How to Get Rid of Bad Smells Tenants Leave Behind

Dusty Rhodes • February 7, 2022

Getting rid of bad smells after a tenant moves out is one of the unpleasant parts of being a landlord. But, if you don’t take the time to do this, issues with funky odors or a foul stench can severely impact your cash flow. That’s because, after a tenant vacates the rental unit, you typically want to rent it out to a new tenant as quickly as possible. If there’s a rotten smell when you open the door, though, you will find it tough or impossible to land a suitable tenant for your unit. And that can cut into your profitability significantly if you let the issue go unresolved over a long period of time.


As such, you’ll want to get rid of the stench before you lease out the unit to a new tenant. And, that’s true whether the bad smell was caused by normal wear and tear to the apartment—like cooking foods with certain spices or ingredients—or by other things that the tenant did that violated the lease. Here are some tips for getting rid of smells in your rental apartment or unit. These tips will help you do that effectively—no matter what’s causing the stench.


The bad smells tenants may leave behind

Some bad smells that tenants cause are part of the normal wear and tear of the unit. For example, ridding the unit of cooking smells or cleaning stinky drains are both a part of the regular cleaning you should do between tenants. And, if you allow pets in the apartment, chances are that you will also need to eliminate pet odors. 


However, other smells could result from lease violations—including things like cigarette smoke, marijuana odors, or the stench of rotten eggs caused by methamphetamines. Let’s suppose the nasty smell is because the previous tenant violated a lease clause. In that case, you can deduct the cleanup cost from the security deposit.


But whether it’s from normal wear and tear or something else entirely, the issue has to be dealt with. So what do you do if a foul odor hits you when you open the front door? Here’s what you should know.


Start by sanitizing the unit and tackling the carpet

Current homeowners are sitting on record amounts of equity thanks to today’s home price appreciation. According to the latest report from CoreLogic, the average homeowner gained $56,700 in equity over the past 12 months.


That much equity can open doors for you to make a move. If you’ve been holding off on selling because you’re worried about how rising prices will impact your own home search, rest assured your equity can help fuel your next move. It may be just what you need to cover a large portion – if not all – of the down payment on your next purchase.


How to get rid of cooking smells in a small apartment

Smells from certain foods and spices can linger in the unit long after tenants have vacated the property. For example, pungent spices, like cumin and curry, can permeate soft furnishings, like drapes, chairs, carpets, and couches—especially if they were used regularly. What that means is that in a small apartment, these types of cooking smells can seep into every room.


If you need to get rid of overpowering odors leftover from cooking, it will typically require you to scrub all hard surfaces in the unit. That’s because things like oils and spices can permeate the air and land on surfaces throughout the unit—and you’ll want to wipe them off of every surface to get rid of the smell.


Once that’s done, you may need to use professional-grade cleaning equipment with deodorizing chemicals that can neutralize smells in upholstery—especially if the rental unit is being rented as a furnished unit. Depending on what you’re trying to clean, though, it may be easier and more cost-effective to simply replace the item. For example, it may be cheaper and easier to replace the drapes than to spend the time and money cleaning the current ones in the unit. 


How to get rid of musty smells

If you’re dealing with musty smells, it can be tricky to get rid of them in an empty rental unit. The source of the stale air could be due to the prior tenant not opening the windows and airing out the apartment. Or, the musty odor could be due to mildew or mold issues in the unit. 


Opening the windows and letting fresh air into the unit should be the first step to eliminating musty smells left by the prior tenant. Ventilation fans, a dehumidifier, or electric fans can also be useful to increase airflow and remove damp, stale air. However, if the musty stench remains after you’ve employed these methods, you may have to check the apartment for mold growth being caused by water damage. 


And, it’s also important to remember that breathing in mold spores is a health risk. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you should fix plumbing leaks and water problems to avoid these types of issues—or stop them from happening again if they’ve already occurred.


It’s also extremely important to dry the surfaces throughout the home. However, mold can get into porous materials, so if you have a problem with mold or mildew, it may be necessary to replace these materials or surfaces. And remember, you may be able to remedy minor issues with mold, but with more widespread or serious mold cases, it’s important to call professional mold remediators to remedy the issue.


