How to Get Rid of Sofa Smells (Pets, Damp and Food)
By Alex at SOFGO ·
Most sofas pick up a smell at some point: a dog that naps on the cushions, a takeaway in front of the film, a damp week with the windows shut. Most smells come out with patience, a vacuum and a box of bicarbonate of soda.
The trick is to find where the smell is coming from before you reach for a spray. This guide covers finding the source, airing and vacuuming, bicarbonate of soda, pet and damp smells, and habits that stop smells coming back.
Find the source first
A smell around the sofa isn't always coming from the fabric. Spend five minutes finding exactly where it lives.
Use your nose, section by section. Smell the seat cushions, the back cushions, the arms and the chaise one at a time. Then lift the seat cushions and smell the base and the gaps underneath. A smell that's strongest in one spot usually means one spill or accident. A smell that's everywhere is more likely to be general use, cooking or damp.
Check the hidden places. Crumbs, pet treats and dropped food collect down the sides and in the gaps behind the seat. On a sofa bed, check the sleeping area as well. If your sofa has a storage compartment under the seat, open it and empty it. Old bedding, a damp towel or a forgotten bag of shoes can make the whole sofa smell.
Look for marks you missed. Shine a torch at a low angle across the fabric. Old spills often show as a faint ring or darker patch, and pet accidents can soak into the filling while the surface looks clean.
Check the room. If the smell is musty, look for condensation on windows or black spots on the wall behind the sofa. A damp room will keep making the sofa smell until it's fixed.
Read the care label. Before you use any water or cleaner, check the label for its cleaning code and test anything new on a hidden spot first. Our guide to how to clean a fabric sofa explains what each code means.
Airing and vacuuming
Fresh air and a thorough vacuum solve more sofa smells than any product.
Open up the room. Open windows on opposite sides of the room if you can, so air moves across the sofa rather than sitting still. Even a cold, dry day helps.
Take the cushions off. Stand them on their edges so air reaches every side. Only wash removable covers if the care label allows it.
Vacuum everything, slowly. Use the upholstery tool on the cushions, arms, back and base, and the crevice tool along every seam and gap. Go slowly: quick passes leave dust and hair behind, and that's where much of the smell is. If you have a dog, our guide to removing dog hair from a sofa is worth reading first.
Air the storage too. Leave the storage compartment open for a few hours while the room airs.
Give it time. Light cooking or stuffy-room smells often fade after a day of airing and a proper vacuum. If not, move on to bicarbonate of soda.
Bicarbonate of soda: how to use it
Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is cheap, gentle on most fabrics and good at soaking up odours. Used dry, it's the safest next step after airing.
- Vacuum first. Bicarbonate works best on a clean, dry surface.
- Test a hidden spot. Sprinkle a little on the back or underside, leave it for an hour and vacuum it off. Check that the colour and texture haven't changed, especially on dark or very soft fabrics.
- Sprinkle a thin, even layer. Use a sieve or a shaker so it spreads evenly. You want a light dusting, not a thick crust.
- Work it in gently. Brush it lightly into the fabric with a soft, clean brush.
- Leave it for several hours. For a mild smell, a few hours may be enough. For a stronger one, leave it overnight and keep pets and children off the sofa while it works.
- Vacuum thoroughly. Go over every surface twice with the upholstery tool, then empty the vacuum and wipe the tool so it doesn't spread powder elsewhere.
Avoid mixing it with water on the sofa. A wet bicarbonate paste can leave a white residue that's hard to remove. Keep it dry unless the care label and a patch test say otherwise.
Avoid strong perfumed sprays. Fabric fresheners mask a smell for a few hours, but they don't remove it, and a mix of perfume and old odour can be worse than either on its own.
Pet smells
Pets are a common reason a sofa starts to smell. Most of it is everyday hair, skin oils and the smell of a favourite napping spot. Accidents need a different approach.
For everyday pet smells:
- vacuum the pet's favourite spot every few days, not just at the weekend;
- use bicarbonate of soda on that spot every few weeks;
- put a washable throw or blanket where your pet lies, and wash it often;
- wash pet bedding regularly too.
