The dryness of summer has given way to rain showers, falling leaves, and muddy footprints. I’d imagine that most dog owners have started to wonder how to get dog smell out of couches and cushions. You know the deal. They bound through the door, gleeful after a lovely long walk, dive on the couch to curl up for a well-earned snooze, faster than you can say “No”! Just a couple of days of this and we’re all starting to worry about how to get the dog smell out of the furniture. Some turn to commercial cleaners, but if you’d rather tackle this naturally, this article is for you!
Rescuing Your Furniture From The Clutches of Damp Dogs
I think probably most dog owners would start by looking for the best deodorizer for dogs, rather than the best couch odor remover. And that might be a plan, because logically, the less stinky your dog is, the less likely you are to have a stinky couch. Your vet would be the best person to ask about this.
Deodorizers Are Key
To eliminate dog odors from couches and cushions, you actively need to deodorize them, rather than just trying to mask them with linen or room sprays. The key to removing pet odor is to target and deodorize the scent molecules that create the pesky pet odor in the first place. We can remove unpleasant smells, like wet dogs, with just a couple of key ingredients. We have two particularly important natural ingredients that we can utilize to eliminate dog odor from your couch. One is dry and one is wet, giving us different methods of application to suit the type of couch we have. Let’s find out what they are!
Baking Soda (Sodium bicarbonate)
Baking soda is such a versatile dry, powdered ingredient that you can use all around your home as an effective deodorizer.
How Does Baking Soda Eliminate Pet Odors?
Baking soda is alkaline, and scent molecules are generally acidic. The baking soda essentially absorbs the scent molecules or compounds like a sponge, trapping them in place. This allows a chemical reaction to take place, which neutralizes them and changes the pH of the molecules. This deodorizes them in the process and will eliminate unpleasant odors. The chemical reaction neutralizes the pet odor and deodorizes it to become less odorous and more pleasant. It is worth knowing that the scent molecules or compounds will still be there, but they will just smell better! Later cleaning may remove these molecules altogether.
Why Is Baking Soda So Effective At Removing Pet Odors
We have all used those commercial air freshener sprays, only to be disappointed a couple of hours later when the doggy smell returns. This is because they simply cover up odors, without neutralizing them, so they are still there underneath, waiting to pop back up. Baking soda neutralizes and deodorizes. This is why baking soda is such an effective ingredient for eliminating pet odors, because it does not cover up nasty niffs; it actually chemically modifies and deodorizes them. Baking soda is extremely effective at removing more acidic compounds in aromas like sweat, milk, and, of course, pet and dog odors. Incidentally, it is really great for removing the sour milk smell, too. I saved the best bit of information for last. Baking soda is something called amphoteric in nature, which means it can react with both acidic and alkaline substances. Not only does it neutralize acidic aromas, but it will also deodorize alkaline odors as well, giving us a whole spectrum of odors that it can tackle and deodorize effectively for us. Including removing pet odor and wet dog smell from the couch.
How To Use Baking Soda Effectively To Remove Dog Odor From The Couch
As I said before, part of learning how to get dog smell out of couches with baking soda is understanding how to use it effectively.
We know that baking soda absorbs, neutralizes, and deodorizes scent molecules and compounds. To do this, the baking soda must be in good contact with those scent molecules. This is why baking soda is often sold in containers with sprinkling tops, so you can sprinkle it where it is needed.
If your dog regularly uses the same spot on the couch and it smells like dog, it is worth covering the entire area with baking soda for the maximum effect. I find a wide paintbrush is a great tool to help distribute the baking soda evenly across a larger area.
One thing we often don’t do in our busy lives is give the baking soda enough time to get to work before we remove it. It is worth remembering that it could take as long as several hours to 24 hours to fully neutralize the smell. Of course, this entirely depends on the odor's intensity as much as anything. It is important we give the baking soda plenty of time to get to work.
What if I cannot Put Baking Soda On My Couch Fabric?
The glorious thing about baking soda is that you can also use it in a very shallow, wide open container near the smelly area, in an effort to allow more particles to escape and neutralize them that way. Naturally, this is never going to be as effective as direct contact, but it is certainly a viable alternative to help get rid of pet odor.
