Putting vacant house up for sale-tips on making the place smell nice

[Melfish]

Am having to put DUncle's house up for sale (he is in a care home). It's been unoccupied for a few months and still has a good deal of stuff in it despite my best efforts.
The house smells a bit unaired as no one is there. I've got a couple of dodgy reed diffusers in situ from Wilkos which smell a bit overpowering so could anyone advise as to any nice scents that I can put it which won't make prospective buyers gag?
As I pop in intermittently, anything involving candles is out, as is fresh coffee, baking cakes etc (sadly I don't think the EA viewing assistant will oblige with putting on either prior to any viewings).

[wowfudge]

Clean it and open the windows while you do. Fresh air will be the best thing. Artificial scents just make people think you are covering something up.

[Grumpyoldblonde]

Definitely fresh air is the best thing and if you can, wash any nets and curtains, they really hold smells. There is nothing worse than perfumes trying to cover a smell, lovely in a fresh home, not so nice in a musty one. If there is a safe high window you can keep open a crack it would help but obviously be careful (I have a window I leave open that Spiderman would struggle to reach)

[Cakescakescakes]

Fresh air. We viewed a house that had an overwhelming air freshener smell in the loft conversion. Just makes me think they are trying to cover damp or something.

[Melfish]

Thank you for the good points about the air freshener. Will bin the reed diffusers. Hopefully I can prise a small window open- not sure if I trust the EAs to remember to close the windows when the viewing's finished.

[Postchildrenpregranny]

Try charcoal I had to rid neighbours house of urine smell .It worked better than any air freshner I tried. I used disposable barbecues ..That and opening Windows when possible.

[wowfudge]

Good point about curtains. Might be worth renting a Rug Doctor and cleaning the carpets too.

[lookbeforeyouleap]

Febreeze dual plug in cleansing rain/cotton fresh smells nice and fresh but isn't overpowering. I can't stand artificial, strong smells.

[Oreocrumbs]

Is the house dated and in need of 'doing up'? If it is I wouldn't worry too much about any smells, they are generally par for the course in such houses and viewers will be used to them (if they are looking at similar houses).

Otherwise if it's all up to date, then go down, give it a good clean and if possible clean carpets and curtains, air it out and keep a couple of bowls of bicarbonate soda with one or two drops of essential oil in.

Once the weather cools, (or now if you are sharing the same 'summer' as me) don't forget to set the heating on low to stop the house getting cold and damp in the winter.

[KatieHopkinsAteMyHamster99]

Neutradol do a range of smell-absorbing products which are good at removing smells without adding a new smell. I use them in teenage boys bedrooms

[Melfish]

Oreocrumbs do you know me?! You're right, it's firmly stuck in a 1970s/80s timewarp. Thankfully no garish wallpaper although there is some woodchip...
Thanks all for your suggestions. I will bin the cheapo reeds and do some vacuuming and cleaning with the windows open.

[Bestthingever]

I'd get the carpets and curtains professionally done if you're trying to sell. If you can't afford that, try the air fresheners you can put directly in your vacuum cleaner, vacuum frequently and air the house as often as possible.

[MiracletoCome]

I put DMs house up for sale recently, it did have a bit of a whiff from old carpets etc but as it was sold as a do-er upper, some wallpaper was peeling and it also had some mould from condensation, I was bit concerned about it all.

It sold in 2 days at full asking price, I had barely signed the forms, I think people don't bother about slight smells as they are going to be stripping it out anyway, so I would put it up for sale as is and see.

[Melfish]

Miracletocome wow! great news. You've given me hope!