1. Sprinkle baking soda onto the surface of your fabric furniture, carpets and rugs. Leave the baking soda overnight, then vacuum thoroughly. The baking soda absorbs odors trapped within the fibers, so when you vacuum it up, the smells disappear, as well. Then, open all the windows and let your apartment air out for at least an hour.
2. Make a 1 to 10 mixture of bleach and water, then use it to clean all the hard surfaces in your apartment. Use a cleaning rag to apply the bleach mixture to counters, cabinet fronts, walls, baseboards and doors. The bleach mixture will remove dirt and grime and leave a clean, crisp scent throughout the apartment.
3. Light candles to scent the air in your apartment once you've deodorized it. Department stores, dollar stores and even thrift stores carry scented candles in a range of colors and scents. Candles also last for several weeks at a time, making them an economical choice. Look for beeswax or soy candles over paraffin for a more delicate scent. Before you light the candle, place it on a sturdy surface far from normal traffic.
4. Create a stove-top deodorizer in place of candles. Place 3 cups of water to simmer on the stove top. Add a handful of whole cloves or a cinnamon stick. Slice an orange into eight wedges and add to the mixture. Leave the stove-top deodorizer simmering for 30 minutes, then turn it off. You can heat the deodorizer periodically throughout the day or evening for 30 minutes each time.
Things You Will Need
- Baking soda
- Vacuum cleaner
- Bleach
- Cleaning rags
- Scented candle
- Whole cloves or cinnamon stick
- Orange
Tips
- One quick way to scent your apartment is to dab a few drops of vanilla onto the light bulb in your lamp. Turn the lamp on and within a few minutes, you'll smell warm vanilla in that room.
Warnings
- Don't use scented candles if you have pets or children living with you; children and pets could easily get burned or knock candles over and start a fire.
- Never leave candles unattended. Always extinguish them whenever you leave the apartment.
Origin: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-apartment-smell-good-cheaply-44089.html