Overuse of Essential Oils

[Elizabeth3203]

Hi everyone,

we had guests stay, who unbeknown to us had heavily used essential oils during their stay.

Now I love essential oils, but the lingering smell is a strong and horrible aniseed smell.  I've had the windows and doors open, plus the celling fans on high all day but the smell lingers, eeeeekkk!!!!.

I'm worried it won't be gone for our next check in in a few days!!!

Does anyone have any advice to get rid of the smell?

Cheers Beth

[Bronwyn100]

Wash the windows. Burning a candle often helps get rid of smells. I feel for you. 

[Elizabeth3203]

Thank you!  I will give it a try

[Kia272 · Accepted solution]

@Elizabeth3203  White vinegar in bowls. Close the windows and doors and let it sit for 24 hours or longer. Does a great job of absorbing odors. It's cheap, so use it generously. It really does wonders. 

You can use it in the wash as well. Wash any fabrics that you have in the unit too. 

You can sprinkle any carpet or rugs you have with Borax or baking soda, let that sit, and then vacuum. Those absorb odors too. 

Good luck. 

[Elizabeth3203]

Thanks very much!  I've put baking soda in a tray but will sprinkle it on the rug as well, and the white vinegar sounds promising🤞🤞cheers!

[Kia272]

@Elizabeth3203  The white vinegar is huge- trust me. Let us know how it works out! 

[Sharon1192]

Did it work with the Vinegar in bowls? I just had the same thing happened and its so strong Peppermint to where it makes my sinuses and teeth hurt even cleaning with all the windows open. I have hard floors and no carpet in my rental. I closed it up and put the vinegars in bowls, I also took out my ac unit filter too. Curious how it worked out?

[Emilie]

Hi @Sharon1192, 

I'll mention @Elizabeth3203 here for you to see if they can come back and let us know whether this worked for them! As it's a discussion from a few years ago as well, if you'd like more advice from other hosts, I recommend you 👉 start a new conversation. 

Thanks 🙂

Emilie

[Elizabeth3203]

Hi @Sharon1192, sorry only just got your message as weve been away.  It took 3 weeks for the smell to disapate from our airbnb.  I used vinegar bowls and bicarb bowls around the place.  also kept the windows and doors open as much as possible and the ceiling fans going 24 hours.  Luckily our guest cancelled and we didnt have any guests that following week and I ended up blocking out 2 weeks.  I was so upset and stressed.  Good luck with your smell, it will dissapate! 

[Sharon1192]

Thank you @Elizabeth3203, I used an Ozone machine as I had a guest arriving that next day and the weather was too cold, freezing temps to leave it open, 4 hrs after the ozone it returned. I have to wear a mask because my skin reacts to it with burning whenever Im in there and I cant breathe it in. We have had to ask guests if they are okay with the scent now as I have no idea how to get it out, the guest claimed they had it on themself? Its so potent, Ive had 2 guests and cleanings since, now I have a break and the weather is warming up. I have steam mopped the place. Its almost overkill whatever they did, its like they were trying to mask smell of something its so strong. Sigh im one wk since the guest. Ill see what happens by 3 wks. Its been very stressful. Thanks for your reply.

[Elizabeth3203]

@Sharon1192 Not good.  Ive amended my rules to not essential oil burners, incense sticks or candles.  I just dont understand people when they use something so strong.  Best of luck, hopefully the warm weather will help and you can open the place up x