Well, shit

[cinaed]

So...my RA just knocked on my door and informed me that my room "smells." And helpfully noted that if said-smell isn't gone by Friday, I'll get charged.

....

*flails* What the HELL? Where is this mysterious smell? I need every penny, they can't charge me! And my uber-neat-freak roommate is so going to pin this on me!

*cries* Goddamnit.

*goes to turn the room upside down and clean the whole goddamn place for a smell I have no fucking clue my RA's talking about*

ETA: Wow, suitemates, your "I guess it kinda smells, but I can't say what it smells like or if it's in a particular spot" comments are so helpful. *grumbles*

Comments

[lilyayl.livejournal.com]

That's really messed up. The RA should have to help you pinpoint the smell if you don't know what she's talking about, I'd think.

Also, how is the smell disruptive enough to merit a charge?

[cinaed.livejournal.com]

My roommate always leaves the door open to the hallway, so I guess it went out and people walked by and complained? *shrugs* I've got no clue.

I'm praying it was my trashcan. It had some sticky stuff on the bottom and I washed it, so hopefully that's what smelled. I just-- I have a crappy sense of smell, so I honestly had no freakin' clue what she was talking about, you know? And I don't want to have to pay $25 for a freaking smell that I don't even notice myself.

[lilyayl.livejournal.com]

I'd invest in one of those conical air fresheners if you haven't yet already. You can get them real cheap at dollar stores. Keep one in your closet b/c clothes can smell (even if you don't really notice it). Also, open the window during the afternoons.

There is something about dorm rooms themselves that smell, no matter what. Air fresheners, regular airings, etc. keep the strange smell at bay.

[cinaed.livejournal.com]

Definitely going to put one in my closet. My roommate has two air-fresheners in the room and leaves the window open all the time (which makes it oh-so-chilly in the morning when it's a lovely 35-40 degrees outside, lol), and she uses this spray stuff too which kills me every time she sprays, so I don't know why the smell's there.

Thanks for the advice though. Definitely going to bring like five air fresheners back here after break, lol.

[lilyayl.livejournal.com]

Maybe the smell is the air spray?

[cinaed.livejournal.com]

It's supposed to be scent-less. *eyes it suspiciously*

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

Ah. Stinky dorm rooms. I remember those. I'm sorry you're going through this.

These are the usual culprits, with some things you can do to try to clean and get rid of the smell. I don't know which things may be an issue in your room, so have a look at the list and decide what you should try.

- Trash can, as you mentioned. Buy or borrow some Pine Sol or a similar cleaner and clean the whole thing, inside and out.
- Carpet. Buy some carpet deodorizer, that powder stuff, apply it to the carpet, then vacuum. You can usually get a loan of a vacuum from your RA, RD, or the janitorial staff. If the deodorizer isn't possible to get, at least do a really good vacuuming. If the carpet has stains, treat those first. At a minimum, use dish soap and a bit of water (or even really diluted pine sol) and dab, dab, dab the stain. Let dry. Vacuum.
- Floor. If you don't have carpet, or have areas of bare floor, wash them.
- Bedding. Wash your linens, including your blankets/duvets and pillow.
- Clothes. You know what to do about that.
- Places food has been. Wash dishes and cups, wash counters and desk tops, etc.
- Mini fridge. Do you have a fridge or a microwave? If so, clean it, inside and out.
- Animals. Not normally allowed, but some students do keep them. If so, clean the bedding/water and the container it's kept in.
- Curtains. If these came with the room and aren't washable, then put the carpet powder on them and vacuum. If they are yours, then either wash them or toss them.

Once you've cleaned everything, then buy one - just one - standing air freshener. Don't buy too many, or people will complain about that, too.

If your sense of smell isn't as sensitive as that of most, then this is something you're going to have to place a special focus on. Things you don't smell, others might. So be aware of cleanliness in terms of bedding, clothing, and etc. Wash things a bit more often than you think you have to, and you should be fine.

Don't take it personally, although that can be hard not to do. I know that.

I used to have to tell people that their room stank. I was the RA. I always felt really bad, but it had to be done. It's communal living.


If you can't get pine sol, use dish soap mixed in water, not very sudsy.

[cinaed.livejournal.com]

-Cleaned the trashcan last night. Will clean it again today with extra cleaner.
-Bare floor, which I'm going to wash after lunch. *grin*
-Going to wash my linens and clothes as soon as the washing machines are free, lol.
-Have a mini-fridge. I already cleaned out my perishable items, but I'll clean it as well.

Thanks for the help. And yeah, I did take it personally -- makes you feel like you're kinda disgusting -- but now I'm better about it. Just frustrated because I can't smell it so I have no clue if I'm getting rid of the smell. Though my roommate said this morning that the room smelled better, so I'm thinking a big thing was my trashcan.

*goes off to eat lunch and then get to scrubbing the floor*

[schlicky.livejournal.com]

:\ I'm sorry. Hopefully you don't end up getting charged. Good luck!!

[cinaed.livejournal.com]

Thanks. *keeps cleaning* ;-)