How to get rid of cigarette smell in apartments

If you find your prior tenant smoked in the unit, you’ll need to get rid of the lingering scent of smoke in the unit. That said, getting rid of cigarette and nicotine smells can be incredibly challenging. The smell of cigarette smoke gets everywhere—and it can be problematic when trying to rent out your unit to a nonsmoker.


But, it’s not just the stench of stale smoke you have to contend with. Cigarette smoke odors contain nicotine residue, which can create serious health issues associated with third-hand smoke. That’s true for any tenant but is especially true for children or adults with severe allergies or other preexisting health conditions.


A study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that third-hand smoke contains carcinogenic substances. These can remain on carpets, clothes, furniture, walls, drapes, and flooring well after the smoker has vacated the property. And, if you don’t take steps to remove the substances leftover from the smoker, the new tenant or tenants’ health will be at risk because the toxic substances can be inhaled in dust, absorbed through the skin, or accidentally ingested, as a normal byproduct of living in the unit.


To completely get rid of smoke odors after a tenant has left, you may need to completely replace the carpets, drapes, and furniture in the unit. However, dry-cleaning drapes or upholstery may be enough in some cases. Repainting the unit may also be necessary, as it’s the only way to stop cigarette odors from affecting the air quality.


How to get rid of pet odors

If the tenant had a cat or dog in the apartment, pet odors are expected to linger—and are just part of renting a unit to a pet owner. That said, you’ll still want to get rid of the smell before renting out the unit to a new tenant.


For example, carpets are notorious for harboring bad pet smells because pet dander and urine are difficult to remove from the padding and carpet pile. If you want to get rid of the pet stench in the carpet, the most straightforward approach is to sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, let it sit for a few minutes, and then vacuum it up.


But what if you do that and the pet smells are still noticeable after you’ve cleaned the carpet with baking soda? In that case, you can use a blacklight to find where old pet urine stains are located. Once you’ve surveyed the damage, you can decide whether spot cleaning, steam cleaning, or replacing the carpet makes the most sense. 


How to prevent bad smells in your rental unit

The best way to reduce vacancy time and maximize cash flow is to prevent bad smells from permeating the unit in the first place. Preventative measures may involve some investment, but you will save time and resources related to deep cleaning after the tenant moves out. 


For example, it can be pretty costly to clean or replace carpets, soft furnishings, or upholstered furniture—but if you don’t take preventative measures, you’ll likely have to do so at some point. Likewise, repainting walls to remove unpleasant odors takes time and money. And hiring a professional cleaning crew will eat into your profits. 


Of course, thoroughly screening prospective tenants is one way to prevent cleanliness issues or look after the rental unit. But even when you screen your tenants, these types of issues can occur. As such, here are a few tips on preventing the foul smells that are difficult to remove. 


Conduct bi-annual or annual inspections

You should always have a clause in the lease that specifies your right to carry out regular inspections of the unit. These inspections allow you to address any issues in the apartment before they are completely out of control. For example, you will typically be able to detect bad smells from issues like pets, garbage buildup, smoking, or illegal activity, like drug use. 


Regular inspections also encourage tenants to clean the place thoroughly before you arrive. During the inspections, you can also check for maintenance issues like dripping plumbing, poor ventilation, or blocked air filters, which will help you to further reduce these types of issues.


Spell out policies in the lease

It is also vital to include pet policies and smoking policies on the lease to provide guidance for tenants on what you expect. If you’re going to allow pets, make sure you have the right guidance for your tenant in the lease. And, you’ll want to make it clear what the smoking restrictions are for the unit, too.


Change the flooring

Carpets tend to retain smells from all types of sources. As such, getting rid of the carpet and replacing it with good quality vinyl laminate floors can help cut down on the lingering bad smells in a rental unit. While a vinyl floor may not have the sound-dampening properties of carpets, it is easier to clean and maintain. 


Final thoughts

Eliminating smells from a rental unit is typically part of the normal clean-up routine between tenants. However, you may also have to deal with foul, stubborn odors from time to time. Removing the source of the stench, using the right equipment and chemicals, or replacing some of the items in the unit can typically get rid of the smells and help get the unit ready for the next tenant.


