How to get a nasty smell out of a sofa?

To remove a nasty smell from your fabric sofa, HG offers effective solutions such as HG odour eliminator for clothes and fabrics for smoke and food odours, HG stain & odour away for cats or HG stain & odour away for dogs for pet odours, and HG carpet cleaner for deep cleaning. You can also try home remedies such as baking soda, white vinegar, ground coffee beans or diluted vodka, but test on an inconspicuous area first. Common causes of nasty sofa odours are stains, pets, smoke, mould and a build-up of body oils. Regular cleaning and prompt treatment of stains help prevent future odours.

HG solutions for removing nasty odours from a fabric sofa

To remove unpleasant odours from your fabric sofa, HG offers a number of effective solutions:

• Use HG odour eliminator for clothes and fabrics to remove odours caused by smoke or food smells. This product is a harmless, plant-based water extract that dissolves odour molecules rather than masking the smell.
• If the odour comes from pets, such as vomit, faeces or urine, you can use HG stain & odour away for cats or HG stain & odour away for dogs. These products are enhanced with OXI action power and clean deep into the fibres of the upholstery.
• For a deep clean of your fabric sofa, you can use HG carpet cleaner. This product not only removes dirt but also leaves a dirt-repellent layer on the fibres.

For more information about cleaning your fabric sofa, you can also consult our guide to cleaning a fabric sofa.

Home remedies for removing odours from a fabric sofa

There are several home remedies you can try to remove nasty odours from your fabric sofa, although results are not always guaranteed and some methods may not be suitable for all fabric types. Here are a few options:

• Sprinkle baking soda generously over the sofa and leave it to work for a few hours or overnight. Afterwards, vacuum the sofa thoroughly.
• Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Lightly mist the sofa and allow it to air dry. The vinegar smell should fade as it dries.
• Sprinkle ground coffee beans on the sofa, leave them for a couple of hours and then vacuum them up. The coffee beans may help absorb odours and leave a fresher scent.
• Gently dab the sofa with a cloth soaked in diluted vodka. Allow the surface to dry thoroughly before sitting on it.

Although these methods can be effective in some cases, it is advisable to test on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure that your chosen solution does not cause damage or discolouration. If the odour proves stubborn, or if you are uncertain about the suitability of these methods for your particular sofa, it is best to consult a professional upholstery cleaner.

Causes of nasty odours in a sofa

There are several reasons why your sofa may have an unpleasant smell. Here are the most common causes:

• Stains from spilled liquids, such as drinks, that have not been cleaned properly and have soaked into the fabric.
• Pets that have urinated on the sofa or left odours in other ways.
• Smoke from cigarettes or other sources that has soaked into the fabric.
• Mould growth due to moisture trapped in the sofa, for example through high humidity or a damp environment.
• A build-up of body oils, sweat and dead skin cells that accumulate in the fabric over time.

To prevent your sofa developing nasty odours in future, it is important to treat stains and spills immediately. Regular vacuuming and cleaning with a suitable cleaning product can also help. Keep your sofa dry and ensure adequate ventilation in the room to prevent mould growth. Consider using a protective spray for upholstery to help resist stains and odours.