White Vinegar (Acetum)
White vinegar definitely needs to be on your shopping list. It is such a versatile wet and fluid ingredient that can be utilized all around your home in many ways. In this instance, we will use it as an effective deodorizer.
How Does White Vinegar Eliminate Pet Odors?
White Vinegar is acetic acid, and this acid bonds with odor-causing compounds and neutralizes any alkaline odor-causing molecules. This neutralization process converts them into odor-free salts instead. Therefore, White Vinegar is great for trapping, neutralizing, and deodorizing odors, just like baking soda does. White Vinegar does this on surfaces, like couch fabrics, but also with scent compounds floating around in the air. As the white vinegar evaporates, it simply carries away the neutralized and deodorized scent molecules. This helps clear them from the air and from your fabrics and surfaces.
Why Is White Vinegar So Effective At Removing Pet Odors
Vinegar is ideal for helping to eliminate pet odors and pesky wet dog smells from your home, because…..
-
- Acetic acid traps, neutralizes, and deodorizes
- Converts the scent molecules to an odorless salt
- Removes the odor molecule from the air, surfaces, and fabrics as it evaporates
How To Use White Vinegar Effectively To Remove Dog Odor From The Couch
Make a really simple dog odor remover with a spray of white vinegar and water to neutralize odors and get the dog smell out of your couch and soft furnishings. Alternatively, you can simply use it to mist the air instead, to tackle persistent smells and pet odors.
At first, the initial smell of vinegar may be off-putting, but see it as a sure sign of its odor-fighting actions. Be assured that it will dissipate quickly and will leave no residual scent. Don’t forget we have a whole world of amazing fragrance oils that you can pair with, too. Tips on this a little later.
I’m always adding a dash of white vinegar to my fabric softener or my last rinse cycle. This helps neutralize odors in removable covers, cushions, and throws, as well as your clothes, of course!
If your furry friend is creating a particularly malodorous problem, you could try this trusted pet odor removal technique. Soak the fabric in a 1:3 solution of white vinegar and water for a couple of hours to overnight, and then put it through the wash cycle as normal.
You can also use strong solutions of white vinegar to clean and deodorize your pets’ food and water bowls, toys, and leads.
SAFETY:
Never mix white vinegar with chlorine bleach to prevent odors, as it can create dangerous chemical reactions. There are better ways of dealing with doggy odors and pet smells.
What if I cannot Put White Vinegar On My Couch Fabric?
Well, because you cannot get your couch fabric wet.
But fear not! I have the solution!
Remember, I said that white vinegar will neutralize scent molecules in the air? You can still use white vinegar in a number of ways to act as an air deodorizer.
Try leaving a small dish near the offending area. Fill it with 1/2 inch of white vinegar and place it out of the way of your beloved furry friend. Leave it in the room for 48 hours to absorb airborne odors and trap and neutralize them.
Perhaps you have several dogs, and it is wet out, and the house just stinks of wet, dirty dog. What can you do then?
Simply place a stainless steel pot on the stove with a 1:6 ratio of white vinegar to water and boil it vigorously to create odor-fighting steam. The steam will help trap the odors to be neutralized and deodorized, and eliminate the offensive smells once and for all. You can also use this method for removing cooking smells or residual smoke odors. All you need to do is fill the space with white vinegar's amazing odor-neutralizing properties, and those wet dog smells will disappear.
If only you could get rid of other annoying things quite so easily!
I have one final weapon in my arsenal of cleaning solutions to tackle stinky couches and cushions. Enter……
VINEVIDA Odor Eliminating Fragrance Oils
I’m guessing you’ve probably come across fragrance oils of some kind or another. However, VINEVIDA offers something a little more effective for your fragrance oil collections, and they are:
These fragrance oils are specifically designed to tackle less-than-desirable odors like pet smells and are perfectly suited to get rid of dog smells from your soft furnishings and couches.
It is masterfully formulated to stabilize aromas, make things smell more pleasant, and for those pleasurable aromas to last longer and in a consistent manner.
This means when you add either of these odor-eliminating fragrance oils to other blends of fragrance oils or essential oils, you help them to act more consistently and last longer.
You can add the Soaps & Candles variation of these fragrance oils to both baking soda and white vinegar to bring extra oomph to your best couch odor remover recipes. If you want to get dog smell under control, these two fragrance oils should be added to your shopping list.
