It only takes two steps to understand how to deodorize sofa at home. In this guide, you will know the best way to use baking soda to freshen your couch. This method is beneficial for fabric upholstered sofas, but we will also talk about how you can deodorize leather.
It can be annoying to find the sofa smelling bad, and it’s potentially embarrassing if you have people over. This article will even discuss the potential reasons so that you can keep your sofa smelling best. Without further ado, let’s get right into the solutions and preventive methods!
How Do You Get The Smell Out Of A Couch?
Step 1. Vacuum the sofa
Install the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner and proceed to clean the sofa thoroughly. Be sure to reach the crevices and other hard-to-reach areas of the couch where dust and dirt can accumulate. Furthermore, remove the accessories and cushions on the sofa and clean them separately.
If your sofa has damp areas, dry the furniture outside but out of direct sunlight. Some materials should not be exposed to heat as they fade. However, leftover moisture might be the reason why your sofa has an odor.
What about hard-to-clean residues like gum? Please read our guide on removing gum from the sofa.
Step 2. Sprinkle baking soda and let it sit
After the initial cleaning and drying of the sofa, sprinkle baking soda all over the surface. The distribution should be equal and consistent throughout the furniture. You might be familiar with using baking soda to clean leather sofas, but this common household item is also a valuable and safe deodorizer for all sofas alike.
Allow the baking soda to sit for several hours or more, depending on the intensity of the odors. It should absorb the smell and also help dry the couch further if it is damp. Once done, vacuum off the residue and wipe the sofa.
You can then clean the sofa as you would naturally. The baking soda should successfully neutralize the smell, and cleaning the couch accordingly will freshen the sofa more. Finally, be aware of never saturating the sofa with liquid to help it dry faster.
How To Deodorize Leather Sofas
Using baking soda to deodorize sofas would work for most materials. But what if your couch uses leather? The process will be slightly different, especially since this material is absorbent.
- Address spills as soon as possible, so they don’t penetrate through the leather
- Wipe the sofa with a solution of warm water and mild soap
- Work one area at a time while targeting the affected spots
- Wipe off the soap residues with a damp cloth
- Dry the leather sofa with a soft cloth
- You can also use leather-formulated cleaners that use enzymes if there is still a smell
How Do You Deodorize Fabric Furniture?
Sprinkling baking soda on the furniture with fabric upholstery should quickly freshen it. But if you still notice a lingering odor, you can make natural deodorizing sprays that should be safe for most fabric types. Nonetheless, we still recommend testing a small portion of the sofa to notice potential staining or incompatibility with these recipes.
Note that these cleaning methods will also work for deodorizing a microfiber couch.
Method 1. Baking soda spray
- Mix warm water, baking soda, and a few drops of lavender oil in a spray bottle
- Spray the solution onto the sofa at a reasonable distance
- Allow the baking soda to absorb the odor on the fabric, and the oil should mask the smell further
- You can also lessen the water and make a baking soda paste to target stains that might be the cause of odors
Method 2. Vinegar spray
- Mix ¾ cup of water, ¼ cup of white vinegar, and half a tablespoon of liquid soap in a spray bottle
- Spray the solution onto the sofa at a reasonable distance and make sure you’re targeting the areas that need deeper deodorizing
- Rub the solution into the fabric fibers with a brush and some water
- Wipe off the suds and allow the sofa to dry
Why Does My Couch Smell?
It’s not enough to know how to deodorize the sofa safely; you must also understand why and avoid the potential causes of why a couch might develop a smell. In general, upholstered pieces of furniture do not require regular deep cleaning. However, failure to clean it immediately after getting soiled can cause odors to develop.
Besides spills, some other reasons why your couch smells is because of daily use. Sweat, animal odors, or dampness can contribute to an unpleasant odor. Always maintain your sofa’s cleanliness and install a slipcover to act as a protective barrier.
Does Febreze Really Work?
It should be safe to use Febreze on the couch, but a quick spray on a hidden portion is still essential. Nonetheless, this spray freshener is safe for upholstery and different types of fabric. Spraying Febreze on the couch is a quick way to deodorize it, but nothing beats finding the issue and removing it for long-term odor removal.
Conclusion
Does your couch stink? In this article, you have learned how to deodorize sofa at home without the risk of ruining its materials. A quick recap involves sprinkling baking soda on the couch, letting it sit, and then vacuuming it off.
You can also make a vinegar spray if the smell is too intense. The emphasis is necessary on testing your deodorizing solutions on a small area of the couch first. This way, you can prevent fading and other potential reactions on your sofa.