How to get rid of the weed smell in an apartment from neighbors? If you are looking for an answer to this query, you are in the right spot. Last year, my friend Joshua faced the same issue and I helped him get rid of the smell from his apartment. I will be covering 13 ways in this article so you can also benefit from them. Without any delay, let’s move on!
Quick Answer
Simply put, you can get rid of weed smell from your apartment using these methods:
- Thoroughly clean your house with white vinegar;
- Coat your walls with odor-resistant paints;
- Use essential oils like lavender and tea tree.
- Use an air purifier.
However, these are just three basic ways to get rid of the odor. Continue reading as I explain 13 methods in detail. Also, get insights into moral and lawful concerns. Let’s dive deeper into this informative guide.
The 13 Effective Ways How to Get Rid of the Weed Smell in an Apartment From Neighbors
Before sharing the ways, I want to highlight that multiple factors control which method will work the best for you, such as your relationship with neighbors and the ventilation of your apartment.
Let’s learn how these things come into play and you can get rid of the annoying smell with ease:
1. Address The Problem With Your Neighbors
If your neighbor smokes and makes your apartment smell like it, you should talk to them about it. Make the conversation feel emphatic, use the ”I” statements so the person in front of you can understand your feelings better and does not feel too embarrassed.
With your neighbor, you can work something out that is convenient for both. Solutions like using an air purifier or sealing the air gaps on your apartment walls can also help greatly in solving the problem.
2. Let The Fresh Air In
Open the windows of your apartment and it will help circulate the air which will dilute the weed smell away, reducing the lingering odor from the apartment.
3. Thoroughly Clean Your Living Space
A deep cleaning session can work wonders in helping you get rid of the smell. For thorough cleaning, follow these steps:
- Start by washing the curtains and carpets properly.
- Clean the surfaces, floors, and glass with white vinegar.
- Clean your apartment’s walls and ceilings carefully so no residue of smoke contributes to the odor.
4. Coat Your Walls With Fresh Paint
If the weed smell is stubborn and doesn’t go away, it might be due to the smell being absorbed by the wall paint, to get rid of it you will need to repaint your walls. It will not only give them a fresh look but your home will smell nice too.
Some primers are specifically made for killing and blocking unwanted odors like Odor Defender Primer, consider those to repaint your walls.
5. Using Products You Have At Home
Weed smell can be removed with products like baking soda and vinegar are commonly found at home. They help by neutralizing the acidic smoke odors. Here are steps I shared with Joshua to use vinegar and baking soda to get rid of the lingering smell.
- Pour some vinegar into a pot and dilute it with an equal amount of water.
- Add a tablespoon of baking soda and make a solution.
- Use the mixture to clean surfaces by applying it on them and wiping them away after a few minutes.
6. Use Air Fresheners and Natural Deodorizers
Air fresheners are a commonly used method to get rid of unwanted odor in the environment. Hence, they can be used to get rid of weed smell from your living space as well.
At first, use the aerosol sprays to eliminate the weed smell but gradually, try to use lighter smells that make the atmosphere smell beautiful overall. I would recommend using ”The Febreze Air Spray” or ”Medi Aire Fresh Air Scent”.
7. Use Essential Oils
Essential oils like Lavender, Tea Tree, and lemon can help greatly in promoting an amazing scent that reduces the smoke smell from the apartment. Lavender oil is well known for its smell, and it is commonly used to control unwanted odors. However, it’s important to use these oils with care.
8. Scented Candles And Incense
Just like essential oils, Candles are another common thing people use to make their homes smell good. They will help to counterbalance the weed smoke odor and provide a calming atmosphere. There are a variety of flavors and types.
My favorite picks include ”APOTHEKE Candle”, ”Yankee Candle” and ”HEM Sticks”.
9. Conceal Up Your Electrical Outlets
Your apartment’s electrical outlets are the most easy way for smoke particles to enter your home. This means that your space will smell like weed even if you don’t smoke it but your neighbors do.
So, to prevent it, you need to ensure that every electrical outlet in your apartment is sealed or closed. Look for outlet accessories that suit you the best.
10. Seal All The Gaps With Weather Stripping
If your neighbor smokes on their balcony or patio, there are high chance that the weed smell will enter your home through your apartment windows. In that case, shut your windows when you know they are smoking to ensure the smoke does not enter your home, and weather stripping will help in sealing even the minute gaps.
