Şebnem Oğuz · ODORGO founder · Last updated: October 5, 2026
The suitcase is at the door and the key is in the lock. You open up, and the house greets you with the smell of a closed-up place instead of its own.
The house is not dirty. For two weeks no window was opened and the air did not move. If there were big dinners and guests before you left, the cooking and cigarette odors were already sitting in the fabrics. The closed house made them stronger.
Why does a house smell after a vacation?
- The air does not move. With the windows shut, odor cannot get out and settles into curtains and rugs.
- The drains dry out. The water in sink and shower traps evaporates over time, and sewer odor comes up the pipe.
- Something was left in the kitchen. A forgotten trash bag, half an onion in the fridge, an open container.
- The fabrics are loaded. Odor from heavy cooking and guests before the trip stays in the sofa and the pillows.
- The pet corner has been waiting. The bed and the litter box have gone days without fresh air.
What order should you follow when you walk in?
- Open windows on opposite sides of the house. Give it at least half an hour of cross-draft.
- Run the sink, shower and tub taps briefly; the dried traps fill with water again.
- Take out the trash and go through the fridge. Wipe the shelves with a damp cloth and a few drops of ODORGO Multi-Purpose Odor Eliminator Liquid 500 ml.
- Wash pillowcases, throws and curtains. Spray the smelly areas before they go in the machine, and add one capful of Multi-Purpose Liquid to the detergent drawer.
- Spray the sofa and rugs with ODORGO Odor Eliminator Spray 250 ml. Shake the bottle well first, then let it dry.
- Wipe the counter, the area around the stove and the floor under the trash can: 15 mL of Multi-Purpose Liquid per 1 liter of water.
- Check the air conditioner filter before you turn the unit on. A dusty filter spreads the odor through the room with the first blast of air.
The spray is water-based; you can use it on any surface that water does not harm. On water-sensitive fabrics and surfaces (unfinished or untreated wood, silk, leather, electronics, etc.), test on a small hidden area first.
A vacuum bag that sat for days will also smell when you switch the machine on; how to eliminate vacuum cleaner odors covers that part.
What goes in which room?
The spray takes care of the odor that is there right now. The gel keeps working while you unpack and in the weeks after. Just open the lid and leave it on a flat surface; it needs no power or batteries.
| Place | Product | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Living room, bedroom | ODORGO Odor Eliminator Gel 250 g | On a coffee table or shelf, somewhere flat where it stays still |
| Closet, shoe cabinet | ODORGO Odor Eliminator Gel 100 g (Compact) | Up to 15 days in areas of up to 15 m² |
| Sofa, rug, curtains | Spray 250 ml | Spray, let it dry, repeat if needed |
| Pet corner | ODORGO Pet Odor Eliminator Gel 250 g | Up to 30 days in small, enclosed spaces |
How do you get the pet corner back in shape?
Before your pet comes home from the sitter or the kennel, wash the bed and the blanket. Empty the litter box, wash it and refill it with fresh litter. Set the Pet Gel in the corner, on a flat spot where your pet cannot knock it over.
What if the odor is still there two days later?
Look for the source. The usual suspects: the drip tray behind the fridge, wet laundry forgotten in the washer, a dried-out floor drain, water standing in a plant saucer. As long as the source is there, the spray and the gel only buy you time.
What should you do before the next vacation?
Empty the trash, leave nothing in the fridge that will spoil, and don't leave wet laundry in the machine. Set gel in the rooms before you go. The pre-trip checklist has the full list. If the house will stay closed for months, read the guide to opening long-closed spaces and the one on opening a summer house.
Keep your home fresh after every trip
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the house smell when I get back from vacation?
Because the windows stayed closed for days, the air did not move and the odor settled into the fabrics. Dried-out drains and forgotten trash add to it.
How long should I air out the house?
At least half an hour. The air changes faster if you open windows on opposite sides.
Can I spray the sofa and the rug?
Yes. Shake the bottle, spray and let it dry; on water-sensitive fabrics, test a hidden spot first.
Can I leave the gel in the house before I go on vacation?
Yes. Open the lid and leave it on a flat surface where it stays still; it needs no power or batteries.
Why is drain odor worse after a vacation?
Because the water in the trap has evaporated. Run the taps briefly and the trap fills again.
Can I get odor out of curtains without washing them?
Yes, if the odor is light; spray them and let them dry. Heavy cigarette and cooking odor calls for a wash.
Does ODORGO leave a lasting scent in the house?
No. It is fragrance-free; the light plant scent you notice when spraying fades quickly.