Wipe out winter wheezing
Q: As I prepare our small apartment for winter, I find myself dreading the upcoming months. Every year, our living areas, except for the kitchen, take on an increasingly stale odor that I cannot seem to eradicate until springtime, when I can open all the windows again. Any suggestions? — Katie Y., Minneapolis
A: Small spaces can be difficult to ventilate adequately in the wintertime, so you have to be both disciplined and creative in finding ways to keep the apartment’s air fresh even on the coldest days. Clutter and dust are two big culprits in the fresh-air wars, but be sure to check for some other causes of a stale environment.
“Rodents — including mice, squirrels and other mammals — tend to burrow into whatever spaces are available to them and build nests, sometimes behind exterior walls, in crawlspaces beneath the home, between floors or inside the attic. While they don’t “mess” in their living areas, they aren’t nearly as clean as humans, and as winter passes, the funk from these nests can increase and send a scent I fondly call “eau d’hamster cage” wafting through the house. Look for signs of rodent infestation around the building exterior (and interior) and contact the landlord to implement pest-control measures before the snowdrifts build up.
“Proper ventilation in the kitchen and bathroom are also important. Bathrooms must have a vent fan installed to carry away steam vapor and reduce humidity; if a fan is not in place or is not operational, contact the landlord. Kitchens should have a hood and vent fan installed above the stove to carry away smoke and some cooking odors. Clean the vent fans in both rooms at least twice a year to make sure they operate efficiently.
“Change the filters in forced-air heaters every single month during winter. If you have floor registers, open them and vacuum clean with the extension tool each month.
“As I noted above, clutter and dust can really make an environment stale. Dust can also trigger allergic reactions, which makes life that much more miserable. De-clutter your living space, getting rid of items you haven’t used or worn in more than two years. Place unused “keeper” items, records or furniture in storage. Don’t let laundry or mail pile up.
“Run a feather duster over shelves and furniture every three days, starting at the highest point. Fluff all pillows and chair cushions. Vacuum immediately after. To keep a room bright and fresh, open curtains during the day and turn on more lights at night.
Home Tip: When winterizing, don’t seal all windows with plastic. Even in the coldest part of winter, opening a window for a few minutes can immediately improve the air in a too-snug living area.