How to get rid of musty smell in upholstered furniture
Asked on Apr 25, 2023
How to get rid of musty smell in upholstered furniture?
by
Zach Waxer
+17
Hey folks, I'm dealing with a bit of a stinky situation over here😁😁😁
My favorite upholstered chair has been sitting in storage and has developed a musty smell that just won't go away. I've tried airing it out and using various sprays and fresheners, but nothing seems to work.
I'm hoping someone out there can offer me some DIY tips for getting rid of the smell. Are there any specific products or materials that work well for this issue? What steps should I take to tackle the problem and ensure the smell doesn't return? I'd really appreciate any detailed advice you can provide - I'm determined to get this chair smelling fresh again!
Thank you so much for your help!
#1 - turn it upside down and see if any sort of critter got into it while it was being stored. Hit the underside with Fabreeze.
#2 - sprinkle it with baking soda - maybe even use an old toothbrush to sort of scrub it in a little. Vacuum that off.
#3 - if those cushions are at all removable, sprinkle with baking soda and wrap in clear plastic wrap. Put outside in the sun for a couple hours. Unwrap and shake out. Vacuum and replace.
If it still smells after all that - I got nothing!
Hi there, have you tried dusting it all over with baking soda, letting it sit for a few hours and then vacuuming it?
I found a couple of ideas for you but you could also have it professionally cleaned to see if that helps
If your cleaning efforts do not remove the stench, the problem may lie deeper -- inside the cushion foam. For removable or zippered cushions, take out the foam. Place it outside in a sunny location for a few hours to let the sun’s heat kill any odor-causing bacteria. Couch fabric typically is washable, but refer to the manufacturer's washing instructions, which may recommend washing the covers on a warm-water setting. Add 1/2 cup of borax to the wash cycle along with your regular laundry detergent to boost freshening power. Hang the covers to dry to avoid shrinkage. Vacuum the foam; if a smell remains and the couch is worth saving, replace the cushion. Seek the help of an upholsterer, or use the soiled materials as size guides or templates to make something new.
Hi Nachum, hope this helps you out. First apply enough baking soda to leave a lightly visible residue on the entire sofa. Leave the baking soda on the sofa for at least 15 minutes, or overnight for severe odors. The baking soda absorbs the smells from the fabric and cushions
Then, mix water and vinegar together using a 1:1 ratio and thoroughly wipe down your piece of furniture, then allow it to air dry.
I suggest you use an upholstery cleaner machine available for purchase in most large department stores. You can use vinegar and water to clean the upholstery and the vinegar should help to sanitize and also absorb any odors that are lingering in your chair.
Try having it professionally cleaned.
Spray with Febreez for fabric! When it dries the smell is gone!
If any moisture got into the foam of the cushions... you might want to consider replacing it... and a new product I have found for odors is Pooph (amazon and pooph.com).... just be sure to get it wet enough for the solution to contact the area of the odor.... sponging it with white vinegar may help as well
Antique dealers always recommend leaving pieces out in the sun for a long time to dry out any of the mold spores that are causing the odor. It might help.
Hello. You can buy the professional grade Febrez’. Sit it in the sun or garage and completely saturated it , break it down as much as possible. You could even make your own. Using fabric softener and warm water. I would do this twice and see if it helps .
If you have a yard where you can leave it out in the sun, try that with baking soda for a few days. Then vacuum.
Thanks for the advice, I moved the upholstered chair into the sun for a few hours and sprinkled baking soda over it as well. The musty smell is basically gone.
Wondering if you have tried OdoBan. It is my favorite. But also deep cleaning with a carpet/upholstery cleaner would help clean it up.
The mustiness could be in the foam as well as the fabric. I would sprinkle with baking soda, that will absorb odors, Then vacuum it up. From there mist spray with 50/50 white vinegar and water, let dry and see where you are with the smell test. You might have removed it from the fabric on the surface, but the mustiness may have gotten into the foam, I would replace the foam.
If the smell is bad you could put this inside of something you can close up with a opened bag of charcoal which will help with the musty smell. And then hit it with a good amount of Freebreeze.
If there are any parts that zip off or come off, see if there are any labels about cleaning, if you're able to wash those either in the machine or by hand though sometimes some manufacturers don't advise that. The stink is probably deeper than that though, in the stuffing and frame. You might try calling a furniture store, see what they advise too.
There are some helpful tips here! https://allkleencarpets.com/remove-musty-smells-from-upholstered-furniture/
Baking soda and water should be applied to the upholstery surface, and it should sit there for around 10 minutes. Use a moist cloth to remove the mixture after that. Most of the scents will be eliminated by doing this, but if there are any lingering ones on your upholstery, you might need to repeat the process.
Baking soda and water should be applied to the upholstery surface, and it should sit there for around 10 minutes. Use a moist cloth to remove the mixture after that. Most of the scents will be eliminated by doing this, but if there are any lingering ones on your upholstery, you might need to repeat the process.
Here's a post that might help https://chascrazycreations.com/how-to-get-rid-of-odors-around-your-home/