How do you deodorize a smelly couch?

What Causes Couch Odors?

Couch odors can arise for a variety of reasons:

• Spilled foods and drinks – Things like wine, coffee, juice, crumbs, etc. can spill onto the couch and get embedded in the cushions and fabric.
• Pet odors – Pets can transfer odors onto couches through their fur, paws, saliva, etc.
• Body odors – Human sweat and body oils also get transferred to couches.
• Mold and mildew – Moisture that builds up inside cushions can cause mold and mildew growth.
• Cigarette/cigar smoke – The smell of smoke can permeate into upholstery.
• Dirty upholstery – Soil, dust, and grime that builds up can create musty odors.

Over time, these odors can build up and make your couch smell quite unpleasant. The good news is that there are many DIY solutions for deodorizing a smelly couch at home.

Step 1: Vacuum the Couch Thoroughly

The first step is to thoroughly vacuum all surfaces of the couch: the seats, arms, backs, undersides, crevices, etc. Make sure to get into the nooks and crannies. This will help lift up and remove loose dirt, crumbs, pet hair, and other debris that could be contributing to odors.

Use the crevice tool and hose attachments to reach into seams and corners. Vacuum each cushion individually, both sides, as well as the areas of the couch frame beneath the cushions.

Vacuuming alone might eliminate some mild odors caused by surface dirt. But for stronger, more embedded odors, you’ll need to take additional deodorizing steps after vacuuming.

Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and odor absorber. After vacuuming, sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over all couch surfaces. Focus on areas where odors seem strongest.

Some tips for using baking soda:

• Use about 1⁄4 cup of baking soda per cushion.
• Really rub, pat, and press the baking soda into the fabric using your hands or a scrub brush to maximize effectiveness.
• Let the baking soda sit for at least 15-30 minutes before vacuuming it up.
• You can also let it sit overnight if odors are quite strong.

The baking soda will help absorb and neutralize odors trapped in the couch fibers.

Step 3: Steam Clean the Couch

Steam cleaning uses the power of hot steam to sanitize and deodorize upholstered furniture. To steam clean the couch:

• Fill up a steam cleaner machine with hot water and cleaning solution if using.
• Attach the steam cleaner hose, brush, and nozzle attachments.
• Turn the steam cleaner on and work over couch surfaces methodically.
• Use brush attachments to scrub fabric and loosen embedded dirt.
• Steam both sides of cushions and couch frame/base.
• Take your time and cover all areas thoroughly.
• Let couch dry completely before using.

The combination of hot steam, cleaning solution, and scrubbing action will thoroughly clean the couch down to the base of the fibers, removing many odor sources. Renting a steam cleaner can be worthwhile for tough odor situations.

Step 4: Use Upholstery Cleaner

Upholstery shampoo is a liquid cleaner formulated specifically for cleaning couches, chairs, and other upholstered items. To use an upholstery cleaner:

• Pre-treat heavily soiled areas.
• Follow instructions and dilute the cleaner into warm water if required.
• Use a sponge, soft brush, or fabric cleaner attachment to apply upholstery cleaner.
• Gently scrub areas of the couch, let soak briefly.
• Wipe away dirty suds with a clean damp cloth or wet vacuum extraction tool.
• Allow couch to air dry fully before using again.

The surfactants and detergents in the upholstery cleaner will get into fabric fibers and lift away grime, oils, and residue that cause odors. Just check furniture tags first and test an inconspicuous area to make sure the cleaner is safe for that couch’s fabrics.

Step 5: Deodorize with White Vinegar

White vinegar is a natural deodorizer. Because it is acidic, it helps neutralize odors and kill bacteria and germs that can cause smells.

You can use white vinegar a few different ways on a smelly couch:

• In a spray bottle mixed 50/50 with water – Lightly mist over fabric and let dry.
• Straight vinegar in a spray bottle – For stronger odors, spray vinegar undiluted.
• Wipe with vinegar dampened cloth – Dip a microfiber cloth into vinegar and wipe couch sections.
• Baking soda paste – Make a paste with 2 parts baking soda to 1 part vinegar and rub into areas.

Vinegar can help freshen a couch between deeper cleanings. (Just avoid using vinegar solutions on leather couches.)

Step 6: Sprinkle Cat Litter

Here’s a trick for absorbing musty odors from couches – sprinkle unused, unscented clay cat litter lightly over the seats and let sit for several hours or overnight before vacuuming up. The cat litter can soak up stubborn mildew smells from moisture buildup deep in the couch.

Step 7: Rent an Ozone Generator

Ozone generators are devices designed to remove odors like smoke and mildew from indoor air and furniture. They produce ozone gas, a highly reactive oxidizing agent that destroys odor molecules. To use an ozone generator for couch odors:

• Remove people, pets, plants from the room.
• Follow device directions for proper set up and ventilation.
• Run the ozone generator in the room with couch for recommended treatment times.
• Air out room when finished and before re-entering.

Professional ozone treatments can effectively remove stubborn odor sources and freshen the air around your couch.

Prevention Tips

Once you’ve deodorized the couch, here are some maintenance tips to help prevent future odors:

• Vacuum and rotate cushions weekly.
• Blot spills immediately with paper towels.
• Clean with a fabric/upholstery cleaner every few months.
• Sprinkle baking soda before vacuuming occasionally.
• Keep pets off furniture or use covers/blankets.
• Steam clean once or twice a year.
• Use couch covers and encourage people to avoid food on the couch.

With regular simple cleaning and immediate treatment of spills/stains, you can keep your couch fresh. But when odors do develop, use these deodorizing methods to make your couch smell pleasant again.

Conclusion

Here are some key points to remember:

• Vacuum thoroughly first to remove excess dirt contributing to odors.
• Use baking soda to directly absorb odors from fabric.
• Steam clean with a machine to sanitize and deodorize the couch.
• Clean with an upholstery shampoo to lift residue from fibers.
• Apply white vinegar as a natural deodorizing agent.
• Sprinkle cat litter for severe mildew odors.
• Use an ozone generator for tough smoke and stain odors.
• Prevent future odors through regular maintenance cleaning.

With a few basic cleaning methods and some natural deodorizers, you can get even the smelliest couch fresh again. Consistent maintenance will keep odors away for good. Enjoy lounging on your clean, odor-free couch again!