Source: Bigger Pockets Blog


Dusty Rhodes Properties is the Best Realtor in Myrtle Beach! We do everything in our power to help you find the home of your dreams. With experience, expertise, and passion, we are the perfect partner for you in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We love what we do and it shows. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, we know our industry like the back of our hands. There’s no challenge too big or too small, and we dedicate our utmost energy to every project we take on. We search thousands of the active and new listings from Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Garden City Beach, Longs, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Surfside Beach real estate listings to find the hottest deals just for you!

Share

Here’s Where To Start if You’re Selling and Buying at the Same Time

By Dusty Rhodes • August 3, 2026
If you’re a homeowner getting ready to move , one question usually comes first: should you buy your next home before you sell, or sell your current house before you start looking? There’s no single right answer. The best call depends on your finances, your local market, and your timeline. And a trusted agent can help you weigh all of it. But in a lot of cases these days, selling first puts you in the stronger spot. The Advantages of Selling First Selling is usually the trickier half of a move today, so getting it done first clears your biggest hurdle. And that’s especially true right now , because there are more homes for sale than there are buyers, which means houses are taking longer to sell than they did a year or two ago. So how does leading with your sale pay off? Let’s start with the money. 1. You Won’t Get Stuck Paying Two Mortgages Buy before you sell, and you could end up carrying two mortgages at once. And especially since houses are staying on the market longer these days, that overlap may drag on for more time than you’d planned. And if unexpected repairs come up, it could get even more expensive. Selling first takes that risk off the table, so you’re not multitasking homeownership. As Ramsey Solutions puts it: “It’s best to sell your old home before buying a new one to avoid unnecessary risks and possible headaches.“ 2. You Can Use Your Equity To Fuel Your Move This is always true, but one of the biggest perks of selling first is that you’ll know exactly how much money you’re walking away with. And one of the big figures that matters in that conversation is how much equity you have in your current place. Equity is basically your house’s value minus what you still owe on your mortgage. And it adds up fast. According to Realtor.com , homeowners who’ve been in their home for 5 years have about $180,000 in equity on average. And those who’ve had their home for 6-10 years? They have over $340,000. After you sell, you can use that money to cover your down payment or even buy your next home in cash. And knowing that profit up front helps you plan your next move. 3. Your Offer Will Be Hard To Pass Up When your house is already sold, you don’t have to make your offer contingent on that sale. In a market where buyers are taking their time, that’s exactly what a seller wants to see. Picture it from the seller’s side. If their house has been sitting for a while, they’ll gravitate toward the offer most likely to close without a snag. That can also give you room to ask for a little more, like repairs, since a motivated seller would rather keep things moving than lose you and wait for another offer to come in. Your agent can help you make the most of your upper hand in that scenario. Is There a Catch? Selling first has its tradeoffs too, and it helps to see the pros and cons side by side before you decide. Here’s a quick breakdown based on information from Zillow (see visual below) : 

7 Reasons to Use Real Estate Drone Photography for Your Listing

By Dusty Rhodes • July 26, 2026
Online listing photos often shape a buyer’s first impression of a home. They want to understand the home’s setting, the size of the lot, and what makes the property unique before deciding whether it’s worth a visit. That’s one reason real estate drone photography has become a popular addition to many listings. That said, aerial photography isn’t a must-have for every home. Whether you’re selling a home in Houston, TX or listing a rental in Asheville, NC , knowing when to use this style of professional photography can help highlight the features that matter most to buyers. Here are seven situations where real estate drone photography can make a listing more compelling. Key takeaways: Best for homes where the setting is part of the selling point. Shows lot size, layout, and nearby amenities at a glance. Helps buyers visualize features that aren’t visible from the ground. Less valuable for standard homes on small lots. Should be performed by a licensed drone operator following local regulations. 1. The property sits on a large lot or acreage Large properties are difficult to capture from the ground. Aerial photos show the property’s full footprint and help buyers appreciate how much land they’re getting. Bradley Harkey, owner at LuxRE Photos , says drone photography is especially valuable for homes with room to grow. “Drone photography can really be essential when you are selling a home with a lot of land. A view from above can showcase the potential even when it’s not exactly obvious from the ground.” He says buyers often struggle to picture what an undeveloped yard could become. “Oftentimes an unprepped backyard can just look like a bunch of weeds to a potential buyer, but when seen from above, you can visualize where that pool can go, or that basketball hoop, or that go-kart track you always wanted as a kid. Some homes have so much potential, but it’s hard to see between the weeds.” Whether it’s acreage, an equestrian property , or simply a spacious backyard, aerial images help buyers see the property’s potential. 2. The home has waterfront views or scenic surroundings Some of a home’s best features aren’t visible from the front yard. Waterfront access, mountain views, wooded privacy, and distinctive architecture all benefit from an elevated perspective. Doug Smith, principal and founder of Houzpics LLC , explains, “Aerial photography is especially valuable for waterfront or estates with large, feature-rich lots, multi-story architecture, and homes with scenic surroundings. Aerial images help buyers understand the property’s layout and highlight features that traditional ground-level photos may not fully capture.” Rather than focusing only on the home, aerial photography showcases the entire setting.

