A sofa can be the heart of a living room and the place where you want to lounge but as time goes by it starts to smell bad. Dog dander, food spills, even body cologne — there are plenty of odors that a couch holds that will stay behind and get unattractive. Routine cleaning is necessary to keep a sofa fresh and cozy, but some times it is just a little harder to get rid of bad odours. We’ll be exploring many of the different cleaning products, methods, and tips in this article to get rid of couch stains and keep your couch fresh.
Understanding What Causes Couch Odors
Before diving into cleaning, here’s a little info about couch smells that are most common. For a number of reasons odors can appear:
: Spills of Food and Beverages: spilled food and beverages are commonly seen on couches and absorb into the fabric causing unpleasant odours.
Oils from your Body and sweat: Skin oils and sweat naturally cling on to fabric especially in heavily touched places leading to stench.
Pets: Pets leave behind fur, dander, and smells that can permeate a couch’s upholstery.
Environmental smells: Smoke, cooking smells, or even just everyday house odours also stick to the cloth.
The Air and the Mold: Mold and mildew will grow when it gets wet and smells musty.
The smell from which you can pick the right cleaning strategy will help. You may not have the same solution for all kinds of smells, let’s find a few solutions that will help you solve each problem.
Table 1: Common Causes of Couch Odors
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Spills of Food and Beverages | Food and drinks spill onto the fabric and get absorbed, causing unpleasant odors. |
| Oils from Your Body and Sweat | Skin oils and sweat cling to the fabric, leading to bad smells in frequently touched areas. |
| Pets | Pets leave behind fur, dander, and smells that can permeate the upholstery. |
| Environmental Smells | Smoke, cooking smells, and general household odors cling to the fabric. |
| Mold and Mildew | When the couch gets wet, mold and mildew can grow, causing a musty odor. |
Table 2: Cleaning Methods for Different Couch Odors
| Method | Type of Odor Treated | Steps and Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuuming | General dust, crumbs, and loose pet hair | Use upholstery attachment to vacuum seams, cracks, and under cushions. |
| Baking Soda | General odors, pet smells, food spills | Apply a thick layer of baking soda, wait 15–30 minutes, then vacuum. |
| White Vinegar Solution | Pet dander, musty odors, smoke | Mix equal parts vinegar and water, spray lightly, rub with a dry cloth. |
| Upholstery Cleaner | Tough stains, lingering odors | Choose appropriate cleaner, apply as directed, and test on an invisible spot first. |
| Steam Cleaning | Deep odors, bacteria, pet dander | Use a steam cleaner with upholstery attachment and scrub lightly. |
| Essential Oils | Pleasant fragrance after cleaning | Mix a few drops of essential oils with water in a spray bottle and lightly mist the couch. |
Preparing Your Couch for Cleaning
Check material and care label on the couch before you start cleaning. Couches can be made of many different materials and damage can be done with the wrong products or methods. The majority of sofas will have one of these codes written on them:
W: Water-based cleaners are okay to clean.
S: Solvent based cleaners only; don’t use water.
WS: Works on water or solvent-based cleaners.
X: Vacuum only; don’t use liquid cleaners.
You will be able to choose the correct method and don’t damage the content if you know these codes. Cleaning : Once you know the fabric care needs of your couch, you are ready to clean.
Vacuuming as a First Step:
You can clean the couch and eliminate odors with the most basic and easiest solution to do so. Vacuum the whole couch with an upholstery attachment, particularly any cracks, seams and under cushions where crumbs and pet hair can build up. Vacuuming also gets rid of loose particles, dust and pet hair that can make things smell bad.
Cleaning the couch with vacuuming won’t get rid of deep odors entirely but it preps the couch for cleaning deeper down and prevents odours from spreading.
Baking Soda to Remove Senses: Baking Soda is great for removal of odours.
Baking soda is a natural and potent smell neutralizer and the best option for sofas that need a refresh fast. How to get baking soda to kill couch odors:
Apply a thick layer of baking soda all over the couch (including the cushions and back).
Sit the baking soda for at least 15–30 minutes. You can also leave it on for hours or even overnight if you want the stronger smells.
When the baking soda has had time to clean up the smells, vacuum with the upholstery attachment.
