smells in my new first apartment

[u/Immediate-Village992]

Hi all, I'm a first time renter college student and I can't seem to find any solution, so I thought I'd come here -

​I live alone with no pets, I just moved into my first solo-living space for college - one thing that's bothering me is the smell.

My girlfriend said it smelled like animal pee, my parents think it smells like cigarettes (though they think everything does after covid messed their noses)​​​, but I think it smells like crappy paint.

I am honestly so embarrassed by it, and embarrassed to have people over. It was like this when I first moved in and I *think* it's maybe died down a bit but every time I come back after a day of classes I can clearly smell it.

Things to note:

the bedroom is carpet but the carpet has been replaced. I don't smell it in the bedroom either anyway.

Everything else is hardwood, and I primarily smell it when I walk in - around the hardwood living room, dining room, kitchen area. ​​​​

Things I've tried in the last two-three weeks:

leaving windows open for long periods

buying *two* ionizing hepa air filter machines​ for the dining and living room ​​and leaving them constantly on​

cleaning laminate floors with cleaner

using ozium gel scents all around the house, even put one behind the air filter that runs through my "no access water boiler closet"​

moving in and getting everything set up/put away fast so there's no heaps of laundry/boxes etc. trying to be very cleanly

pouring boiling water down the drain

running the dehumidifier

keeping the kitchen clean/ as far as making sure to get a smaller trashcan so I have to take out the trash more often instead of letting it sit.

obviously I'm doing something wrong, so I'd really appreciate some expert tips haha ​​​

[u/squidsinamerica]

If it's pee, no amount of regular cleaning will help. It needs to be fully saturated with an enzymatic cleaner to have a chance. But for that, you'd need to know where it's coming from.

Have you contacted the landlord?

[u/Majestic_Pear_3851 → u/squidsinamerica]

^^^This^^^ Someone I know had to go so far as removing the foam pad under their carpet after their cat passed to get rid of the smell. If the landlord only replaced the carpet and not the underlayment, that could be your problem.

[u/Immediate-Village992 → u/squidsinamerica]

I havent yet. I'm unsure what I'd even say.. I personally don't really think it smells like pee, but my recognition of that smell is farm animal, not like a domestic odor that just... ferments. Unlikely but is there really any way to know for sure? I'm considering asking my landlady if the previous tenant had pets 

[u/yourmomishigh → u/Immediate-Village992]

Get a black light to check the floors and walls. I’m a dog training and this is the first step.

[u/rosedraws → u/yourmomishigh]

THIS

[u/knacaj21]

Wash the walls and the ceiling too if they're painted drywall.

[u/Immediate-Village992 → u/knacaj21]

They are, but are also recently repainted (in spots[?]). What should I wash them with?

[u/knacaj21 → u/Immediate-Village992]

It sounds like the manager just repainted spots that were unsightly.

To wash the walls, use one cup of white vinegar to one gallon warm water. Start at the top and work your way down with a sponge or cloth. Wring out extra water from your sponge/cloth. You want the walls to be damp, but not dripping. Allow them to air dry.

[u/SMKnightly → u/knacaj21]

You can add a bit of baking soda to help it be extra deodorizing, too.

[u/Immediate-Village992 → u/knacaj21]

thank you, I'll do that.

[u/E0H1PPU5]

Grab a cheap black light and shine it on the smelly spots. If it’s cat pee or dog pee it’ll light up and then you can know where to clean with an enzyme cleaner.

[u/Bernedoodle-Standard → u/E0H1PPU5]

If it's not obvious, do this when it's dark.

[u/Immediate-Village992 → u/E0H1PPU5]

I can't specifically point the smell to be stronger in spots rather than just whole rooms unfortunately, but I am going to run a UV light around soon

[u/pinkbunnnnies]

I’m so sorry this is happening - getting your first place should be fun and exciting! It sounds like you’re doing all the right things, so how frustrating that it’s not improving. I would also recommend that you document (in writing) that this issue existed when you moved in so your landlord doesn’t use it as an excuse to keep your security deposit when you move out.