Psychology says people who keep going back to the beach aren’t just relaxing, they may be restoring something deeper

By Dusty Rhodes • July 21, 2026
Some people enjoy the beach. Others seem drawn to it. They choose beach vacations over city breaks. They find excuses to visit the coast whenever they can. They feel calmer the moment they hear waves crashing or catch sight of the ocean on the horizon. Friends and family may joke that they're "obsessed" with the beach, but psychology suggests there may be more happening beneath the surface. For many people, a love of the beach is not simply about sunshine, swimming, or beautiful views. Research suggests that coastal environments may provide something the modern brain desperately needs: a chance to recover from constant mental demands. Attention Restoration Theory may explain the attraction to the beach One of the most influential explanations comes from Attention Restoration Theory, developed by environmental psychologists Rachel Kaplan and Stephen Kaplan. The theory suggests that everyday life requires large amounts of what researchers call directed attention. This is the mental effort people use to focus during meetings, answer emails, ignore distractions, make decisions, navigate traffic, and manage responsibilities. Over time, directed attention becomes fatigued. Natural environments appear to affect the brain differently. The Kaplans proposed that nature creates a state known as soft fascination. Instead of demanding concentration, environments such as beaches gently hold attention without effort. As a result, the brain gets an opportunity to recover from mental fatigue . For frequent beachgoers, this may help explain why a few hours by the ocean often feels more restorative than an entire day spent indoors. Research on blue spaces supports the idea Psychologists and public health researchers often use the term blue spaces to describe environments that contain visible water, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and coastlines. Over the past decade, a growing body of research has linked blue-space exposure to improved psychological well-being . A 2020 research, Blue space, health and well-being: A narrative overview and synthesis of potential benefits, led by environmental psychologist Mathew White has found that people who spend more time near coastal environments often report better mental health and higher life satisfaction. The authors propose that water environments may improve mental health through several connected pathways: Increased physical activity (people walk, swim, or move more near water) Psychological restoration (reduced mental fatigue and stress) Social interaction (waterfronts often encourage gathering and recreation) Environmental effects such as improved air quality and aesthetic satisfaction Importantly, the review also highlights that blue spaces share similarities with green spaces (like parks and forests), but water environments may have unique psychological effects due to their sensory characteristics and emotional associations. Why the ocean feels different from other environments Many people report feeling calmer almost immediately when they arrive at the beach. Psychologists believe part of the reason may be the unique combination of sensory experiences. The sound of waves is rhythmic and predictable. The horizon creates a sense of openness. The movement of water captures attention without overwhelming it. Unlike social media feeds, traffic, news alerts, and crowded urban environments, the beach provides relatively low levels of cognitive demand. In simple terms, the ocean gives the brain less work to do. That reduction in mental effort may help explain why people often describe feeling lighter, calmer, or more clear-headed after spending time near the water. Place Attachment Theory says beaches can become part of identity For some people, the connection goes beyond relaxation. Psychologists study a concept known as place attachment, which refers to the emotional bond people develop with specific locations. Certain places become connected to family memories, childhood experiences, important life events, or feelings of belonging. Over time, the beach may become more than a destination. It becomes part of a person's identity. This may explain why some individuals return to the same stretch of coastline year after year, even when countless other travel options are available.