The homes that always smell good usually aren’t using more candles. They just have fewer things making bad smells. In Florida, that mostly comes down to humidity, the AC system, the kitchen, and fabrics. Get those under control and a light, clean scent goes a long way. This works the same whether you own a house or rent an apartment or condo.
Step 1: Get Rid of the Bad Smells First
Adding a nice scent on top of a bad smell just makes a new, stranger smell. If there’s an odor you’re trying to cover, find its source first with our smell-by-smell guide. If it’s musty, that means moisture, so start with what a musty smell means in a Florida home.
Step 2: Florida Habits That Keep a Home Smelling Fresh
- Keep humidity down. Run the AC, and don’t turn it off or set it very high when you leave for the day or travel. Indoor humidity below about 50% keeps that damp, stale smell from settling in. An inexpensive humidity meter tells you where you stand, and a dehumidifier helps in rooms that stay damp.
- Change the AC filter on schedule. Every 1 to 3 months, more often with pets. Every bit of air in your home passes through it.
- Keep the AC drain line clear and have the system serviced. A clogged drain or dirty coil can make the whole house smell every time the AC turns on. See why your house smells when the AC turns on.
- Take the trash out daily when it has food scraps, and wash the can once a month.
- Run water in every drain weekly, including guest bathrooms, so the traps don’t dry out. Clean the garbage disposal and the dishwasher filter.
- Run the range hood every time you cook and wipe grease off the stove area. See how to get rid of cooking smells.
- Run the bathroom fan during showers and for 20 to 30 minutes after. Hang towels to dry fully.
- Don’t leave wet laundry in the washer. Leave the washer door open between loads.
Step 3: Freshen the Things That Hold Smells
- Weekly: wash bedding and kitchen towels, vacuum, and wash pet beds.
- Monthly: baking soda on carpets and rugs overnight, then vacuum. Vacuum the couch, including under the cushions.
- A few times a year: wash curtains and throw pillow covers, deep-clean carpet and upholstery, and wipe down cabinets and baseboards. See carpet smells and couch smells.
- Closets: don’t pack them tight, keep things off the floor, and leave the door open when you can.
Step 4: Add a Clean, Light Scent
- A simmer pot: water with citrus peels, cinnamon sticks, vanilla or fresh herbs on low heat. Never leave it unattended, and keep an eye on the water level.
- Fresh herbs and flowers in the kitchen and entryway.
- A reed diffuser or a few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball in a closet or bathroom. Keep oils away from pets; some are harmful to cats and dogs.
- Less is more. One gentle scent per area beats five competing plug-ins. A heavy scent makes guests wonder what you’re covering up.
Wondering which store products actually work? See our honest comparison of odor eliminators for a whole house.
Apartments and Condos
Smaller spaces show smells faster. Keep the AC filter fresh (ask your landlord or HOA if they handle it), clean the recirculating range hood filter, and keep bathroom fans running. If a musty smell keeps coming back, report it in writing to your landlord or property manager, since it can mean a leak from your unit or the one next door. Renters can also read does renters insurance cover mold. Landlords: see getting rid of odors between tenants. Our whole-home odor treatment works for an apartment or condo unit the same way it does for a house: $997 with one AC system, $550 for each additional AC unit. Hallways, lobbies and other common areas need a different type of treatment, so call us for those. More in musty smell in an apartment or condo.
When You’ve Done Everything and It Still Smells
If you keep a clean home and a smell still won’t leave, it’s usually one of two things: hidden moisture, or an old smell (smoke, pets, a previous owner) soaked into the walls, fabrics and AC system. For musty smells, we offer a free visual inspection with moisture readings and an infrared (thermal) camera. Lab testing is separate if it’s needed. Florida licenses: Mold Assessor MRSA4035, Mold Remediator MRSR4158. Once any source is fixed, our whole-home odor removal treatment treats the air throughout the entire home, including one AC system and an attached garage. You’ll be out for about 8 hours. It’s an odor treatment only. It doesn’t fix leaks or remove mold, so the source has to be handled first.
Whole-Home Odor Removal in South Florida: $997
Our Whole-Home Odor Removal Treatment is $997 and includes one AC system ($550 for each additional AC unit). You can buy and schedule it online, or call 877-224-2532 to request a free visual inspection. We answer 24/7; when you call, we’ll tell you honestly when a technician can be there based on that day’s schedule. Hablamos español.
About the author: James Rice-Peña is the owner of FL Cleanup and a Florida-licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA4035) and Mold Remediator (MRSR4158). He has worked in property restoration in South Florida since 2012, and FL Cleanup has earned 200+ five-star Google reviews.
