How to Get Rid of Smoke and Other Odors in an Apartment

Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Why does my apartment smell?” If you live in an apartment or a multi-family building, it’s possible the smells from your neighbor’s home are spreading into yours. From food to smoke to pet odors, Zillow explains that smells can move through central ventilation systems, pipe shafts or cracks in the walls.¹

Some of these smells are more of an annoyance, while others may be more serious and might require attention. To determine how to resolve the situation, find out where the smell is coming from and what is causing it. It might be one of the best things you ever do to make your apartment a better place to live.

Cigarette Smoke

Cigarette smoke is one of the most persistent and challenging odors to eliminate from an apartment. The smoke contains thousands of chemicals that can penetrate deeply into fabrics, carpet fibers, walls, and even ventilation systems. In addition to drifting into other spaces, cigarette smoke can leave small particles on fabrics, making the odor long-lasting, even after the smoker moves out. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), the following can help temporarily absorb or help neutralize cigarette smells²:

• Baking soda: Sprinkle some baking soda on affected fabrics and let it sit for a couple hours. Then vacuum up the powder (and maybe the smell).
• Coffee grounds: Wrap coffee grounds up in filters and spread them throughout your home to help neutralize some of the smoke smell in the air.
• Vinegar: Pour some vinegar into bowls and put each one in a different room overnight to cancel out some of the odor while you sleep.
• Charcoal: Put charcoal into bowls scattered around your home to help counteract the cigarette smell.

Top-to-Bottom Cleaning Approach

To effectively remove cigarette smoke odors, you’ll need to clean systematically from top to bottom:

• Start with the ceiling and walls: Mix a solution of warm water and white vinegar (1:1 ratio) or use an ammonia-based cleaner. Wipe down all surfaces, including light fixtures, ceiling fans, and air vents. Don’t forget to clean switch plates and outlet covers.
• Address fabrics and soft furnishings: Remove all curtains, drapes, and washable fabric items for deep cleaning. For upholstered furniture, use a steam cleaner or hire professional cleaning services. Sprinkle baking soda on cushions and let sit for several hours before vacuuming.
• Deep clean carpets and rugs: Vacuum thoroughly, then use a carpet cleaning solution specifically designed for odor removal. For severe cases, professional carpet cleaning may be necessary (or consider replacing the carpet entirely).
• Clean all surfaces: Wipe down all furniture, baseboards, windowsills, and any other surfaces with appropriate cleaners. Wood surfaces may need special wood cleaners to avoid damage.
• Don’t forget hidden areas: Clean inside drawers, cabinets, and closets where smoke particles can accumulate.

Pet Odors

Pet odors can be particularly challenging because they often involve organic compounds that penetrate deep into surfaces. Whether it’s from urine, feces, or general pet smells, these odors can become embedded in carpets, furniture, and even subflooring.

Immediate action steps:

• Clean up any accidents immediately using paper towels to absorb as much liquid as possible
• Apply an enzyme-based cleaner specifically designed for pet odors, as these break down the organic compounds causing the smell
• Avoid using ammonia-based cleaners on pet urine, as the smell can attract pets back to the same spot

Deep cleaning solutions:

• For carpets: Use a wet vacuum or steam cleaner with pet-specific cleaning solutions
• For hard surfaces: Clean with a mixture of white vinegar and water, followed by an enzyme cleaner
• For furniture: Use upholstery cleaners designed for pet odors, or consider professional cleaning

Prevention and maintenance:

• Wash pet bedding and toys regularly
• Maintain proper ventilation in areas where pets spend time
• Use air purifiers with HEPA filters to capture pet dander and odors
• Regular grooming can help reduce overall pet odors

Natural odor absorbers for pet smells:

• Activated charcoal placed in breathable containers
• Baking soda sprinkled on carpets before vacuuming
• White vinegar in small bowls placed around the room

Cooking & Food Smells

Food odors can range from mildly annoying to overwhelming, especially when they come from strong-smelling dishes like fish, garlic, or spicy foods. These smells can linger in fabrics, stick to walls, and circulate through ventilation systems.

Immediate solutions:

• Turn on exhaust fans while cooking and leave them running for at least 30 minutes after cooking
• Open windows to create cross-ventilation when weather permits
• Cover pots and pans while cooking to contain odors
• Use splatter screens to prevent oils and food particles from spreading

After-cooking cleanup:

• Wipe down all surfaces, including stovetops, counters, and backsplashes
• Clean or replace range hood filters regularly
• Wash dishes immediately to prevent lingering food odors
• Take out garbage containing food scraps promptly

For persistent cooking odors:

• Simmer a pot of water with lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, or vanilla extract
• Place bowls of white vinegar around the kitchen overnight
• Use activated charcoal or commercial odor absorbers
• Clean kitchen textiles like curtains, towels, and tablecloths more frequently

Long-term prevention:

• Install or upgrade exhaust fans to more powerful models
• Use an air purifier in the kitchen and dining areas
• Keep baking soda in the refrigerator and replace regularly
• Consider using a splatter screen and keeping lids on pots while cooking

Other Common Odors (Paint, Garbage, etc.)

Beyond pet and cooking odors, apartments can develop various other unpleasant smells that require different approaches to eliminate effectively.

Paint fumes and chemical odors:

• Ensure proper ventilation by opening windows and using fans
• Place bowls of activated charcoal or baking soda around the room
• Use an air purifier with a carbon filter
• Consider using low-VOC or no-VOC paints for future projects

Garbage and waste odors:

• Empty trash bins regularly and clean them with disinfectant
• Use trash bags with odor-blocking properties
• Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of garbage cans
• Keep a small container of baking soda near trash areas

Mold and mildew smells:

• Address moisture problems immediately by fixing leaks and improving ventilation
• Use dehumidifiers in damp areas
• Clean affected areas with a mixture of water and white vinegar
• For severe cases, consult professionals for mold remediation

General musty odors:

• Improve air circulation with fans or by opening windows
• Use moisture absorbers like silica gel or calcium chloride
• Clean and replace HVAC filters regularly
• Consider professional duct cleaning if odors persist

To help lessen any other various household smells, Almanac.com suggests using baking soda, vinegar or other odor-eliminating items around the home³, such as:

• Salt
• Coffee grounds
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Vanilla

Whatever the odor, if you are bothered by a bad smell coming from another apartment, the New York Times says the first step could be talking to your neighbor. They may not be able to change anything immediately, but if they are aware they are causing an issue, they may be more courteous when possible. If not, you can get the landlord involved to help mediate the situation. Regardless, look at your lease and find out what your apartment’s rules are in this type of situation.

Is the Smell Coming From Your Apartment?

Finding out the offensive odors might actually be coming from your apartment may be hard to take, but if you are the one causing the problem, you generally want to help remedy it. If you are a smoker and your neighbor complains, the Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests taking it outside and away from the building so you aren’t subjecting other people to secondhand smoke in enclosed spaces.4

Should a neighbor complain about smells, start by being more aware of the things you do and make a greater effort to help keep your home cleaner going forward. For instance, an air purifier with a charcoal filter may help combat the smoke in your home, says The New York Times.

InterNACHI also offers the following tips for removing smoke odors from your home:

• Ventilate each room by keeping all doors and windows open when you are home (if weather permits).
• Clean your light bulbs, as they may attract smoke residue and disseminate the smell when turned on and heated.
• Have your carpet professionally cleaned to remove as many smoke particles as possible.
• Wash hard, non-wood surfaces with ammonia-based cleaners.

No one wants to deal with a bad smell from a neighbor’s apartment, but by trying these suggestions, you might be able to better cope with your neighbor — or become a better neighbor yourself.