6 ways to make your Toronto apartment smell better

If you’ve just moved into a new Toronto apartment, or you’ve had yours for a while, and every time you walk in, you cringe at the scent, this list is for you.

There are some awesome, cheap and natural ways to make your apartment smell better – very handy if you have friends or family coming for a visit. Give these a try and let us know how it goes.

1. Simmer smelly stuff on the stove.
   Invest in some cinnamon sticks, lemons, oranges, ginger and/or cloves. Pop them in a pot of water and bring it to a boil on the stove. Let the concoction boil for a while until your apartment starts smelling nice, then take out the ingredients or at least just the cinnamon sticks. You can dry them off and use them a few more times.
2. Or use the slow cooker.
   Rather than waiting around at home to release good smells from the pot on your stove, use the slow cooker. Put some water, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 3-4 drops of essential oil. You can put the slow cooker anywhere in the house pretty safely without worrying about causing fires.
3. Bake stuff.
   We don’t necessarily mean it’s time to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Instead, put some chunks of apple or orange covered in ground cinnamon on a baking sheet in the oven. Bake at a low temperature (try 200º F) for about 30-40 minutes until the aroma makes its way around your apartment.
4. Light candles.
   Candles – scented or not – tend to “burn” smells right out of the air. It’s an especially handy trick if you’re cooking smelly foods like fish. Candles will take the scent away pretty quickly. But for particularly potently scented apartment, opt for scented candles which can help mask bad smells for a while, at least.
5. Open the windows.
   Simply opening your windows during the day will let fresh air into your home and can help evaporate nasty scents. Leave them open all day while you’re at work or school (as long as it’s safe to do so) for best results.
6. Baking soda is your best friend.
   Baking soda is a cheap, multipurpose cleaner that does an amazing job of eliminating bad smells. You can leave a box or smaller bowl of baking soda in strategic spots around your apartment, like in the fridge, next to your shoes and in your closet. Sprinkle a bit in the bottom of your garbage can to kill garbage smells. Use it to clean your countertops, and sprinkle it into your carpet, let it sit for about 15 minutes, then vacuum it out. You can add baking soda to water and use the mixture to mop your floors (although it can leave a white film behind, so you might need to wash the floors again after. You can even put it in the washing machine when washing gym clothes to keep them smelling fresh.