Problem Overflow

Smoke, smells and damp getting into your apartment, and how renters stop them.

Smoke from next door

Smoke from a neighbor's balcony blows into your window

Easy · About 20 minutes

Where I am
Every time you open the window, a waft comes in.
Where I want to be
Fresh air without the smoke.
What's in the way
Gaps around the window frame and sash let smoke in even when it's shut.

Try this first, free: Notice the times of day it happens. If it's evenings, close your windows just before that and open them an hour later.

The fix

  1. Hold a strip of toilet paper along the window frame to find the draft.
  2. Press removable foam weatherstrip into the gap where the sash closes. Clean the frame first.
  3. Close the window before the usual smoking time, and open the windows on the far side of your home instead.
  4. Run a fan facing out of a window on that far side if you want air to move through.

What this won't fully fix: Weatherstrip closes the frame gaps. If you open the window while smoke is outside, it still comes in, and no product can change that.

Moving out: Peel the strip or rope caulk off slowly, and wipe any sticky bits with dish soap.

What to get

Window weatherstrip on Amazon Removable rope caulk on Amazon

These open an Amazon search, so you can pick the one that fits. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More in Smoke from next door

  1. Smoke from next door Easy · About 30 minutes

    You smell smoke but don't know where it's getting in

    Smoke travels through gaps you can't see, and sealing the wrong spot changes nothing.
  2. Smoke from next door Easy · About 20 minutes

    Cigarette smoke comes in under your front door

    The gap at the bottom and sides lets hallway air walk right in.
  3. Smoke from next door Handy · About 30 minutes

    Smoke comes in through the outlets and light switches

    The boxes behind the plates are open to the wall cavity, and air flows through.
  4. Smoke from next door Easy · About 30 minutes

    Smoke comes in around pipes under the sink or by the radiator

    Pipes pass through bigger holes in the wall, and those holes connect to the next apartment.
  5. Smoke from next door Handy · About 45 minutes

    Smoke seeps in through baseboard and trim gaps

    There are small gaps where the trim meets the floor and the wall.
  6. Smoke from next door Easy · About 30 minutes

    A neighbor's weed smell drifts into your place

    It's a strong smell that slips through the same gaps as cigarette smoke.
  7. Smoke from next door Easy · About 20 minutes

    Smoke comes through the bathroom or kitchen vent

    Many buildings share ducts, and smoke from another unit can back up through them.
  8. Smoke from next door Easy · About 15 minutes

    Picking an air purifier for smoke in a small apartment

    The labels are confusing and the sizes vary a lot.
  9. Smoke from next door Easy · About 1 hour

    The smoke smell is stuck in your curtains, bedding and clothes

    Fabric holds on to smoke particles long after the air clears.