How to Remove Odors From Sofa Cushions

The sofa is the heart of the family or living room and needs to be fresh and hygenic.

We've all been there. The cat uses the couch as a litter box, the baby spills milk on it and it spoils, a water leak leaves a smelly mildew stain. Upholstered cushions are tough to clean and it's even harder to remove odors from them. There are new household odor eliminators on the market, but most cover up the smell -- and it comes back when the scent dissipates. You need a scent neutralizer that will permanently freshen the sofa cushion. There are a few different approaches to the problem, but success will depend on the type of stain and the duration of the odor.

Things You'll Need

• Laundry soap
• Washing machine
• Scrub brush
• Spray bottle
• Water
• White vinegar
• Clean towels
• Baking soda
• Vacuum
• Carpet and upholstery steam cleaner
• Steam cleaner soap
• Lemon
• Salt

Instructions

1. Set the cushions out in the sun if they remove from the couch. The sun will "cook" the smell out of the cushions and leave them smelling like the outdoors.

2. Remove the cover on the cushion if it has a zipper or slipcover. Launder the cover with the usual laundry detergent and 1 cup white vinegar. Vinegar neutralizes most odors. Fill a spray bottle with water and 1/2 cup vinegar and spray the batting that was inside the cushion cover. Scrub any stains with the scrub brush. Blot the cushion batting with a towel until it is dry.

3. Sprinkle baking soda on cushions that are not removable and work it into the fibers with a dry scrub brush. Baking soda is an effective odor neutralizer for many smells. Allow the soda to sit in the fibers of the fabric overnight. Vacuum the cushions thoroughly until all the baking soda is out and the cushions are clean.

4. Shampoo the cushions with the upholstery tool on a carpet cleaner. Use the recommended amount of soap and add 1/2 cup vinegar. Shampoo the area at least two times and then keep pulling the solution out of the cushions with the wand until there is no more moisture.

5. Pour salt onto a smelly stain and soak it in lemon juice. Agitate with a scrub brush and allow it to remain on the spot for an hour. Blot the area with a damp towel. Rinse and continue to blot at least three times. Use a dry towel to absorb the moisture.

References

• University of Georgia: Mildew Prevention and Removal
• Cleaning and Maintanence Management Online: Removing Urine from Upholstery
• Cleaning Tips: Cleaning Your Couch Cushions
• Home Ec 101: Removing Cigarette Smoke Odor from Couches