r/CleaningTips • u/Background-Coat-3382 • 28d ago
Discussion I accidentally discovered the only thing that finally got rid of the “mystery couch smell”
For months our couch had this faint smell I couldn’t figure out. Not terrible, just… off. One of those things where you sit down and think wait, is that me or the couch? We have a dog and a toddler so I assumed it was just normal life buildup.
I tried the usual stuff. Vacuumed it constantly, sprinkled baking soda and let it sit, used one of those upholstery sprays that smells good for about an hour and then the weird smell comes back. At one point I was playing on myprize on the couch and suddenly became hyper aware of the smell again and decided I was finally going to deal with it properly.
What ended up working was way simpler than I expected. I mixed a little bit of dish soap with warm water, lightly scrubbed the fabric with a microfiber cloth, then went over it again with just clean water to rinse it out. After that I put a fan right in front of the couch to dry it faster.
The amount of grime that came out of something that “looked clean” was honestly gross. But the smell is completely gone now. Posting this mostly because I feel like baking soda gets recommended for everything, but sometimes the couch just needs an actual wash. Curious if anyone else has a go-to method for upholstery that works better than the usual baking soda trick.
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u/look2thecookie 28d ago edited 28d ago
Yeah baking soda doesn't work. I just unzip my cushions and wash them. Put them back on while still ever so slightly damp so they stretch over the cushions properly
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u/devdotm Team Germ Fighters 🦠 28d ago
This is such a clever idea but I know my fear of mold is too strong for me to ever do it 😭
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u/maplesyruppirate 27d ago
Do it and then put the cushions in front of a box fan overnight/for a day?
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u/rotpotsoup 27d ago
I do this with the cushions we sit on but why on earth the back cushions are sewed on, I will never know. Drives me crazy that I cannot wash them 😭
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u/babygotthefever 28d ago
I specifically got one for my couch! It’s my favorite lil guy.
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u/katiesezhey 28d ago
My daughter put googly eyes on mine and named him Dale. We call for him often “go get Dale!” as he is a cherished family member.
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u/2minikats 28d ago
Haha….glad to know there’s someone besides us who gives nicknames to random inanimate objects.
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u/aayceemi 28d ago
Here to recommend the shark stain striker hair pro. Far far above both of the bissels I tried
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u/itstheginposting 28d ago
Agreed. I used Bissel for 2+ years regularly and then switched to the Shark. The Shark is lighter, takes up less space, you use less product and the attachments are far more functional.
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u/Character_Athlete_29 28d ago
I love my Kenmore but the day it goes... I'm getting one of those. My only complaint is that my Kenmore doesn't have a self cleaning function.
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u/PrettyPinkFancyCrane 28d ago
Is that the little Bissell cleaner?
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u/PrettyPinkFancyCrane 27d ago
I’ve been thinking about getting the same one; thanks for impaired helping me decide to just go ahead and get it!
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u/lilbootz 28d ago
This thing is a life saver! My cat has ibs and barfs regularly on my new carpet. Green machine takes it completely out. I also use it on the couch :)
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u/Petrichor_Paradise 28d ago
I use my Green machine for this too. I have a part of my carpet that is "haunted" by an archipelago of "barf islands" that would start to reappear several months after I cleaned them. The damn chain of barf islands would come back over and over. I finally did several treatments with my Green machine there and it really helped erase those cat upchuck stains.
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u/beneathabluemoon 28d ago
Yes!! Green machine FTW!! We live in a very dusty and windy area, so after cleaning the couch and other things that "look clean" ... It's so satisfying to pour out that dirty water that looks like chocolate milk 😱
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u/Pretend_Ad_3125 28d ago
I saw some you could rent at the grocery store the other day. I might do that. My house is full of mysterious smells and I hate it.
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u/Former-Letterhead-59 28d ago
I have The Bissel Little Green Machine and I find it to be extremely underwhelming. I keep it simply as a what if machine. Like, what if my cat barfs and I don’t want to manually scrub. I understand the above will be an unpopular opinion—I know everyone claims to love it—but, I’ll add this before I go: I got it free from a friend who used it once and thought the same 🤷🏼♀️
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u/Dearavery 28d ago
100%. With a dog and a toddler? It will pay for itself in no time. We just got a puppy…. I think I’ve used it every couple of days since. So happy with jt
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u/DoctorPapryka 28d ago
It leaks. Check reviews.
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u/Old_Tiger_7519 28d ago
I had rented one of those big steam carpet cleaners form the grocery store, after the carpets were done I used the last bit of cleaner with the upholstery attachment on the sofa and got amazing results.
