Rental units tend to develop foul smells for plenty of reasons. Over time, walls, carpets, and fabrics tend to emit odors you wouldn’t like. Such odors might persist even if the house undergoes multiple cleanings or tenants for that matter.

Still, before we can go ahead and assume that odor-absorbing paint is the way to go, it is a great idea to first try and identify the original cause of these odors. If you skip this step, all of your efforts will go wasted and your rental property will be back to smelling horrible as soon as the paint has gone dry.

The Cause of the Smell

What’s causing your rental property to smell so bad? Well, depending on what situation you are dealing with, the smell may be originating from one source or perhaps even a combination of sources.

Some of the most common sources of these smells are mildew and mold, pet odors, and cigarette smoke. Other common sources include old furniture, carpets or damp walls. Remove anything that has visible signs of water damage right away.

However, if your rental unit only smells a little musty or seems to be giving off the ‘old house’ odor, it may be a little harder to identify the source.

MVOC’s

MVOC is short for Mold Volatile Organic Compounds and these aren’t the same as toxic or other types of mold. The chemicals that are released because of MVOCs aren’t typically dangerous, but they have a tendency to leave behind a musty smell that is very difficult to get rid of.

Leasing properties with this persistent smell, regardless of how minimal it may be, can be a lot more challenging as opposed to rental homes that smell minty fresh. This is why you should do your best to find that source of mold and try to cover it up as quickly as possible.

Cleaning

One of the best places to begin is to try and get rid of all the musty odors with the help of thorough cleaning. According to Lakeside Park, it is always a good idea to try and check for evidence of mildew and mold and try to remove it so that it doesn’t come back.

It is also crucial for you to inspect your rental property for condensation, water leaks, or perhaps other similar environmental factors that might encourage mold and have it repaired professionally.

If you think there is too much humidity in your property, consider investing in a dehumidifier to help reduce moisture levels. Make sure your entire home is repaired to its standard levels of humidity. Within no time, all those musty smells will be gone.

Final Thoughts

If cleaning or odor-absorbing paint doesn’t seem to work, you know exactly what to do. While these paints do help absorb some of the orders, they should only be used after you’ve undertaken preventative measures and tried other cleaning methods.

These simple fixes can increase the likeability of your property and start reeling in quality applicants in no time. Once you’re absolutely confident that your rental property is dry and clean, try using odor-absorbing paint to freshen up the indoor air quality of your rental property.

If you’re planning on avoiding these problems in your rental property, you can always delegate these tasks to your property manager or hire the right professionals for the task at hand.

If you haven’t hired a property manager already, click here to learn more about our services and how an experienced property manager can share some of your burdens.