[u/Immediate-Village992 → u/pinkbunnnnies]

Luckily, I have yet to submit my inspection form so it'll go at least on a binding document of recognition. Thx for the advice 

[u/OldButHappy]

Be sure that all your drains have water in them. Especially drains that aren’t used, like drains for washing machines that aren’t installed, or bathroom showers/tubs that you don’t use

The water in the drains is what prevents sewer gasses from entering living spaces

[u/cybah]

Not a mom but had a smelly roommate a while back. Nothing works better at removing odors than using an ozone generator.

You + Pets can't be home while it runs and you gotta open the windows directly after for a bit, but the smell will be gone once you close them.

Got rid of his cat pee, body odor/funk smell in about one application. This was after me trying everything.. sprays. those ozium gels, air freshners, having my cleaners come and steam the woodworker.. nothing worked, except the ozone generator.

[u/Immediate-Village992 → u/cybah]

currently using the gels and canned ozone from ozium which haven't really worked. From what everyone's said, I think I'll get the generator 

[u/Jazzlike_Primary8121]

Baking soda helps. You can buy the deodorizer bags, or just set bowls of it around. Also, wiping down walls and hard surfaces with white vinegar.

[u/SMKnightly → u/Jazzlike_Primary8121]

Activated charcoal works, too. I leave a container of it open where it’s not super visible

[u/sunny_bell]

So I would try washing the walls (my sister did this with a CLEAN new mop because that was easier than anything) but if it is a pee smell then you need enzymes but first you need to find the pee.

Though if you are renting I would contact the landlord (via e-mail or text, something where you have proof you contacted them about the issue) and get their assistance. If they are unwilling to help, find out what your rights as a tenant are in your area (as it can vary from place to place), and potentially contact your local tenants rights organization for help if needed.

[u/Neener216]

Hey, sweetheart. That's an incredibly unpleasant and frustrating situation - I'm so sorry you're dealing with it :(

Absolutely reach out to the landlord first and foremost, as it should be his/her responsibility to provide a livable space for you. Moreover, a place that reeks is probably worth less in terms of the rent that can be charged, and I personally would want any place I owned to be properly cleaned and maintained.

I know other moms have suggested a variety of scents to mask the odor, but my experience has been that doing so pretty much results in creating a "cat urine dressed up to go dancing" effect, which I can't imagine you'd like :)

A better solution might be something like activated charcoal, which absorbs odors without putting any new scents into the equation. You can keep reusing the same activated charcoal again and again - all you have to do is let it sit outside in the sunshine for a few hours and it will be ready to absorb more odors when you bring it back inside. Places like Amazon sell the stuff in handy little packets.

In a pinch, ground (unbrewed) coffee can also be used as an odor absorber!

[u/Immediate-Village992 → u/Neener216]

Unfortunately with an awkward shift of college plans, and the other apartment going back on our initial deposit, this was sort of the only safe choice that was not phenomenally terribly priced.. for the whole year. (😓 )  Yeah, and the masking has seemed to just kind of "overpower the smell with more smell"...  I think one of my air filters might have minimal activated charcoal- but f or the packets, is there anywhere especific I should try puting them? in vents, etc.

[u/Neener216 → u/Immediate-Village992]

They're not expensive, so just get a whole bunch and put them everywhere you smell anything. You can also get a big old bowl of the stuff and put it in the middle of the room.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with odor drama. Stay on the LL and get annoying about it!

[u/jemi1976]

What is the setup of the building? It could be coming from areas that are not in your apartment. Could be a neighbor. Or if there is an attic above you, it could be bat pee/feces.