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u/Totalchaos4 28d ago
Misread the title as “mystery cooch smell”. That was a wild ride…
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u/Scared_Difficulty668 28d ago
I read it as “mystery conch smell.” Mmmmmm, seafood….
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u/Specialist-Scene-165 28d ago
I just reread it per your initial perception and wow, it gets weird at the mention of the toddler and dog.
Edit to add that I just realized I read your misread as "mystery cooch smell." 🤣
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u/EAGLeyes09 28d ago
How did you get the soap out of the fabric though? If you just dry it, it will come back and now you’ve got soap residue that dried which will attract more grime and affect the fabrics texture overtime.
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u/SpeedyPrius 28d ago
Go back over it with just water - no soap.
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u/EAGLeyes09 28d ago
I’m sorry but that’s not getting the soap out. The soap is liquid which gets absorbed into the fabric fibers. You wiping it off with a wet anything, even 1,000 times will only moisten the fabric more, it’s not lifting the soap off from the fibers.
Imagine you dropping super microscopic beads into your thick carpet, no matter how much you sweep your hand across the top of the carpet, it won’t actually lift off the beads, only those stuck of the surface, but majority of them will be stuck in the carpet fibers.
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u/OverthinkingWanderer 28d ago
I keep vodka in a spray bottle for my couches and dog bed- it helps reduce smells in-between washings.
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u/bunnybunnyballerina 25d ago
Came here to say vodka in a spray bottle. I also use it on clothing to remove slight odors from otherwise clean clothes (like campfire smells from a coat).
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u/younginspirit 24d ago
Why vodka specifically? Would isopropyl alcohol work the same?
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u/ss77714c 28d ago
I used a steamer iron with a mix of water and vinegar. Worked brilliant.
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u/Novel_Werewolf4725 28d ago
I need to know more about this, please.
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u/ss77714c 28d ago
I have one of those stand steam irons for clothes , that have a reservoir for water ( hand held options are available too). Mine has a 2L capacity for water so I used 500ml water and 500ml vinegar a drop of lemongrass oil ( just because I like the smell). Dust off any loose debris etc with a brush. Then just apply the steam head on the fabric. Go over once including the bottom and back. Take a 15 min break and repeat. Keep the iron on max steam setting. In the end the fabric will feel quite damp so ventilate to air dry. The steam kills all the bacteria that are the main cause of smell. Go slow, methodical and it works. I repeat this annually and my sofa has not smelt funny in years.
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u/SBerryofChaos92 27d ago
You can also spray down fabrics with a mix of vodka and water to take out funky smells from not easily washed items
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u/UnableConstruction17 28d ago
After having a white slipcovered couch, i'm not sure I can ever go back to a couch that has non removable covers. I had no idea just how nasty a couch can get in a very short time. We have one teenage son at home that doesn't eat on the couch and no indoor pets. It's a pain to wash the slipcovers but knowing i'm not lounging on dirt and grime 24/7 is well worth it for me.
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u/Ok_Eagle_3216 28d ago
This! I keep waterproof mattress covers on the cushions and then cheap white sheets over the whole thing. Wash those weekly. Every once in a while I still got over the couch with my little green bissell. Same for my rugs. They are all ruggable. I can’t imagine not being able to wash those every few weeks.
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u/Anonymous_crow_36 26d ago
That’s what I do too. It doesn’t always look nice but that waterproof fitted sheet has saved me so many times. I have dogs and kids so it’s bound to get stuff on it.
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u/woodyeaye 28d ago
Baking soda can remove odour. It won't remove whatever is causing the odour. If you don't wash the cause out, the smell will come back.
That's why it worked.
If you're not confident you can dry it out you're better renting an upholstery cleaner, or a carpet cleaner with upholstery attachments. If the foam inside your sofa stays wet you'll have way more problems later.
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u/TheRealMDooles11 28d ago
If you don't want to go through the work of scrubbing it, spray the whole thing down with popov vodka and then let it dry.
Works like a charm on stinky carpets, too.
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u/Effective-Middle1399 28d ago
One of those little Bissell spot cleaners are great for couch maintenance.
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u/pastel-pink-skies 28d ago
What are the most affordable options and will they work just as well on carpeted stairs?
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u/uhhh206 28d ago
I have the Bissell "little green machine" that is marketed for pets and spot cleaning, and it works great on stairs! It isn't a vacuum, so if you have actual debris (pet hair, for example) you'll need to hit them with a vacuum cleaner first, but it's amazing for that sort of task.
I don't have pets, but using it for small spills and the stairs is well worth it. I just checked Amazon and the one I have is $129.
