How To Make A Couch Smell Good: Pro Tips
A smelly couch can be a real put-off when you want to sit back and relax by the tv after a long day.
The unpleasant odor can be a frustrating and embarrassing thing but it’s more common than you might think.
The possible reasons why a couch could develop a stale smell could be due to daily use, spills, stains, sweat, pet odors, or a couch that hasn’t been cleaned in a long time.
The good news is that there are a few simple, easy, and quick methods you can use to make your couch smell good again.
This can also add some luster and freshness that will make the couch more welcoming and a pleasurable experience for relaxing.
From deep cleaning, vacuuming, and deodorizing with baking soda, vinegar, or essential oils, these methods can give your couch a new life.
Here’s everything you need to do to make a couch smell good:
Table of Contents
Ways To Make A Couch Smell Good
Deep Clean The Couch
Irregular cleaning is often the main culprit for a smelly couch but sometimes it’s easy to miss a few stains, dirt, or dust that could cause the bad smell.
If your couch has not been cleaned in months or years, it’s probably a good idea to start with a thorough clean before we try any of the other remedies to make the couch smell fresh and clean.
Depending on how bad your couch smells, you could either break out the vacuum and use it to clean the couch or you can use a cleaning agent and wipe the entire couch fabric down.
Wiping the couch will ensure sweat, stains, and spills are mostly removed which could also possibly eliminate that stale odor.
If the pillow covers are removable, you can consider throwing them into the washing machine and hang to dry.
Once you’re done wiping the couch, take it a step further and vacuum the inside and in between the cushions, seats, and backrests.
Finish off with a fabric freshener in a linen, lavender, or citrus scent and this should leave your couch smelling amazing.
You can try this fabric disinfectant spray that will eliminate odors and make your couch smell like fresh linen.
If you continue following up with consistent cleaning and vacuuming routine, then your couch should stay clean and fresh for longer.
Deodorize The Couch
Deodorizing might be one of the best things you can do to make any couch smell good.
Natural ingredients can be a great way to clean and deodorize a couch.
This will remove the room surface or deep layers of dirt and dust that have accumulated over a long time. There are many ways to deodorize a couch that are clean, natural, and cheap.
With all remedies, I highly recommend doing a spot test first to ensure it adheres to the fabric of your couch.
See also: How To Deodorize Different Types of Couch: Best Remedies
Baking Soda
Baking soda is often used for this purpose, but many deodorizing sprays or powders will maintain a fresh smell for weeks.
This simple and effective solution consists of a few steps. You’ll want to create a mixture of baking soda with water and spray the couch with the solution as this will absorb and neutralize the odors.
You can leave the mixture on the couch for a few minutes and then wipe it clean with a new cloth.
To be sure your couch can take to this mixture, it’s best to do a spot test before committing to cleaning the entire couch with this mixture.
Regardless, this is a pretty effective way to deodorize any couch without using harsh chemicals.
Vinegar or Essential Oils
Vinegar or essential oils are often the next two most commonly used items to clean and make a couch smell good.
Vinegar is used for a deeper and stronger clean and is great when vacuuming doesn’t do a sufficient job. These natural deodorizers can save you time, effort, and money but also leave you with a clean and spotless couch.
Most of the time, these two remedies can eliminate all musty smells from the furniture.
Here’s a basic overview of how to go about it:
Vinegar: Create a solution by mixing a few drops of vinegar and water into a spray bottle and spray the areas where the couch smells the most.
Leave the mixture to sit on the couch for a few minutes and then wipe with a damp cloth.
Vinegar is a strong ingredient so make sure you don’t overdo it. Over time, the strong smell may fade and your couch will smell clean.
Essential oils:
This is a great pet and child-friendly option that doesn’t involve harsh or toxic chemicals. Add a few drops of essential oils to a damp cloth and wipe the couch.
This can leave a pleasant fragrance that makes the couch smell good.
I recommend lavender, rosemary, orange, or cinnamon.
You could also add a few drops of the essential oils in a spray bottle and spray the couch if you want a stronger pleasant scent that lasts.
Spray as many times as you begin to notice the essential oil starts to fade. Essential oils are great because you can also gain plenty of aromatherapy benefits that are beneficial for your overall health and well-being.
Since you’re working with strong mixtures, be sure to test a small spot before committing to applying them to the entire couch.
Make A Sachet of Lavender or Potpourri To Place
For keeping a couch smelling good all the time, there’s a simple trick you can try.
Make a lovely scented sachet using lavender or potpourri.
You can sew a small bag and fill it with dried lavender, potpourri, or a cotton ball soaked with a citrus or linen fragrance that will give the couch a beautiful and amazing smell.
If you don’t want to make this sachet or maybe you don’t have the time, consider picking up this set from Amazon:
Every time you sit on the couch, you’ll immediately smell this fresh scent and it will also make you feel good.
This sachet could be placed inside the cushions or between wherever it’s most convenient and easy for the release of the scent.
Get New Quality Cushions
If your couch cushions have seen their days, investing in new cushions could do wonders for your space as this will provide adequate support and comfort.
New cushions have also not been exposed to new odors and stains so this can definitely make sure your couch smells new and good again.
With new cushions, you can also start implementing your new maintenance and care.
If this sounds good to you, then quality cushions in odor-resistant material may work best for retaining bad odors and may prove to be a wonderful investment over time.
Air The Couch
If dust, dirt, pets, or stains aren’t the biggest contributing factor or element for a smelly couch, then it could be possible that your couch might need a bit of airing.
If you work most of the day and the house is closed, this could be one of the reasons why it smells weird or musty.
Consider making sure the living room is well-ventilated as this will keep it smelling fresh and clean.
Wrapping Up
Whether your couch has a slight odor or an intense one or maybe it doesn’t smell bad at all but you want it to smell sweet and fresh, after trying any of the methods and solutions above, you can rest assured that your couch will smell good again.
Following a strict cleaning routine can ensure that your couch always remains smelling good but if you have trouble doing so, consider doing an immediate spot clean-up whenever spills, dirt, or messes occur.
Spraying the couch with an essential oil mixture or a couch fabric freshener every so often can also help prolong the freshness of your couch and make it smell good most of the time.
I do pray that these tips have saved your couch and it smells clean and fresh again.
With proper couch maintenance and care, you can definitely extend its life but also enjoy spending time sitting on the couch without getting that musty or stale whiff drift your way.
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