How to make a room smell fresh

[Beansandneedles]

Have guests coming to stay and the guest room smells musty!

Have aired the bedding out on the line, used a nice scented detergent on the sheets, vacuumed, had the window open. Still has a lingering smell.

Air fresheners give me a headache so that isn't an option. Also hoping to avoid candles. Any other suggestions? They're arriving after lunch.

Open the windows that is all we ever do

We also cleaned the carpets very recently, so it's not that. If that's helpful!

All the windows i mean

is the room warm? Could you turn the heating right up to dry it out a little with the window open? Bit of fabreeze?

@Edingril all the upstairs windows are open daily for an hour or so!

@UpUpUpU it is generally a cold room. Colder today as the windows have been open 2 hours so far 😂 I'll try a heater

Use some shake and vac on the carpet?

Wipe around the room with some zoflora, clean the skirtings and give the radiator (if the room has one) a clean with fabric softener.

That's really helped! Thank you :)

I love these type of threads, cleaning is one of the passions, I absolutely love a clean, fresh smelling home x

Cleaning the radiator with fabric softener?! What is this magic?!
I know what I'm doing today...

Are the carpets fully dry. Damp underlay absolutely stinks like wet dog, especially if it's wool type underlay or carpet.

The last thing you should be doing is throwing around more chemicals.

If it smells musty you have to make sure the heating is put on in the guest room regularly or use a dehumidifier. If you’ve just washed the carpet and it smells musty, it hasn’t dried completely. You can get a cheap Dehumidifier for £100 and they aren’t expensive to run.

When opening windows, make sure the doors are open too.

One of my spare rooms always smell nice as I use the heated airier in there. DD used to spray her carpet in a communal house with a mix of water and a little fabric conditioner added. Then just make sure the room is nice and warm.

Bicarbonate of soda sprinkled on the carpet and left for a few hours before hoovering really helps to absorb bad smells. I put a few drops of essential oil in my BOS and give it a good shake then sprinkle so it adds a bit of scent to but you dont have to do this bit.

Another for opening the windows (I know you have them open), and sometimes cleaning the floor with hot water and washing up liquid. Just maybe check there’s nothing hidden (eg mouldy sandwiches or a pe kit!) A candle is good too but I find air conditioners awful!!

Dehumidifier

Burn incense.