The Washington Post 132 20100822

Continued from cover.

“What’s that Smell?”-Eliminating Odors In Your Apartment

Microwave Mystery To get rid of that penetrating food odor that greets you full-force every time you try to nuke something, follow these steps:

1. Unplug the microwave and unfasten the cabinet body using a screwdriver. Slide it back slightly to clear any internal brackets and then lift it off.

2. Clean the inside using a vacuum that has a crevice tool attachment.Vacuum the fan, all the internal parts and the vents on all sides of the chamber. Do not put your hands or any metal parts into the chamber as this can cause shock.

3. Reassemble the oven and plug it back in. Fill a bowl with half water and half vinegar

4.

and microwave it on high for five minutes. The vinegar solution will loosen food particles so that you can easily wipe them out with a moist cloth or paper towel.

If the smell doesn’t go away, you may have burning electrical parts. This should be handled

by a professional. Odds are, it will probably be less expensive to buy a new microwave rather than pay to have it repaired.

Pet Problems • If urine is the problem, use vinegar or a

urine neutralizer that is available in most pet stores.

• If the smell persists and/or is embedded

in your walls, treat the area with a fast- drying sealer that can be bought at a home improvement store. This will contain the smell and keep the odors from spreading.

• If you don’t have a pet

and realize the smell is left over from a previous owner, contact your landlord. This way you’re going on record stating that it didn’t come from you– and your security deposit won’t be at risk.

Musty Aroma A musty smell is caused by the microorganisms associated with moisture or air that is not being circulated. To eliminate the smell, you need to find where the moisture is coming from. When you locate the moisture, use an antimicrobial spray to control or stop the growth of the microorganisms. Also, try opening your windows on dry days to allow air to circulate.

Sour Scent A hotel room– like odor can be very frustrating because it is more difficult to identify where it may be coming from.

• Start out with the simplest solution: an

air spray like Febreze works for many apartment dwellers who have smelled a light but consistent odor.You can also try leaving a bowl of white vinegar out for 24- 48 hours (vinegar absorbs odor).

• If the scent seems to be coming from the

carpet, try cleaning it with a steam cleaner and add OxiClean to the cleaning solution for optimal scent control.

• • Moldy smells near the walls may be cleared

up by washing the walls with a water- bleach solution of 1:10, or 1:4 if the smell is very strong.

Cigarette Stench Try these solutions to rid your apartment of this unpleasant smell.

• Place a bowl of white vinegar or activated

charcoal in the room and leave it there for 24-48 hours to absorb the smell.

• Sprinkle baking soda on carpets

and rugs and leave it overnight. Vacuum it up the next morning.

To rid the air of the

smell, wave a rag soaked in vinegar around the room.

• For small items like

hats or pillows, place the item in a sealed bag with some dryer sheets and let it sit overnight or until the smell is gone.

About this section: This editorial was produced by The Washington Post special sections department in conjunction with Apartments.com and did not involve the editorial department of this newspaper.

This editorial was contributed by Apartments.com.Visit Apartment Living on Apartments.com (http://living.apartments.com) for everything you need to know about living in an apartment. Browse useful information on landlords, leases, budgeting, moving, gardening, decorating and more.

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