How to keep stale air smell in house at bay?

The charcoal and bounce sheets sound like a good solution.

We have a large filter for the central AC/furnace. Can order charcoal coated filters online. Just turn furnace fan on and run continuously for a few hours. Removes cooking odors, etc. Might freshen up your house too.

When we left the house for long term trips I oiled the P traps to prevent evaporation and opened solid citrus air fresheners in all the rooms and had an room ionizer air cleaner on a timer to run 12 hrs a day. It was rated for a 20x20 room but worked well in 1100 foot home. Never any odors when we returned.

You can fill onion bags with charcoal and they will absorb both moisture and odor.

I used to work at an old bowling alley with a dirt basement. This is the method they used to keep the damp earthy smell out of the actual business upstairs. Changed every couple of weeks, but you shouldn't have that extreme of an issue in your house. You could also buy Damp Rid in little containers, but it's basically the same thing and their x-tra power ones have charcoal in them. Cheaper to do the other yourself. Place several bags throught the house including the basement.

Hanging them works best.

Place the "Bounce" type dryer sheets around the house before you leave. Also sprinkle carpet fresh powder on the carpets.

Brian

The traps under the showers/tubs/sinks/washers can dry out and allow sewer gas to enter. All the ventilation suggestions are good but would make this worse.

A pint or two of mineral oil in each will keep them from smelling. Longer than 3 months then floating enough to cover the toilet bowls surface might be called for.
Mineral Oil Gallons

jbrad13 wrote:
Are you talking smell in your s&b or RV?

They are talking about the s&b while they are gone 3 months

Are you talking smell in your s&b or RV?

The key here is air exchange and movement:

In any house it is vital to have fresh air brought in and old air removed. Not only for air but for moisture as well.

Your furnace should have a fresh air intake coming from outside. This is good for the introduction of new air into the house but unless there is some provision for ventilating old air, then the result is the stale air you experience.

A simple solution could be as easy as leaving a bathroom exhaust fan on to constantly draw the air to the outside.
Yes it will take some of the warm air out and yes the furnace may run a bit more but it is good for everything in the house to have fresh air present. It helps all things such as upholstered furniture, bedding, draperies, carpets etc. These things all hold odors but if there is air movement throughout the house, it is minimized.

Weather permitting, I run my exhaust fan in the RV all the time except winter when it is hard to heat the place. It helps keep moisture and odors at bay.

You can also get an air exchanger installed in the home to work in conjunction with your furnace. Lots of options available there.
Try a Google search for air exchangers.

I guess I'd be looking at what kind of stale smell, and what's causing it. Ventilation would be a possible answer.