Fusty Smelly House after hols

Sallys_Savings

We have just returned from a weekend away and last night opened the front door to a rather musty fusty smelling house

We only went away first thing saturday morning till late last night and cant understand why its smelling so awful after that short spell, eventhough it was pretty hot when we went.

I have only washed all the curtains and sofa cushions last week so its not them.
We do have a dog so that obviously doesnt help.

Does anyone have any ideas to stop this happening when we go away next week for a fortnight?
Any ideas on what to sprinkle on the carpets to make them smell fresher?
Ideas of things to leave around the house to absorb the smell?....or anything that smells pleasant but neutral smelling.
I cant stand the false smells of airfresheners but I'm going to have to buy a dozen to put in all the rooms if I cant find an alternative.

Many thanks

Slinky

It's not your kitchen bin is it? I don't usually get problems with a pong but the hot weather last week set it off and I was having to empty it more often than usual.

mocolo

Bicarb sprinkled onto carpets ,left for a bit and then hoovered up. Willabsorb the smell- but I agree with Slinky, check your bins and any food in the fridge. We were on holiday and came back to a really offensive smell.we too have dogs and I must admit I was blaming them although they had been in kennels (I do hate dog smell) Anyway, it turned out to be some offeggs that had somehow leaked into the bowl they were in .

good luck sorting it out,
mocolo

sloth

Did you leave any flowers in a vase of water whilst you went away? We left some lillies in a vase once and the smell of the water after a week in the summer was vile. Made us wretch.

Best thing to do is leave windows open as much as possible. Maybe try scented candles or incence sticks. Failing that if I was desperate I would use an aerosol, Sainsbury's basics one is really cheap but actually smells much nicer than most of the more expensive ones I have tried.

Room sprays from Crabtree & Evelyn are wonderful as are their candles but quite expensive.

nabiha87

I really can't stand air fresheners wither so use yankee tarts in an oil burner to scent the place

http://www.yankeedoodle.co.uk/x-cart/catalog/yankee_candles_Wax_Tarts_and_burners_page_1.html

Sallys_Savings

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond....can always guarantee help on here

It definitely wasnt the bin as I had cleaned that out with bleach just before we went. Checked the fruit bowls and anything that could of been laying around that I may of forgotton about but nothing

I've bicarbed the carpets and hopefully that will make a difference....I hate doggie smells too and I like mocolo thought it was perhaps the dog...but I'm still not convinced.

A friend recommended (eventhough she has never done this) leaving cut lemons around the house when I went away on holiday?...has anyone else heard of this?

Nutty_Tart

I have this problem too - even though our dog had to be put to sleep some months ago, I still came home to a musty smell. It must be the 'doggyness' in the carpets which day to day you can't smell. It is only when the house has been shut up for some time and, therefore, no fresh air flowing through the house. I put down some bi-carb, left it overnight and hoovered up in the morning. It was ok, but am having a long week-end soon - may put the bi-carb down before I go this time. Longer term, either going to be washing the carpet or replacing it! eek!