Baking soda will remove most smells, but if your couch is more odourous you will have to clean it further.
Cleaning with White Vinegar Solution
There’s also white vinegar, which is a great organic cleaner that will get rid of the smell of a couch. It is acidic and works best to neutralise odours. But the vinegar also smells bad, so only use it sparingly and under a cool window. The DIY for scrubbing your couch with vinegar:
Spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water.
Scrub the solution on the odourful parts of the couch. Make sure to don’t soak too deeply in the fabric because this will result in mold.
— Let the vinegar solution sit for a few minutes, and rub the wound with a dry cloth.
Don’t dry the couch. When the vinegar dries, it will smell no longer and neither will the couch smell bad.
This is especially great for pet dander and musty odours. But don’t use vinegar on water-resistant fabric because it can damage it.
Upholstery Cleaner Deeper Cleaning Using an Upholstery Cleaner.
If baking soda and vinegar don’t get the smell out, use an upholstery cleaner. A lot of upholstery cleaners are made to take off difficult stains and smells without scratching the fabric. Here’s how to use one:
Find an upholstery cleaner that works with the fabric type of your couch. Do not harm yourself but only do what is stated on the label.
Apply cleaner to a small, invisible area first and see if it’s colorfast.
Apply cleaner to odour-filled spots if test looks good, following product directions.
Wash the couch and dry completely. Other products might need to be reapplied in case of persistent smells.
Upholstery cleaner can easily get rid of the lingering odours and give your couch a clean slate.
Steam Cleaning for Tough Odors
A second good option is steam cleaning of a couch, if you have a smell that’s deep in the fabric. Steam kills bacteria and odours without harsh chemicals, as the steam makes them evaporate. But do be sure to determine if the material on your couch is steam-cleanable.
Get a steam cleaner with an upholstery attachment and rent or use it. Fill the water tank and setup the machine as directed by the manufacturer.
Scrub the couch with the steam cleaner and only spray areas that smell strongly. Do not encrunch the fabric as this will lead to mold and mildew.
: Allow the couch to dry completely. You might have to blow through the vents or a window to accelerate drying.
Steam cleaning is a great way to deep clean and especially beneficial for removing pet dander and rotten-smelling stains.
Essential Oils for a New Flavour With Essential Oils.
If you’ve already washed your couch, you might want to perfume it. Essential oils are also a natural solution that won’t need chemical air fresheners to create an aroma. The Essential Oil Safe Use Guide:
Combine a few drops of your chosen essential oil (lavender, lemon, eucalyptus) and water in a spray bottle.
Spray the essential oil spray lightly on the couch. Avoid oversaturating the fabric.
Dry the couch, smell the good smell.
Essential oils do not replace cleaning but they can bring a nice smell to your new couch.
Preventing Future Odors
Once you are not smelling your couch anymore, here are a few things you can do to avoid odours in the future:
Vacuum Frequently: Keeping the area vacuumed on a regular basis can take care of crumbs, pet hair, and dust that leave odours.
Use Couch Covers: Washable couch covers can seal the fabric and trap smells in it before they get to the couch.
Turn and Air Out Cushions: Turn and turn cushions often to distribute wear and keep cushions new. Allowing them to air out in the open every now and again can eliminate odours.
– Spot Clean Spills Right After : Blot spills right after they happen so stains and smells don’t settle into the fabric.
Pet Blankets: If you have pets then hang a blanket over the sofa they love to sit on. This will make it cleanable and repel odors.
I’ve been using baking soda for years to keep my couch fresh, and I swear by it! I sprinkle it generously, leave it for a few hours, and then vacuum it off. It works wonders, especially for food and pet odors. Don’t skip this step before trying more complex cleaners!
I tried the white vinegar solution, and it really helped with the musty smell I had from a damp couch. Just make sure to dry it properly afterward. It smells a bit strong during the cleaning, but it’s gone once it dries, and so is the odor!
After using an upholstery cleaner on my couch, I can honestly say it’s been the best option for those tough stains and lingering smells. I always test on a small area first to avoid any color mishaps. It’s a deep clean without the harsh chemicals!
I’ve been dealing with pet odors on my couch for months, and steam cleaning really helped! The steam deep-cleans and kills bacteria without using harsh chemicals.