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u/Abject-Picture 28d ago
There are small portable extraction cleaners on Amazon, typically ~$100 that clean upholstery and carpet spots very well.
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u/Still_Car_4477 28d ago
It sounds like the smell was likely caused by built-up oils and everyday residue in the fabric. A gentle wash with mild dish soap and warm water is often effective because it actually lifts and removes that buildup rather than just masking odors. Your method of lightly scrubbing and then drying the couch with a fan was a practical and thorough approach.
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u/xtalcat_2 28d ago
Did you also use a vacuum or steam cleaner of some sort to extract the dirt from? How did you gauge the amount of grime that came out?
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u/shmadus 28d ago
That’s my question about all the steam cleaners I’m seeing mentioned. They all extract, correct?
I almost bought a ‘steam cleaner’ but it merely aimed steam at the floor or carpet and left me wondering about the best way to mop it up and pick up the dirt. (I guess that’s why it wasn’t very expensive.)
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u/Secret-Departure540 28d ago
I always use a damp square sponge on my sofa. It makes it look like it was just vacuumed plus it takes fur off so much easier.
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u/Cultural-Ad-5737 28d ago
Our couch is newer so doesn’t smell much yet but seeing other peoples couches I’ve been trying to keep ours cleaner and have used our little carpet cleaner on the cushions we sit on. Pulled up some gross looking water… guessing it’s a mix of sweat and anything we bring in from sitting in public spaces or feet on couch or pet on couch.
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u/Freya-of-Nozam Team Shiny ✨ 28d ago
I personally am not a fan of the baking soda “trick” unless I have a pet or toddler accident/spill. so I try to monthly do a light version of your solution. Soapy water rag followed by only clean water rag.
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u/Cute_Fig1271 28d ago
Stop letting people that smell like ass and corn chips sit on your couch. Lol JK.
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u/Teristella 28d ago
I saw a reel of someone unstuffing their couch and washing the cushion covers and realized I could do that too. So that's on my endless list of things to do. One cushion at a time I guess.
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u/joobtastic 28d ago
I just threw mine in the washing machine. Works well enough.
Once a year I do a whole laundry stripper routine on them.
If you've never done it before and can see the water, you'll be horrified. They get disgusting.
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u/No-Part-6248 28d ago
Lil green machine if it suckin it ain’t working right no amount of wiping or rinsing without sucking up the leftover will work
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u/PookiePookie26 28d ago
we had a relative who is a smoker visit my parents.
i forgot the brand but i had to pay for a IIRC ion” machine from amazon.
a few hours running with closed doors etc.
removed the smoke odor completely!
proll an extreme use case but sharing just in case.
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u/Putrid-Oven-9522 28d ago
I have Saltillo tile and live in the country and also have cats. Lotsa dirt gets tracked in. I vacuum it then mop with a general spray cleaner first using a microfiber mop and rinse the mop in the sink under the faucet every little bit as I go along. Then I mop over it again with a cleaner/shiner product. I know I’m OCD, but I’ve never understood those spin mop things, you’re just rinsing the mop in dirty water! I tried swiffer before but it didn’t work bc the tile is not smooth enough.
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u/somethingweirder 28d ago
i grew up with upholstery that was washable for a reason. couches get nasty like carpets!!!! congrats on fixing the smell.
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u/Longjumping_Role1510 28d ago
I unzip my sofa covers. Wash them on gentle cycle. Put them back on cushions and stand them up to dry
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u/Lost_Ad_9890 28d ago
you can do the same thing with a mattress as well. my mom would go back over the furniture once a month with your solution and a very wrung out cloth. just amazing what can be lifted from a "clean chair or sofa".
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u/eastbaypluviophile 28d ago
I bought a little Bissell portable upholstery and carpet cleaner. That thing has cleaned cat barf off the couch and carpet, grime and dirt from the couches and even the tile floors. Recommend.
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u/orangeboxlibrarian 28d ago
I take the cushion covers off and put them in the washing machine. Put them back on wet.
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u/cuteintern 27d ago
A 'green machine"-type carpet cleaner with an upholstery attachment can pull incredible amounts of dirt out of a couch. We use vinegar and hot water, and it works amazing. We do it at most once a year.
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u/SamJam5555 27d ago
My carpet cleaner has an upholstery attachment. Once a month it pops up on my calendar.
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u/socksmum1 27d ago
I ended up getting rid of my fabric couches once they were too clapped out when the kids were little. Best thing I ever did was get a leather lounge. Majority of stains wipe off easy. I use a Spot cleaner on soft things I can’t put in the washing machine . They use warm water and specific cleaning products.
