Having a couch that doesn’t stink is a great thing. But as dirt, grease, and food crumbs collect, couches will begin to stink. The odours can be quite strong or only a mildly unpleasant musty stench. The fabric sofa upholstery is more permeable than leather and vinyl, making it more prone to odour absorption. It’s a good idea to know how to properly deodorise a couch whether you’re trying to impress guests or relatives, or simply want a couch that doesn’t smell bad.
Ways to deodorise upholstery
With baking soda
Using an upholstery brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner, vacuum the sofa. If at all feasible, remove the cushions and clean both sides. Sprinkle baking soda on the sofa’s upholstered areas. Apply enough baking soda on the entire sofa to leave a faint residue. Leave the baking soda on the sofa for at least 15 minutes, or overnight. The odours from the fabric and pillows are absorbed by the baking soda. To get rid of the baking soda residue, vacuum the sofa again.
White vinegar
Fill a spray bottle halfway with white vinegar and spray it all over the couch to deodorise it. If you’re worried about the vinegar damaging the upholstery, spray a small bit on your couch in a hidden spot and leave it overnight. Hold the bottle several inches away from the fabric when spraying the white vinegar solution so that just a light mist reaches the fibres. If you hold the bottle too close to your face, you’ll get a wet mark and a strong vinegar odour.
For leather sofas
Any spill that could cause an odour should be cleaned up right once. Combine 1 cup of warm water and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap. Use this solution to clean the sofa. Wipe only the foul-smelling section or, if necessary, the entire sofa, wiping only a small amount at a time. Wipe away the soap residue with a rag dampened with clean water. Wipe dry with a gentle, dry rag as soon as possible. If the odour persists, use an enzyme leather cleaning solution. If the odour remains, there could be an underlying cause. Hire a professional upholstery cleaner to get your sofa deep cleaned.
Activated charcoal
While charcoal is more difficult to work with than baking soda or white vinegar, it is a powerful odour-eliminator. When using activated charcoal, the most important thing to remember is that it will stain if it comes into close contact with your couch cushions or pillows. You can now buy activated charcoal in sealed bags to use in locations that need to be deodorised. Charcoal is also quite good at eliminating excess water from the air, making it an excellent choice for removing mildew odour.
Removing smoke odours
Before applying this method, do a spot test on an inconspicuous part of the upholstery. In a bottle sprayer, combine the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide and shake vigorously. Spray the deodorizer evenly across the surface of your couch while standing a foot away. Blot any spots that have received too much of the spray using paper towels. The scent will be neutralised when the solution dries.