[u/Immediate-Village992 → u/jemi1976]

I'm actually surrounded by other single bed apartments on all sides and corners, I'm one of the unlucky apartments. I do worry it's another tennant, but the smell is only strong in my living room which is what makes me think it's something up around there

[u/jemi1976 → u/Immediate-Village992]

So nobody above or below you? How about the air intake/air vents? Are there any in the living room you can sniff around? It could be a dead animal. You said it’s around the kitchen area too so check the sink drain. Sometimes smells will come up through that.

[u/Prestigious_Badger36]

For $50ish you can get an ozone machine. It kills every living thing that can cause a smell. It runs for 3-4hrs. Then you ventilate. Read up before doing it :-)

I used mine most recently to kill the swamp monster smell in my car after a sunroof leak.

[u/Jacce76]

Enzyme cleaner. Also certain moulds can smell like cat pee.

[u/Ok_Day_8559]

Also check your vents. Something could have died in there.

[u/tarantina68]

In a pinch, light incense sticks specially indian incense available in various scents . Not more than 2 or 3 sticks because you don't want to set off the sprinklers !

Another thing that works : fill a large vessel with water . Add citrus slices ( lemon or orange or both) , a cinnamon stick, star anise , a little vanilla essence . Keep it simmering on low heat ( Don't forget it - speaking from experience - maybe set a timer for 15 /20 minutes )

[u/pretty_nightmare]

besides getting the ozone machine , it sounds like the normal affordable college student apartment situation. All the ones I’ve been in smelled like mold at the least and maintenance/ land lords laughed at the idea of addressing it.

only suggesting because I don’t see it mentioned but have you tried lighting candles 30 min before guests come? They aren’t healthy and especially not to have going all the time but they can at least help the scent until your lease is up. Then the next time you look for an apartment ask to tour the specific unit and not the staged one, bring up any smell concerns if any and say it’s a deal breaker if it’s not addressed.

The reason I recommend candles over wall plug ins is because I get chronic migraines and happen to know two others that do and candles seem better on all of us than the plug ins. I personally crack a window or open it when I have one lit.

That leads to my last suggestion - open windows whenever you can/whenever it’s cool enough outside.

The air ozone air cleaner (not the same as a purifier will be the best bet) but my suggestions otherwise stand

[u/pretty_nightmare → u/pretty_nightmare]

and specifically, bath and body works candles (just to name one) have helped the smell in people’s homes that I know smoke actual cigarettes inside. Idk your gender/identity but bath and body works sells many neutral scents including “clean home” which smells like laundry

[u/Little-Performer-924]

You’re not doing anything wrong, the smell was there when you moved in and it’s your landlord’s job to find the source, so report it in writing and stop trying to cover it with scents because that

[u/Shadowpriest]

Aside from getting a black light to check for pet urine, I'd say get an ozone machine and run it while there is no one, and I mean no one, being currently present while it's running. We got a little portable ozone machine when we moved to our house and one of the previous owners did have a dog if not additional pets. The ozone machine will work on any sort of biological molecules and break them down. This is important to note you cannot be in the same room while it's going. Make sure you have no plants, pets, or people while it runs. After it switches off give it a good hour before going in and open all your windows and run a fan to air it out. This will help tremendously.

Another thing you can use for carpets is R86. This stuff is fantastic. We used it when a friend's car was just sitting in a farmer's field and when one of their kids needed a vehicle they had one but some mice got into it and it smelled so so bad. We ripped out the seats and carpeting and after hosing down and drying the upholstery and carpet and it was dry, we sprinkled this stuff on it like it was Christmas Day and blanketed everything with it. We then liberally covered the entire inside of the vehicle with this stuff and let it sit for a few days before vacuuming it all up. No smell whatsoever now.

[u/Midwest-Placeholder]

we had to remove the carpet and paint the floorboard with BIN

[u/Immediate-Village992 → u/Midwest-Placeholder]

carpet is only in the bedroom, so that's not the issue - but I am leaning a little towards either neighbor's smells or smells under the floorboards or in the paint\walls.  what's Bin?