How to Get Rid of Bad Smells in Your Apartment: A Complete Guide

How to Get Rid of Bad Smells in Your Apartment: Causes and Professional Solutions

An unpleasant odour in your apartment can ruin otherwise enjoyable living. Most people reach for air fresheners, which only mask the problem — chemical fragrance mixes with the smell, and the result is even worse. The real solution lies in identifying and eliminating the source. In this guide, we break down the most common causes and show effective solutions.

Kitchen Odours — The Most Common Problem

Rubbish bin: The main odour source in 70% of households. Solution: take out rubbish daily, clean the bin weekly with baking soda and warm water. Place a layer of baking soda or newspaper at the bottom to absorb moisture and smell.

Sink and drain: Food residue, grease, and moisture accumulate in the trap. Weekly: pour baking soda down the drain, add hot water, then half a cup of vinegar. Let react 15 minutes, flush with hot water.

Fridge: Forgotten food, open containers. Solution: weekly content check, an open bowl of baking soda absorbs odours. Monthly full cleaning.

Dishwasher: Deposits in filter and seal. Monthly: run an empty hot cycle with a cup of vinegar on the top rack.

Bathroom Odours

Mould: Black spots in grout, behind the bathtub, around the shower. Mould grows in warm, moist environments with poor ventilation. Solution: thorough grout cleaning, improved ventilation (air for at least 30 minutes after showering), squeegee walls after showering.

Blocked drain: Hair and soap accumulation. Solution: baking soda + vinegar + hot water weekly as prevention.

Pet Odours

Pets bring specific smells — sweat, saliva, droppings, wet fur. Key is regular care: wash pet beds weekly, vacuum upholstery twice weekly with a pet-hair attachment, mop floors with pet-safe products. For deeply embedded odours in upholstery, book professional sofa extraction cleaning.

Textile Odours — Curtains, Carpets, Pillows

Textiles absorb cooking, smoking, pet, and body odours. Wash curtains at least twice yearly. Vacuum carpets twice weekly and have them professionally cleaned annually. Wash pillows every 3 months. Quick tip: baking soda sprinkled on carpet, left 30 minutes and vacuumed, significantly reduces odours.

Drain and Sewer Smells

If you smell odour from a bathroom or kitchen trap, the water seal has likely dried out. Simply run water for a few seconds to refill it. If smell persists, the issue may be in the sewer system — contact a plumber.

Prevention

• Ventilate regularly — at least 10 minutes daily, ideally cross-ventilation
• Keep humidity between 40–60%
• Use the cooker hood when cooking
• Leave shoes in the hallway, not bedroom closets
• Dry laundry outdoors or in ventilated space, not the living room

Professional Solutions from BeeClean

For persistent odours, we offer: extraction cleaning of upholstery and carpets, space disinfection, and professional deep cleaning. Check our pricing or read our eco-friendly cleaning tips.