Sometimes you get so irritated by a smelly couch that you’re tempted to throw the entire sofa away. Well, not so fast. There’s no need to throw out the baby with the bathwater. The right deodorizer can make almost anything smell better.
There are so many reasons to want to deodorize your couch. For instance, your dog hates a bath but loves to sleep and pee on the couch, or maybe the kids broke an egg on the couch again- yeah, that happens too.
Whatever the smell is, there’s always a way to get a smelly couch smelling fresh again. There are no universal solutions for all types of couches; so we’ll share a few specific suggestions for various couch materials below.
How to Deodorize a Velvet Couch
To properly deodorize a velvet couch, you have to first get rid of any lingering offensive smells on the couch by cleaning it out thoroughly. When cleaning your velvet couch, remember that most velvet fabrics are dry clean only. This means that to clean, you should only use a stiff bristle brush and the upholstery brush attachment of your vacuum to get the dirt out.
Then, get a cotton towel and gently dip it in a little alcohol. Rub this all over your couch to pick up any leftover stains. Finally, sprinkle some baking soda on it. Baking soda is great for absorbing smells and would absorb any leftover odors in yours in about 15 minutes. If your couch smells very bad, then leave the baking soda for at least 6 hours. Finally, vacuum the sofa again to remove the baking soda.
Now you’ve got your couch looking as good as new, but your job is not done yet. Remember, your goal is to have your sofa not just looking fresh but smelling good again. Sometimes, baking soda is just enough to do the job, but other times, you might need a fabric deodorizer. This could either be store-bought or homemade.
Always remember to check the tag on your couch to ensure the ingredients on the deodorizer are safe to use on your couch. Gently spritz the couch with your deodorizer and make sure your room is well-ventilated so that the couch dries up in a little time.
How to Deodorize a Leather Couch
Can’t seem to get the annoying smell of your leather couch? That’s because you probably haven’t tried white vinegar. White vinegar is highly acidic, which means it is quite capable of killing odor-causing bacteria.
All you have to do is spray your leather couch with some white vinegar, and clean away any excesses. Allow your couch to fully absorb the vinegar, then polish the couch surface with a clean towel. You can also use any odor-neutralizing leather cleaner in place of white vinegar; you’ll find this at your local stores.
Alternatively, baking soda is a great solution for deodorizing leather couches. Sprinkle some baking soda over your leather couch and allow this to sit overnight. The next morning, gently vacuum up the remnants. Ultimately, never underestimate the power of sunlight and fresh air when it comes to making a leather couch smell better.
If you’ve got warm weather, take your couch outside for some fresh air. Make sure to do this on a day when you’ll be home to take in your couch in case of sudden rainfall. When taking furniture outside, remember to place it under a shade and never under direct sunlight as sunlight damages leather.
How to Deodorize a Microfiber Couch
Micro-fiber couches are durable, dust-free, cheaper than leather, and easy to clean. For this reason, millions of people around the world love microfiber furniture. However, despite all their benefits, microfiber couches get dirty and need to be deodorized from time to time.
To clean a microfiber couch, avoid using fabric cleaners containing water since many microfiber fabrics get stained easily. When cleaning this kind of couch, all you need is a vacuum to vacuum away all dirt on the couch surface, e.g., pet hair. Next, sprinkle some baking soda on the couch and leave it to sit for about 15 minutes. After that, vacuum the baking soda off the couch.
Use a Couch Deodorizer Spray
If you hate smells, then you must agree that couch deodorizer sprays are the greatest thing since sliced bread. No need to try air fresheners or candles; if the smell is coming from your couch, then the most likely solution is to clean it and spray it. You can buy the store-bought ones, or you can make them at home yourself. A lot of people prefer to DIY their own deodorizer sprays just to make sure it’s chemical-free.
Make Your Own Deodorizing Spray
Furniture deodorizers are pretty easy to make at home, so there’s no need to go to the store to get one for your couch. The ingredients for homemade deodorizers are cheap and easy to find, but the supplies you need to clean your couch would largely depend on what material your couch is made of. So, always check the label on your couch if you are unsure what material it is made from.
Always test your cleaning solution on a small hidden part of your couch to make sure it’s safe to use before applying it on the entire couch. If your couch is made of fabric, all you need is half a cup of rubbing alcohol mixed with half a cup of white vinegar and one cup of water, all in a spray bottle. Add some lemon juice to give the mixture a lovely fragrance, then shake thoroughly. Your cleaning solution is now ready for use.
For a leather sofa, mix a quarter cup of white vinegar with a half cup of olive oil, and some drops of lavender for fragrance, and there you have a cleaning solution as good as any. Remember to shake the mixture before use.
What if the Couch Just Smells Musty?
Spilling a significant amount of water on your couch without letting it dry could bring on a musty smell that’s difficult to live with. To avoid this, always take your couch out to dry whenever there is a significant spill on it. If there’s no sunlight, try using a blow dryer to dry the spot immediately to avoid mildew and mold. Also, try to cross-ventilate your home as much as you can to avoid having a moldy smell settle on all your furniture.
If you didn’t do any of the above and your couch now smells bad, you can still take your moldy couch outside to dry in the sun. Once it’s dry, get a spray bottle and mix one part water and one part white distilled vinegar. Shake thoroughly and spray on your couch. That should get rid of any moldy smell left behind.
How to Get Body Odor Out of a Couch
Sweat sometimes drips off the skin and sinks right into couches, seemingly attaching itself to the furniture for life. This is why you should never lend your couch for the night to anyone who doesn’t smell too good-at least not before covering up your cushions with a blanket.
However, if someone who doesn’t smell so good has slept on your couch and your couch has now acquired its smell, there are still a lot of ways to get rid of the seemingly permanent smell without burning down the couch.
First, you’ll have to prepare your deodorizing spray. For this, you’ll need to get a spray bottle and in it, mix two parts vinegar with one part water. Squirt the couch with spray to moisten it up. Keep the room properly ventilated to allow the couch to dry completely. If the vinegar smell lingers after the odor is gone, take the sun outside to dry properly.
How to Clean a Couch that Smells Like Dog
If you’ve got a dog who likes to hang out on the couch, then you should clean the couch every day to remove dog hair and prevent the sofa from retaining a dog smell. While vacuuming the floors, always take a second to vacuum your couch. If you just don’t have the time to vacuum every day, try using a jumbo lint roller to remove leftover dog hairs.
It’s always easier if you have cushions and throw pillows with removable covers, as you can easily take these off and throw them in your laundry machine. If you have single-piece covers and pillows, you can find a way to make them removable by adding zippers so that they’re removable and easy to wash.
Finally, white vinegar works as a great deodorizing spray to remove the dog smell. Just pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle and spritz your couch to keep it smelling fresh. You can do this as often as once every week.
How to Make Sure Your Sofa Never Smells Again
Here are a few steps to take to make sure your sofa keeps smelling as fresh as new after you’ve had it cleaned. First, never let a stain settle on the couch. Clean off any food and liquid stains the moment they happen. Secondly, always remember to throw a blanket over your cushions if you have anyone spending the night on your couch. Lastly, find another sleeping place for the dog.
