Clearing the air: Smoke smell in my NEW apartment :(

[MamitaM]

I'm not to sure where to put this b/c it's a a little about my health and a little about making my home nicer and cleaner. I just moved into a new apartment that I hoped would be free of a strong smoke smell, but sadly it isn't. I've had a cold so my nose is a bit off and I can't tell if it's stale left over smoke from the last tenant or a fresh cigarette being smoked by a neighbor above or below me. I need advice on how to clean the air and keep it fresh and clean.

I've lived here 5 days now and have had the window open (I only have the one) for short periods of time, until my son gives a little shiver and I have to close it. I've also turned on the bathroom and kitchen fans hoping to take out some of stale air. When it gets a bit warmer I can leave the window open for a full day and see if that helps freshen it up even more. I also have one of those little glass bottle and sticks to freshen the apartment.

If this is old stale smoke that will help and end it, but if it's fresh smoke from a new neighbor I'll need to do something more to keep the air fresh and clean. I have a bad feeling that it's a fresh cigarette though b/c I get a really strong whiff sometimes and then my throat tickles. Thankfully my son doesn't seem bothered by this at all.

What can I do for that though? Opening my window daily for as long as we can handle it being open of course and I'll keep the air freshener thingy. I need cheap and simple options.

eda: There isn't any carpet in here or drapes or blinds or anything that could have smoke smell in them. The smell is in the air. I've washed the cupboards and the walls and floors and they don't smell. I'll wash the windows in the next week or so, but it's not them it's in the air.
Edited by MamitaM - 4/4/11 at 7:52pm

[Amatullah0]

Our apartment hallway stunk like smoke for, i dunno, maybe forever. maybe it still smells. I can't tell anymore. BUT, is smoking allowed in your apartment? if not, you could report it to the leasing office. If it turns out that its your apartment stinking, you might be able to get them to clean it. If you don't want to go to them for some odd reason, try renting a carpet cleaner and cleaning the walls too. 

[MamitaM]

This is Quebec! That means they don't clean anything at all when they move out! If I ask them to clean they will laugh at me. The place was actually pretty clean when I moved in compared to all the other places I've moved into here. Of course it still needed a good top to bottom cleaning when I moved in though. It also means that a lot of people smoke and there are no laws about smoking in rented apartments and God forbid you ask a smoker to stop smoking or open a window.

The last person who lived here moved out in December I think and it's been empty since then from what I can tell. If she smoked in here (and I know she did) and the windows haven't been opened in months then it could be stale air and stale smoke that I can smell. If it's stale air and old smoke leaving the window open for as long as I can for a few days in a row should help. The floor and walls don't smell at all, it's just the air. If it's a neighbor smoking below me there isn't a lot I can do. That's what I need help with. Maybe there is something I can do?

We don't have carpet in here and I'd never move into a place with carpet b/c there are no laws about cleaning apartments when you leave or smoking here.

[Amatullah0]

air purifier?

[MusicianDad]

If the walls and floor don`t smell like smoke, then it is probably the neighbours down stairs. Even wood can hold onto the smell of cigarette smoke for a long time.

I do have one thought though... If it's been sunny, or the heats been on high, there maybe something in the apartment being heated that is causing the smell. Certain things can result in odors no normally detectable to humans being released into the air when they are heated. Maybe head around the house with a hair dryer and test things. Perhaps even the floor or walls.

[MamitaM]

I think I'm going to buy a HEPA filter purifier. It's going to be years and years until they pass a by-law to make apartment non-smoking so I'll have to deal with it until then. Maybe I'll mention to the landlord next time I see him that I can smell a little smoke and see if he'll ask the neighbor to open his own window when he smokes. Hopefully he can do that and not be to upset about it. I don't know which neighbor it is and this building is much bigger then my last and I haven't met anyone here yet and I don't feel comfortable knocking on doors and asking neighbors myself.

[talia rose]

Austin Air Purifiers are 10% off until the end of the month with the code "earth" (happy earth day!)