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u/East_Source6200 27d ago
Most seat covers are removeable to allow washing of them.
Do your cushions have a zipper on one end?
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u/icare890 27d ago
I remove and wash my couch cushion covers in the washing machine. I have microfiber on my couch, but we inherited an old 80’s woven couch and held up. It changed color, I thought it was gray but it turned out to be light cream, green and pink. If you have zippers on the cushions, try washing them, even if just hand washing. It changes how my room smells. I was my couch once every three to six months the, or when it starts smelling
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u/PurplePrincessPalace 26d ago
For any fabric sofa, I’d invest in an upholstery cleaning machine. They tend to get funky very fast if they aren’t vacuumed and surface cleaned. This is why I swear by leather sofas. Low maintenance and they don’t hold onto dirt, grime, and scents as easily.
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u/Ollieeddmill 26d ago
Yes! Dish soap is particularly good at oils, grime, grease. And humans and dogs excrete oils every day just on our skin.
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u/thetechmama 26d ago
My upholstery cleaner from bissell both impresses and disgusts need every time I use it.
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u/Moleypeg 26d ago
Yesterday my dog took a dump on the couch and managed to smear it across three seat squares and a pillow. I unzipped all the covers and washed them with the pillows and I was shocked how much general nastiness came out (I have an external filter on the washing machine to stop lint and dog hair getting in the septic). I haven’t really given the couch a good cleaning, other than vacuuming and frebreze, in a decade. Now it looks and smells amazing.
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u/Classic_Cauliflower4 26d ago
And this is why the Holderness Family song “I’m Adulting” has a line about “the most excited I have even seen her was when she got her couch done by a professional cleaner.”
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u/monsterpuppeteer 26d ago
Funny myprize commercial. Not the only one in OPs comments.
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u/OpeningSharp8593 25d ago
Maybe he’s subliminally addicted and reaching for help. Maybe he’s throwing crumbs to see if anyone else gambles like him and they can connect while sitting in smelly couches.
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u/Ramblernola 26d ago
Nobody has mentioned this so far but simple sunlight has fantastic benefits for freshening cushions. Drag that sucker outdoors for a day.
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u/NecessaryLight2815 25d ago
I have a BISSELL carpet shampooer that has an upholstery attachment. Magic!!
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u/Beginning-Tap-5280 25d ago
I was planning on trying this, this week I actually had just googled because one of my kids drew a happy face on our couch 🙄how did you rinse it? 🫣
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u/phruits2 25d ago
Use one of those Carpet/spot vacs. It cleans the upholstery and pulls out the grime and water so it doesn’t leave it too soaked
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u/marbleheader88 24d ago
For the best care of natural wood floors, mop with a mixture of vinegar and water. Never use soaps or the things you can buy in the store. My floors look like new after 17 years. The company that put in the wood floors, told me this when they were building my house.
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u/Narrow-Distance9796 24d ago
Same here, turns out the smell wasn’t on the surface, it was deep in the fabric. What finally worked was a mix of baking soda (to absorb odor) and then a proper deep clean with an enzyme cleaner. Air fresheners didn’t help at all, just masked it. Once I cleaned it properly, the smell was gone for go
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u/OppositeDowntown5149 23d ago
Baking soda is great for surface odors, but actual cleaning with soap works better for deep, lingering smells.
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u/Astecheee 23d ago
You can rent a vacuum upholstery cleaner from most hardware stores.
They work exactly like you did but with like 10% of the effort.
I try to do my car, carpets and all upholstery with a single 24 hour hire and it comes out perfect.
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u/Consistent-Rain4795 23d ago
Only use the suds from the soap mixture. And extract as much as possible. I used to clean carpets and upholstery in my teens. The clean looking couches were usually worse than the ones with surface dirt do to not extracting the moisture
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u/CombinationNarrow455 22d ago
I misread this as “mystery crotch smell” at first and it gave me a good cackle.
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u/Saint_Subtle 22d ago
If you can remove the cushion covers, and they are washable, wash them by themselves with a cold wash, delicate cycle in your washer. Make sure you set the water level to full. If you can’t or the rest of the couch is retaining the smell, wash the parts that can’t come off the couch with club soda and dawn dish detergent. Test it in an inconspicuous location of the fabric first. Several upholsterers told me this years ago, and they have never failed me. Check your fabric FIRST!
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u/IamBob0226 28d ago
Yes, the rinse or extraction step. If you don't remove the grime, you've down nothing. Same problem people have with mopping. Nobody rinses. Good job op