Linda asked: “A large cloth upholstered recliner that came from a friend with a horrendous sweat smell. Can it be removed or should the chair be dumped?”
Sweat smells and body odor seem to attach themselves to furniture and never leave. Fortunately, there are several different methods that can be used to remove this nasty smell and save your piece.
Removing Odors with Baking Soda
You Will Need:
- Several boxes of baking soda
- Vacuum
How to Remove the Odor:
- Begin by testing the vacuum to ensure the suction is powerful enough to remove the baking soda. To do this, simply sprinkle baking soda on a small area of the furniture piece and vacuum.
- Cover the entire piece with baking soda by sprinkling it and rubbing it in gently to get to deeper odors.
- Allow the baking soda to sit on the piece overnight.
- Vacuum thoroughly to remove.
- Repeat as necessary.
Removing Odors with Vinegar
Vinegar is a well-known odor remover and is safe to use on most surfaces.
You Will Need:
- White distilled vinegar
- Clean white towels or paper towels
- Spray bottle (for cleaning solution)
*Always test a small, inconspicuous area of the furniture piece with the cleaning solution first to make sure no staining, color fading or other damage will occur.
How to Remove the Odor:
- Begin by mixing a solution of one part vinegar and one part water in the spray bottle. For severe cases, you may want to use two parts vinegar with one part water. It will remove more of the odor, but may also take longer for the vinegar smell to go away.
- Spray the solution on the furniture piece to moisten the surface.
- Open the windows (the vinegar smell WILL dissipate) and allow the piece to dry completely.
- Repeat as necessary until the odor is gone.
Removing Odors with Vinegar & Baking Soda
(for more severe odors)
You Will Need:
- White distilled vinegar
- Clean white towels or paper towels
- Spray bottle (for cleaning solution)
- Baking Soda
- Vacuum
- Scrub brush
*Always test a small, inconspicuous area of the furniture piece with the cleaning solution first to make sure no staining, color fading or other damage will occur.
How to Remove the Odor:
- Begin by mixing a solution of one part vinegar and two parts water in the spray bottle.
- Spray the entire piece down liberally.
- While the surface is still moist, spread baking soda on the surface and gently scrub with scrub brush.
- Allow to dry partially. When almost dry, vacuum excess baking soda from the surface.
- When completely dry, vacuum again to remove the remaining baking soda.
Utilizing the Sun
The sun offers a natural way to remove the bacteria that causes odor and freshen up any piece of furniture.
You Will Need:
- A sunny, clear day
- Outside space for the furniture piece
- Friend (to help move heavy furniture)
How to Remove the Odor:
- Vacuum the entire surface of the furniture.
- Move the piece outdoors into direct sunlight. If the piece is heavy, have a friend assist you.
- Allow the piece to stay in direct sunlight all day. The ultraviolet rays will kill the odor-causing bacteria and freshen up the smell.
Additional Tips and Ideas
- If the odor remains, you could also try to utilize a steam cleaner to kill the bacteria living in the fabric.
- If all attempts to remove the odor fail, consult a professional cleaning service or look into purchasing a replacement piece.
To get the body odor smell out of furniture, doesn’t it depend upon how long the body has been there?
We bought a couch from a flea market. It is in great shape, but when you sit on it, it stinks. We have sprayed it with different products, but nothing has worked. It also has a hideaway bed. I guess it’s made out of suede or soft leather, but it is not smooth. I just want the smell gone.
Best way to get rid of a smell on a carpet or sofa? Do what I did at my dad’s house; toss it out.
Ooh; Mike trashed y’all.
Waste of time. Did not work.
Sunlight over time will kill most smells. Repeatedly rub in lots of baking soda; spritz on vinegar; blot up and vacuum. Then put out in the sun. Several days in direct sunlight does wonders. Vodka spritzed on before setting out in the sun will also work. Keep at it for a few weeks in the summertime and you will be rewarded with a fresh couch.
How can you remove body odor from painted wood furniture? We were in a rental that had a rug with smelly body odor even after it was cleaned. I have since moved and now can smell the dirty rug saturated in my bedroom furniture. It’s been 9 months. I’ve washed it and sprayed with Febreze. Nothing works help !!!
Cori,
This is the article that you need: How to Deodorize Wood. Since you have already washed the wood, you can skip to step 2. The vinegar mixture should be safe for painted surfaces, however it is always best to test a cleaner in a small hidden area first to look for any adverse reaction. Good luck!
Spraying my sofa with vodka will get rid of dog orders, Do I use straight vodka?
Hi Kaye,
Yes, you can use straight vodka, however, alcohol can also damage the dye on some fabrics, so it would be best to test it on a small hidden area first to be sure it won’t stain. If it makes you more comfortable, check if your sofa fabric is water-safe and if so, you can dilute the vodka to a 50/50 ratio with water. Good luck!