11. Cover The Area Beneath Your Door
Smoke particles are small and can easily enter your apartment from the space beneath your door when your neighbor is smoking weed. To solve that problem, you can either get a door sweep or simply use a thick towel or any thick cloth to close that area.
If you are buying the new door sweep, I would recommend getting the Holikme door sweeps if there is very little space under the door, otherwise go for Suptike door strips.
12. Get an Air Purifier With a Robust Carbon Filter
Air purifiers are an amazing tool to get rid of unpleasant indoor smells as I mentioned above. When you decide to get an air purifier, ensure that it has two important components, HEPA and activated carbon filters.
Here are a few you can get: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty or LEVOIT 600S. Activated charcoal and carbon filters, both of these things are effective in removing weed smoke pollutants.
13. Chat With Your Landlord
If you rent, and you have tried to chat with your neighbors politely and they continue to smoke weed without caring, you should read your rental lease or agreements and share your problem with your landlord and let them handle the matter. Check out the building policies and see if they can help in your case.
How Long Does the Smell of Weed Linger And What are the Factors That Affect it?
The foul smell of weed is truly annoying especially when you are a non-smoker. However, most of the methods I shared above can help you get rid of the lingering odors in a few hours and some can take a day or two like repainting or thorough cleaning.
The time for the marijuana odor to stop lingering around depends on factors like:
- The quality of the cannabis plant and method of consumption.
- Ventilation areas in your apartment.
- The method you are using to get rid of the smell.
High-quality air purifiers or traditional air fresheners with activated charcoal can help get rid of the smell more quickly.
- Usually, the purifiers with more than 350 CFM are considered good and can cover more than 500 sq ft of area. These devices will take around an hour to get rid of the smell.
- On the other hand, if you use the low-quality ones, they will take anywhere between 2-6 hours depending on the ventilation of the area.
Note: Odor molecules can also be effectively dealt with by using baking soda or vinegar as they soak up the strong smells from the environment.
Do you know that even if you’re a non-smoker, inhaling the weed smoke particles can pose health risks? Let’s dig deeper and discuss some health problems caused by secondhand smoke weed.
Secondhand Smoke Problems
Other than the matter of preference and not liking the cannabis odors, your health is at risk if you are exposed to secondhand smoke particles that enter your space and are present in the air you breathe. If your neighbors smoke pot, there is a high chance that you will have to deal with its potential side effects like:
- Worsen allergies;
- Respiratory issues;
- Children’s lungs will not healthily develop;
- Increased risk of heart disease;
- Dampened mood.
Especially for people who already have respiratory issues and allergies, it is dangerous to be in such environments. For this reason, it is important to take action if your neighbor continues smoking even after you share your problem.
FAQs
How long does it take to get rid of the smell of marijuana smoke from an apartment?
You can get rid of the Marijuana smoke smell from an apartment in three to five hours. However, remember that the time can vary depending on various factors such as what method you are using and how long it takes.
Will weatherproof curtains and door draft blockers prevent weed odor?
Yes, weatherproof curtains and door drafts can help but may not fully prevent the lingering odors. To effectively and conveniently get rid of them, the use of baking soda, ventilation, and air purifier will help.
How long does it take for the smell of weed to go away indoors?
The duration for the smell of weed to go away depends on many factors like the quality of cannabis and the ventilation of your apartment. However, you can expect the weed smell to go away in 3-5 hours.
What aroma oils are the most effective against weed smell?
Lavender and citrus oils are the two most effective aroma oils to counterbalance the unpleasant weed smell.
Conclusion
The final say on how to get rid of the weed smell in an apartment from neighbors is that it can be a headache to deal with such a situation. But using some techniques like using aroma oils (lavender and citrus), using baking soda to soak the smell, opening the windows, and using weather stripping can help.
If these methods don’t work, have a respectful conversation with your neighbor that addresses the issue. But, if they are not willing to take any action, you should proceed to let your landlord know about it and let them deal with it legally.
Danny is a passionate writer who loves to share his knowledge about air purifiers. He’s been writing for 10 years, and he’ll share all that experience with Very Well Home viewers to help you make the best decision when it’s time to buy an appliance!
