How to Get Smells Out of Your Couch: 5 Methods That Really Work

Couches can slowly develop not-so-great smells after years of use, or they can quickly start to stink should a stain or accident occur. Either way, if you're stuck with a smelly sofa, don't worry. Instead, act quickly and check out these five methods you can use to get rid of smells from your couch, whether the odor is limited to a certain area of your sofa or it's throughly embedded across the entire piece of furniture.

Best of all, you probably already have everything you need. Here's how to get smells out of your couch once and for all.

Try Baking Soda

Dealing with a smelly couch? Let the deodorizing magic of baking soda do its work. Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda evenly across your sofa, paying extra attention to spots frequently spilled on or sat on by pets.

Let the baking soda sit overnight, then vacuum it all up the next morning. The baking soda will absorb the odors and leave you with a fresher-smelling sofa. You can even use scented baking soda that's labeled specifically for deodorizing (you'll find it in the cleaning aisle rather than the cooking one) if you want to be sure any whiff of an odor is gone.

Let It Sun in the Sun

If your couch is small enough to easily move outdoors, or the odor is limited to removable cushions on the couch, try taking it outside for a sunny day or two. Sunshine and fresh air can kill odors with little work on your part.

You can even combine deodorizing methods by letting the sofa sit in the sunshine after you sprinkle baking soda on it. Either way, just don't let it sit out in the rain or smoke-filled air.

Steam Clean Your Couch

Steam cleaners are a great way to get rid of smells and stains from your couch at the same time. A portable carpet steam cleaner will work well on sofa upholstery, as will a classic clothes steamer. Slowly move the steam cleaner across the sofa, applying even pressure.

Either way, you may need to give your sofa multiple passes with the steamer to ultimately remove the odors and stains. Just make sure you don't soak the couch, as this can leave behind water stains.

Wash the Cushion Covers

A quick trip through the washing machine may be the odor-removing trick your couch cushion covers need. Unzip your sofa covers and place them in the washing machine with a mild detergent and half a cup of vinegar—the vinegar will fight odors while the detergent cleans. Run your covers on a delicate or gentle cycle so that the zippers won't be damaged in a heavy spin cycle.

Do not machine-dry your sofa covers—the high heat from the dryer can shrink your covers, making them impossible to put back on your sofa cushions. Instead, let them fully air-dry on a drying rack.

Use a Deodorizer

If your smells are limited to a certain part of your couch, consider using a deodorizer spray. You can easily DIY one by combining a tablespoon of baking soda with a cup of water and half a teaspoon of your favorite essential oil in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto the smelly area, let it sit for five to 10 minutes, then gently dab away excess moisture from the sofa upholstery with a clean cloth. You can also use this mixture to give your couch a quick scented refresh by lightly spritzing it around your entire sofa.

However, if your odors are proving quite difficult to get out, you may need to use a store-bought deodorizer—this is especially true if you're trying to remove the smell of pet urine! Look for a deodorizer like Arm & Hammer Fabric and Carpet Foam Deodorizer or Febreze Odor Eliminator, or a pet urine-specific one like Nature's Miracle Stain and Odor Remover. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the best results.