Summertime is in full swing, and for many people this means enjoying some much-needed vacation time.

But coming home to a musty or stale-smelling house can really take the wind out of your sails.

Fortunately, this is easily remedied with a bit of detective work, ventilation, and natural odor-absorbing cleaning products.

Let’s get into it!

Why Does My House Smell Stale After Vacation

When we’re at home, we’re constantly circulating air, cleaning, and keeping an eye out for issues, like water leaks or pet messes.

However, when we go on vacation, the air in our homes becomes stagnant, we can’t clean regularly, and moisture issues can build up quickly.

All these things can create stale smells over days or weeks. 

Here, we’ll delve into the details on how to identify the source of stale or musty smells and eliminate them naturally.

1. Lack Of Air Flow

A lack of airflow is the top source of stale smells after vacation. 

Between the absence of activity in the home, closed windows, and setting HVACs to more economical temperatures, our homes just don’t get the same level of ventilation they do when we’re bustling around the house.

Related reading: Better Air Means Better Health: Enhance Your Immunity By Improving Indoor Air Quality 

How To Address It

This one is easy: increase ventilation by:

• Opening windows for at least 20 minutes in the morning and evening
  
• Running your HVAC
  
• Running fans—including ceiling fans, bathroom fans, and kitchen ventilation fans
  
• Bringing in extra fans or box fans
  
• Running air purifiers 
  
  • Pro tip: You can create a makeshift air purifier by placing an air filter in front of a box fan and positioning it near a window, then running the fan. Click here for more details

All this helps bring in fresh air while quickly removing the stale air. You should notice a difference within a few minutes.

2. Your Carpets Need Cleaning

Dust settles all the time, especially on carpets and rugs.

However, the lack of airflow from an empty home creates extra dust on surfaces and floors, which can lead to stale or even musty smells.

How To Address It

Start by giving your home a thorough vacuum, preferably with a sealed HEPA vacuum if you have one.

HEPA vacuums that have a completely sealed system trap over 99.9% of dust and particles.

If you’ve been away for more than a week, thoroughly clean your floors and rugs at least twice to ensure a thorough cleaning.

If the smell persists or you suspect moisture issues, consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning company that uses non-toxic cleaning products.

If you’re unsure about the carpet cleaning solution the company uses, you can always request steam-only cleaning or rent a carpet cleaner yourself and use Branch Basics.

Learn how in: 5 Carpet Cleaner Alternatives That Actually Work. 

3. Mold Or Mildew

An empty home with extra humidity and dust creates a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.

Mold and mildew tend to create musty smells, and you can usually identify them by sight and smell.

Some places to check include:

• Garbage and recycling cans
  
• Under sinks (also check for leaks)
  
• Showers and bathtubs around the grout lines
  
• Drains
  
• Garbage disposals
  
• Fruit baskets
• Compost buckets
  
• Shower curtains
  
• Carpets or rugs that may have gotten wet
  
• Bath mats
  
• Upholstery
  
• Dishwasher
  
• Towels
  
• Laundry baskets
  
• Gym bags
  
• Washing machines (especially front loaders)
  
• Refrigerators
  
• Pantries 
  
• Children’s rooms
  
• Home gyms

How To Address It

Small and minor mold or mildew infestations can usually be cleaned DIY using a HEPA vacuum, Branch Basics All-Purpose Cleaner and Oxygen Boost, and 3% hydrogen peroxide.

However, if you discover a larger area, such as a significant water leak under a vanity or in the basement, a large moldy spot on a carpet or rug, or suspect black mold, always call a professional.

Get more helpful tips on natural ways to remove mold and mildew in:

• How to Get Rid of Musty Smells in Your House Naturally
  
• How To Remove Mold From Shower Grout Naturally
  
• Five Tips for Preventing Mold and Mildew in Your Front Loader
  
• How To Get Mold Out Of Clothes Without Bleach
  

4. Dust Build Up

As mentioned previously, dust naturally accumulates in an empty home due to a lack of airflow and inadequate cleaning.

How To Address It

The best remedy is to thoroughly dust and vacuum your home, leaving no surface, window, furniture, or window treatment undusted.

You’ll also want to wash comforters, pillow shams, curtains (or professionally clean if needed), or any surface you can’t dust by hand.

The best tools for the job are:

• A Sealed Cannister HEPA vacuum: Use the attachments to suck up dust on all surfaces. Work from top to bottom, dusting the floors last.
  
• A microfiber cloth: Microfiber cloths are superior for trapping and removing dust, pollen, and dirt. Just wet them with water or Branch Basics Streak-Free, and wipe everything down. 
  
• Unscented Dry Swiffer Cloths: These are an untreated, effective, disposable option for deep cleaning. The unscented Dry Swiffer Cloths are chemical and additive-free, relying solely on electrostatic charge and textured fibers to attract the dust. 
  
  • Note: The Swiffer Dusters have a coating or additive that some people react to. The coating enhances the Swiffer’s ability to attract dust.  
    
• Branch Basics Streak-Free: This product is so economical and effective for dusting, mirrors, and glass and is made with just 1 drop of Branch Basics Concentrate plus water!
  
• Branch Basics Laundry Detergent or Laundry dilution: Use to thoroughly clean, freshen, and brighten your sheets, duvet covers, down comforters, pillow shams, mattress pads, and more. Both products are plant- and mineral-based, MADE SAFE certified, and human and pet-safe, free from fragrance, SLS/SLES, optical brighteners, bleach, dyes, ammonia, 1,4-dioxane, and endocrine disruptors.
  • Related reading: Comparing Branch Basics Laundry Detergent Vs. Laundry Dilution: What’s The Difference?

Hate dusting, but know you need to do it? Find inspiration and motivation in: The Surprising Chemicals Riding On Household Dust.

5. Humidity & Stale Air

Humidity is another leading cause of stale air, especially during the summer, and can lead to mold and mildew issues.

The best way to prevent this while on vacation is to leave your HVAC running (which reduces humidity) and/or to run a dehumidifier, if you have a way to pump the water outside.

How To Address It

If the air outside is dry, increasing ventilation will automatically help reduce humidity, as will operating your HVAC system (whether heating or cooling).

If the house feels and smells damp, run a dehumidifier, check for mold or mildew, and vacuum, dust, and/or have your carpets cleaned as explained above.

Opening windows for 20 minutes twice a day is also recommended, even if it’s humid out, as this is the best way to push out that old, stale, humid air.

Running an air purifier can also help.

Related reading: Better Air Means Better Health: Enhance Your Immunity by Improving Indoor Air Quality

Can Musty Smells Affect My Health? 

Yes, especially if mold or mildew is involved, so you’ll want to check for it and address it immediately.

However, stale air is generally not a significant issue as long as it’s dealt with promptly.

Related reading: How to Get Rid of Musty Smells in Your House Naturally

Do Air Purifiers Help With Musty Smells? 

Yes, a high-quality air purifier will help reduce or eliminate musty smells.

However, the only way to eliminate musty smells is to address the underlying cause, as outlined in the previous section. 

Related reading: How To Choose An Air Purifier For Your Home 

How Long Will It Take For My House To Smell Normal Again?

If the stale smell is the result of a lack of airflow, dust, humidity, or a bit of mildew on a shower curtain, dishwasher, or front loader, the smell should dissipate quickly after the issue is addressed.

However, if there’s a larger mold or mildew problem or if your carpets need cleaning, it may not go away until you call a professional.

Start with the basics: increase ventilation, vacuum, dust, run an air purifier, run a dehumidifier, pour some peroxide down the drains, and do laundry.

If this isn’t enough, have a good look around for mold or mildew and call in the pros if needed.

Toss the Toxins With Branch Basics

One final tip: a clean home is less likely to produce bad smells while you’re on vacation.

So do your best to vacuum, dust, run all the laundry, empty the trash and compost, strip the beds, open your washing machine and dishwasher, and change your air filters before you go.

We know it’s hard to pull this off before leaving town—and believe us, with so many littles between us, we don’t always get it done—but it’s so worth it.

For Before- Or After-Vacation Cleaning, Branch Basics Has You Covered

Our all-in-one, MADE Safe-certified, plant- and mineral-based, pet-safe, human-safe, and biodegradable refillable cleaning system does it all.

Just one Concentrate plus water creates enough All-Purpose, Streak-Free, Bathroom, Laundry, and Foaming Wash to tackle every cleaning project in your home with ZERO harmful chemicals.

We also offer plastic-free Dishwasher Tablets, Branch Basics Laundry Detergent (powder), 
Oxygen Boost, Gel Hand Soap, Travel Kit, and natural cleaning tools and accessories.

Click here to shop all Branch Basics Starter Kits.

Want to learn more about how our refillable system works? 

Check out How To Get Started With Your Branch Basics Kit for a full written and video tutorial.

Happy cleaning!