apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I would wash the walls, and any textiles in the room that were there before you were. If that's carpet on the floor, make sure the room is as dry as possible, then sprinkle baking soda liberally on the carpet and leave for the day. Come back after a few hours and vaccume it up. Actually, if the floor is cement, this might help, too. Sachets of baking soda in muslin or old knee highs will help in the drawers and cupboards.

... a less pleasant thought: have you checked in/behind all the cupboards and appliances? There might be something there that is causing the odor.
Check anywhere that mold might go unnoticed; the second door in our bathroom is rarely used, and I just found out the door jam is moldy (EW!), so even the backs of cupboards, and lesser used drawers might need a good cleaning.

Check EVERY surface you can reach - that means inside cabinets and, if possible, under the washer and dryer, too. You never know what spots could be harboring that smell.

Case in point: my parents tried everything to get a persistent tobacco/marijuana smoke smell (left over from the previous family) out of my brother's bedroom. They re-painted, replaced the carpet and carpet padding, replaced the window screens - you name it, they cleaned it. They finally discovered the fiberglass backing on the mirrored closet doors had absorbed a lot of stinky smoke. Once the doors were replaced, the smell was gone.

BTW, leave open bowls of baking soda or vinegar in the room - sometimes that helps absorb odors. If nothing works, ask the landlord to investigate - it could be a mildew problem.

good ideas - when it warms up a little more I'll get in there and do all the deep cleaning. Until then, baking soda vinegar it is!

Thanks!

You can also buy a box of dryer sheets and leave it open wherever the smell is strongest. The dryer sheets will help absorb the smell, and also leave the room smelling like fresh laundry =D

And really, sometimes the smell will just go away eventually, with enough airing out. Our house smelled a bit funny when we first got it... not really sure what the smell was, just odd. After a few months (luckily it was spring and summer and we had tons of windows open), it faded. Now it just smells like us... or our dog! :)

A couple of other things to check out the dryer vent, you can get a lot of lint build up in the vent and this can create a musty smell. Also, any other duct work, not sure how the space is heated, but after a year of trying to find the musty smell in my space that is where it was.

Also, be wary about using dryer sheets to mask smell. It seems like a good idea, but dryer sheets are one of the most toxic elements in our laundry room and can be attributed to a long line of health symptoms.

Happy Cleaning!

Wash everything in vinegar
Open doors and windows
Re-paint

I once read that if you put baking soda and water in a crock pot, turn it on low, and leave the lid off for a few hours that it helps get rid of strong smells. It's worth a shot!

My guess is you have either a roof leak or a place where water is coming in and you may well be smelling something you cannot see because it's behind the walls or ceiling.
Or it's in the water connections.

Look hard, definitely check the roof and near/under the windows.

a persisitant musty smell like that usually indicates water intrusion, until you find the source you're probably wasting your time trying to eliminate the odor.

You're landlord should appreciate the time and trouble you take to find it!!

Is it caused by dampness? Is there a manhole to enable you to get a look underneath to check for leaks. Is a drain getting blocked? What is behind some of the appliances? Look for signs of rot, animal invasion, or damp spots (check the roof space). Look at the ventilation - lack of it can cause odours. Any blockages where air or water should circulate or run freely could also cause a smell. I think that's everything. If they are all OK then I suggest some clove oil on the light bulb to give off a pleasant smell. Or the simple solution of an open box of sodium bicarbonate - baking soda - may help.