How to Improve the Smell of a Couch

Commercial deodorizers can freshen up unpleasant-smelling upholstery.

Household spills and body perspiration can leave a smelly residue on your couch. Cleaning the couch helps to remove unpleasant odors, but before you clean, look for a cleaning care code stamped somewhere on the upholstery or its label. Upholstered furniture typically has a cleaning care code that lets the consumer know what cleaning techniques are safe for the fabric. "W" indicates it is safe to use a water-based cleaner; use a water-free spotter if marked "S"; "SW" is safe with either a water-based cleaner or water-free spotter, and "X" is vacuum only. After cleaning the couch, you can remove lingering unpleasant smells from upholstery with odor-absorbing baking soda or kitty litter. If you have a leather or faux leather couch, a disinfecting cleaning solution will do the trick.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum cleaner
• Kitty litter or baking soda
• Vinegar
• Bleach
• Bucket
• White cloth

Instructions

Fabric Upholstery

1. Vacuum the couch to remove all surface debris.

2. Sprinkle odor-absorbent, unscented kitty litter over the fabric upholstery and under the cushions, if the couch has a musty smell. If it has a smoky smell, use baking soda instead.

3. Let the couch set for about three hours, then vacuum up the kitty litter or baking soda. The litter or baking soda will absorb the unpleasant odors.

Leather or Artificial Leather

1. Combine water and bleach in a bucket using 10 percent bleach and 90 percent water, if you have an artificial leather couch. Combine one part white distilled vinegar to two parts water for a real leather couch.

2. Wash the artificial or leather couch with the solution, using a white clean cloth dipped in the solution.

3. Rinse off the solution using a clean rag dipped in fresh water. Dry with a clean towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Before cleaning the leather couch with the vinegar and water solution, refer to the manufacturer's cleaning instructions to avoid voiding the warranty.

References

• Naugahyde: Cleaning
• Michigan State University Extension: Upholstery Fabric Cleaning Code Labels
• "Shoes in the Freezer, Beer in the Flower Bed"; Joan Wilen, et al.; 1997