I'd have to say you might have some sort of mold problem in the apartment. Contact your landlord immediately and tell them you won't pay rent until the problem is fixed. If mold/mildew is the source of the problem, it can be very dangerous to your health.

I agree. One of my little sister's teachers recently married and moved into a new house. The house had a mold problem, which they didn't know. She ended up in the hospital for months. She got so sick that they had to move and DESTROY literally everything they owned...all their clothes, their wedding gifts, etc.

Talk to your landlord and demand that they check it out.

I work for a company that manages and develops apartments, and I want to caution you against withholding rent at this stage. In most states, a tenant may only do so legally if he or she first notifies the landlord of the problem in writing, and gives the landlord an opportunity to correct the problem. Then rent can only be legally withheld if the problem is a violation of code, and in some cases the rent would be held in escrow.

There have been many high profile cases in the housing industry involving toxic mold. To make a distinction, not all mold is toxic, so there may or many not be a hazard. Just don't want to worry you too much!

Sometimes it's very hard to remove evidence of all prior residents from an apartment. Heavy smoke and cooking odors are the worst. Even if the carpet has been changed, they may have left the carpet pad, or the odors may have permeated the concrete flooring below.

Do let your landlord know about this ASAP. If the company is conscientious, they'll do everything possible to fix the problem and take good care of you, as well as their building.

Good luck!

:)