Do It The Right Way
I appreciate that you may be eager to do this, but if you have never used fragrance oils to make sprays before, please learn how to do it the right way first.
It’s important to learn about dispersants to stop the oil from floating on the surface of the water in your spray. Especially as you can potentially ruin your furniture with undispersed drops of oil. To find out how to do this right, pop over to Crafting the Perfect Scent: Your Guide to Room Spray with Fragrance Oils.
Pet Safety
We need to use some common sense when using fragrance oils around pets. While IFRA safety regulations only apply to sprays used on animals or added to cat litter, we still need to consider our pets' comfort. Dogs and cats have a much keener sense of smell than we do. Fragrance oils and essential oils may be experienced differently by your pet, and they may have much stronger reactions. When we are using them in places where they rest and sleep, we need to use much lighter dilutions.
For more in-depth information, check out Are Essential Oils Safe for Pets?, We can apply the same principles to fragrance oils.
The Best Natural Cleaning Solutions To Tackle How to Get Dog Smell Out of Couches & Cushions
Shall we get stuck into the exciting bit?
Recipes!
The best couch odor remover for you will depend entirely on the fabric used to make up your couch upholstery. Some may be washable, some may not be, and some may need specialist treatment like leather couches. Your upholstery type will dictate the type of treatment you can, or cannot, use.
Patch Test
Most of these treatments can safely be used on fabric sofas, couch cushions, cushion covers, and pillows; however, regular readers will be used to me banging on about skin patch tests, but they are just as important for your upholstery, too.
You don’t want to cause any lasting damage to such an expensive piece of furniture.
You must always carry out a patch test in an inconspicuous place before carrying out any kind of treatment. Leave it for 24-48 hours, check the results, and if all seems well, it is fair to say you can proceed. Remember, you only need to do this once per treatment type!
If you are not sure, engage your patience and common sense and seek specialist advice. We recommend you contact your manufacturer directly for their specialist advice and guidance. This is especially so if you have a leather couch or leather cushion covers.
Your couch fabric really does dictate what is, and isn’t, possible.
Start With A Clean Dog!
There is absolutely no point dreaming of rose-scented cushions if you have a filthy pooch. I know! It is a bit like shovelling snow while it is still snowing for some dog owners, but all anyone can ask is to try their best 🙂
Grooming your dog removes dog hair and fur that can contribute to the issue.
Again, consult your vet for the best deodorizer for dogs; your dog is as individual as you are and may have different needs.
Right, the dog is clean and smells fresh, let’s get to it!
Solution One: How To Get Dog Smell Out The Carpet
Professional cleaning can often use harsh chemicals that can cause environmental pollution, which we don’t need in our homes or to expose our precious family to. This is where using simple, natural ingredients, like baking soda, to keep our couches fresh and clean can help us all live healthier lives.
This is perfect if you have a fabric sofa, because we can use baking soda as a way to remove pet odor from couches and cushions. (If you have a leather couch, see the next option below.)
I have paired it here with essential oils to add an extra air of clean freshness, but you could just as easily use fragrance oils or just as it is. Both Lemon Tea Tree and Lemon Eucalyptus have insect-repelling properties and can help repel fleas.
You Will Need:
-
- A plastic box with a lid (Not used for food)
- Stainless steel spoon
- Dropper or pipette
- Wide paintbrush
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
-
- 500gm Baking Soda (Sodium bicarbonate)
- 10 ml of carrier oil of your choice, Olive, Sunflower, Grapeseed, etc.
- 3 ml of Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus citriodora)
- 3 ml of Lemon Tea Tree essential oil (Leptospermum petersonii)
Safety:
-
- Remove your dog or pet from the room for the duration of the treatment.
- Always patch best before first use.
- Not for topical use.
Method:
-
- First, measure out your carrier oil and your essential oils and combine them all together.
- Place all of your baking soda in a plastic box or a bag with an air-tight seal, neither of which should be used for food.
- Use a pipette or dropper to drop the combined oils evenly across the surface of the baking powder. You want small drops and not big globs of oil.
- Add the lid or seal the bag and shake vigorously to distribute the oils through the baking soda for a couple of minutes. If you are using a bag, be REALLY CAREFUL!