For pet urine, act quickly:
- blot, don't rub, with plain kitchen roll until no more liquid comes up;
- use an enzyme cleaner made for pet urine, following the instructions and testing a hidden spot first;
- don't use ammonia-based cleaners, because ammonia smells like urine to pets and can draw them back to the same spot;
- don't soak the area, because water pushed deep into the foam can cause a musty smell later.
If an old accident has soaked into the filling, a professional upholstery cleaner may be the only way to get it out completely.
Choose a fabric that helps. Easy Clean is a fixed £199 upgrade on any of our sofas and beds. Our FAQ describes it as "a water and pet resistant weave that wipes clean — tough on paws, claws and spills". It won't stop a dog smelling like a dog, but spills and accidents are easier to deal with before they soak in. Our guides to pet-friendly sofas and Easy Clean fabric and the best sofa fabric for dogs go into more detail.
Damp and musty smells
A musty smell usually means moisture: from the room, from a spill that never dried properly, or from damp items stored under the seat. Treat the cause first, or the smell will come back.
Dry the room. Open windows for a short time every day, even in winter, and use extractor fans when cooking and showering. A dehumidifier helps in rooms that feel damp or show condensation, and a cheap hygrometer will tell you whether the air is too humid.
Give the sofa space. Leave a small gap between the back of the sofa and an outside wall, so air can circulate. Cold external walls are where condensation forms, and a sofa pushed hard against one can pick up a musty smell.
Dry it properly. If part of the sofa got wet, stand the cushions on their edges and let the room air until every layer is completely dry. A fan pointed at the sofa helps. Don't put cushions on a radiator, because direct heat can damage fabric and foam.
Treat the smell once it's dry. When everything is dry, vacuum and use bicarbonate of soda as above. Musty smells can take two or three rounds.
Watch for mould. If you can see mould spots on the fabric, or the smell is strong and keeps coming back, stop and get advice from a professional upholstery cleaner.
Empty damp storage. Never put damp towels, bedding or coats in the storage compartment. Make sure everything is completely dry before it goes in, and leave the lid open now and then to let it breathe.
Prevention
A few habits keep a sofa fresh.
- Vacuum weekly, including the gaps and under the cushions.
- Deal with spills straight away. Blot, don't rub, and let the area dry fully.
- Air the room daily, even for ten minutes.
- Use throws where people and pets sit most, and wash them regularly.
- Clear plates and crumbs before bed.
- Turn and plump the cushions every week or two, so they wear and air evenly. Our guide to stopping sofa cushions going flat has more on this.
- Keep storage dry and tidy. Store only clean, dry bedding, and see our guide to what fits in a sofa bed storage chaise for ideas.
- Consider Easy Clean if you have pets or young children, so spills wipe up before they soak in.
FAQs
How do I get rid of a smell on a fabric sofa?
Find the source, air the room and vacuum thoroughly, including under the cushions. If the smell remains, sprinkle a thin layer of bicarbonate of soda, leave it for several hours or overnight, and vacuum it off.
How long should I leave bicarbonate of soda on a sofa?
At least a few hours for a light smell, and overnight for a stronger one. Keep it dry, keep pets off the sofa while it works, and vacuum it off thoroughly afterwards.
How do I get rid of a musty smell in a sofa?
Fix the moisture first: air the room, use a dehumidifier if it's damp, and leave a gap between the sofa and any outside wall. Once everything is completely dry, vacuum and use bicarbonate of soda. If you see mould, get professional advice.
How do I get a dog smell out of a sofa?
Vacuum the dog's favourite spot every few days, use bicarbonate of soda every few weeks, and cover the spot with a washable throw. For urine, blot it up and use an enzyme cleaner, not an ammonia-based one.
Do fabric sprays get rid of sofa smells?
Most only cover a smell for a short time. Remove the cause with airing, vacuuming and bicarbonate of soda first.
Is Easy Clean fabric easier to keep fresh?
Easy Clean is a water and pet resistant weave that wipes clean, so spills and accidents are easier to deal with before they soak in. It's a fixed £199 upgrade on any of our sofas and beds. You still need to vacuum and air it like any fabric.
Got a sofa question we haven't covered? Message our team or email support@sofgo.co.uk. We reply between 8am and 10pm, every day. You can browse our corner sofa beds with storage any time, and our FAQ explains the difference between Standard and Easy Clean fabric.
Alex at SOFGO