You probably came here to know how to get that musky, familiar yet unpleasant dog smell out of your couch.
As much as we love our dogs, they sure can stink.
As loving pet owners, we might personally be able to ignore the odours that our pets leave around the house, but just because we’re okay with the smells doesn’t mean our house guests will be.
Pet odours can linger on furniture after some time, and in some instances, they can be extra tricky to get rid of. So if your sofa has been smelling a lot like your pet lately, try some of these 7 tricks that will help you get that dog smell out of your couch.
1. White vinegar and water
When it comes to cleaning out odours, white vinegar is your best friend.
Its highly-acidic properties make it an effective cleaner that can break down and dissolve even the most stubborn buildups in your fabric fibres.
To get rid of the remnants of wet dog and also cat puke (plus their accompanying scents) from your sofa, fill a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water, then spray it on your sofa.
Leave the solution to settle in for a few minutes so the vinegar can work its magic, then remove it by giving your sofa a gentle wipe down.
Voila! You’ve got yourself a smell-free sofa.
2. Baking soda
If vinegar is your best friend when it comes to odour neutralising and stain dissolving, then baking sofa will make the perfect runner-up.
Unlike other household cleaners, baking soda is non-toxic, and just like vinegar, it does a great job at breaking down dirt and grease.
The best time to use baking soda is right after you’ve sprayed your sofa with a water-vinegar solution. But before you give your sofa a wipe down, apply a thick coat of baking soda onto your sofa and let it rest for a few hours (or overnight) before cleaning it up.
Important note: Be sure to apply the baking soda only when the surface of your sofa is completely dry. Try using a fan to help speed up the drying process before applying baking soda.
3. Unflavoured vodka
More than a great shot after hours, this stuff can work double duty to remove stains and odours from your sofa.
Inexpensive vodka works fine for cleaning, just make sure that it’s unflavoured since sugar and other added additives can end up complicating your cleaning efforts.
To clean with it, fill your spray bottle with vodka, neat (avoid diluting it with water).
Try not to wet the fabric too much to the point of making it damp. Aim for a light mist instead. The alcohol will collect the odourants that are clinging to the sofa fabric, and as the alcohol evaporates into the air, it takes the smell along with it.
4. Enzymatic Cleaners
Many professional cleaning companies have been looking into bio-enzymatic cleaners for cleaning, and for good reason: These products use “good” bacteria, which effectively digest waste, stains and bad odours.
These bacteria produce enzymes specifically designed to break down certain molecules into smaller pieces, which then becomes a source of nutrition for them. This means that they literally ‘eat up’ the source of those pesky odours that linger on your sofa.
Before using an enzymatic cleaner, remove any dirt or hair from the surface of your sofa.
Let the solution sit on your sofa’s surface for ten minutes or so minutes before wiping it off with a microfibre cloth, and you’re all done!
5. Air-drying
If you’re not a fan of chemicals and liquid cleaning solutions, then simply airing out your sofa could be the best option for you.
Opening your windows or better yet, bringing your furniture outside for a couple of hours in the sun can go a long way in terms of getting rid of funky, lingering smells.
6. Upholstery or carpet vacuum-cleaning
If you’re in need of some heavy-duty cleaning, you might want to drop by your local carpet cleaner or upholsterer to see if you can rent one of their heavy-duty vacuum cleaners.
These cleaners with an upholstery attachment can be toggled between dry and wet cleaning for a thorough dirt and smell removal.
To avoid ending up with a wet dog smell, try using the wet vacuum option at the very end after you’ve removed as much dirt as possible.
7. Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is like a vacuum cleaner but it absorbs odours in the air instead of dust. Due to its large surface area, activated charcoal can absorb a high amount of gas particles, removing unpleasant smells in your couch. This is also an option for people who prefer using natural products.
Pick up a few sachets of activated charcoal and place them in the corner of your sofas where they’re not visible. Let them work wonders over time!
Prevent future odours
Now that you’ve learned how to get that dog smell out of your couch, you don’t have to be worried about a smelly couch anymore!
You may have gotten rid of the smell, but is your sofa covered in fabric that’s not ideal for a household with pets? Read this post to know what kind of fabrics suits you and your furkid better: