Common Area Scent

Most Popular Reply

Scott Mac
Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
2y

The smell may be from leaking garbage bags being hauled down the hallway.

If it's carpet maybe replace it with an easier to clean material, and scheduled some regular cleanings (as often as needed).

This might be a fix vs trying to compete with the stink with a sweet smell.

If you do this, be sure whatever you choose is temperature stable dimensionaly for your hallway micro climate.

Good Luck!

1Reply
See this reply in the discussion

4 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Scott Mac
    Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    2y

    The smell may be from leaking garbage bags being hauled down the hallway.

    If it's carpet maybe replace it with an easier to clean material, and scheduled some regular cleanings (as often as needed).

    This might be a fix vs trying to compete with the stink with a sweet smell.

    If you do this, be sure whatever you choose is temperature stable dimensionaly for your hallway micro climate.

    Good Luck!

    1Reply
  • Jordan Myer
    Member since 2023 · 84 posts · 35 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Raygen Randall:

    I have a lot of apartments that get some weird smells in the hallways. 

    Any cost efficient and effective solutions to maintain a good smell common area?

    What kind of smell is it? If it's a musty smell it could be a water leak some where 

    1Reply
  • Cathy B.
    Architect · Portland, OR · Member since 2023 · 66 posts · 39 votes
    2y

    Hmm . . . my first thought was pet accidents.  This happens in hallways in elevators according to the Owners that I work with on apartment buildings.

    Most new builds these days use carpet tiles that can be cleaning or easily pulled out and replaced.

    It might not hurt to take a UV flashlight, dim the lights, and see if you can locate any "accident" areas.

    If its not pet (or trash as mentioned above), it could be adjacent tenants.

    As far as making things smell better, they do make scent machines that hookup to your HVAC system and you get to pick the scent it diffuses.  Not sure on cost.

    1Reply
  • Spencer Abeyta
    Property Manager · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2017 · 126 posts · 67 votes
    2y

    A lot of apartment buildings have solid surface flooring in common areas like LVP. If a tenant spills or drops something on the flooring it can be easily cleaned up and the smell can not soak up into the flooring.

    Ventilation could be an issue in hallways as well. You may be smelling stale air. This could be solved by opening a window or turning on the fan of the HVAC system and having it circulate the air.

    0Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free