- Label the bag or box, listing all ingredients for safety reasons. Add a production date and a three-month expiry date.
- Leave the baking soda to absorb the oils overnight.
- Check to see if there are any clumps of oil; if there are, break them down with the back of a spoon and leave for another hour to absorb fully.
- After that, you are ready to go!
How To Use:
-
- Remove pet hair and any dirt and debris from the couch and cushions. It is definitely worth giving it all a really good vacuum first.
- I use a spoon to sprinkle the baking soda across the couch and carpet if I don’t have a spare sprinkle top container. I find this gives me the best control of coverage.
- Simply sprinkle baking soda across the couch or carpet, brush it in with a wide paintbrush to distribute the powder evenly, and ensure that you have good contact for that neutralizing effect to take place.
- Leave for at least a couple of hours, preferably overnight, for the baking soda to absorb and get to work its magic. Remember what I said about people often not leaving it long enough for that chemical reaction to take place. Leave it as long as you can.
- To remove, simply vacuum the baking soda as thoroughly as possible, on the strongest setting that your vacuum offers. Pay attention to the cushions and any piping along the edges of the cushions, where dirt, smells, and baking soda can easily get caught.
- It is important that all traces are removed before you allow your dog back into this space.
- Give your couch a sniff, and hopefully, there will be zero odor to remind you of a wet dog! Just a burst of glorious herbal freshness.
- Solution Two: Deodorizing Leather Couches
Trying to find some form of cleaning solution that acts as a pet deodorizer to neutralize odors and act as a freshener is not an easy task in caring for leather.
Why Can’t I Use Baking Soda On Leather?
We cannot use baking soda as a deodorizer for leather because it is mildly abrasive, may damage the hide, and can dry out the natural oils. We need to preserve these precious oils as much as possible because they will keep our couch supple and extend its life.
Baking soda is generally only recommended on leather for removing grease stains by sprinkling baking soda on the fresh stain. Then you allow it to absorb the grease before brushing the baking soda off. I once used baking soda to remove odors from a pair of leather trousers by using a piece of cotton between the leather and the back of the trousers. It worked really well, on the reverse of the leather, but I would always recommend testing any deodorizing method on an inconspicuous spot first.
White Vinegar To The Rescue!
White vinegar can be used to clean your leather couch, but there are a few key points I’ll cover in the instructions that you must follow for the best results.
Vinegar is acetic acid, and it is this acid that breaks down grease and lifts it away along with residual dirt and debris, as well as neutralizing any remaining odor molecules. Since it is an acid, you must always dilute it before using it on any type of leather. If you use distilled water instead of tap water, it helps to prevent marks from mineral deposits in the water.
This is yet another way to avoid professional cleaning and avoid the harsh chemicals they may use.
You Will Need:
-
- Measuring jug
- Stainless steel spoon
- Funnel
- 100ml spray bottle
- Oil & waterproof label
- Leather Conditioner
Ingredients:
-
- White Vinegar (Acetum)
- Distilled Water (Aqua)
Safety:
-
- Remove your dog or pet from the room for the duration of the treatment.
- Always patch best before first use.
- Do not spray towards your face. If the solution gets in your eyes, rinse immediately with clean water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention, taking the clearly labelled bottle with you.
Method:
-
- Measure out 50ml of each and combine them, mixing well.
- Use a funnel to decant the vinegar solution into your spray bottle.
- List both ingredients clearly on the label, add a production date, and a 1-month expiry date.
How To Use:
Patch Test
-
- The first thing you need to do is patch test the diluted vinegar and water solution to avoid damage to your leather. Choose a small, inconspicuous spot and try it there. Leave it 24-48 hours and check the results. If all looks well, proceed. However, if it wasn’t, do a 1:4 ratio of white vinegar to distilled water and patch test that too.
- If you are in any doubt about which cleaners to use, check the label or contact your couch’s manufacturer for their specialist guidance.
Prep The Couch
-
- Now you need to prep your couch, so remove pet hair and any residual dirt and debris from both the couch and the cushions. It pays to give it all a really good vacuum first, in the quest to keep your couches fresh and clean.
- Pay particular attention to the cushions and to any piping that may trap dirt, debris, and scent molecules.
- If you have washable cushion covers and throws, chuck them in the washing machine with a tbsp of white vinegar in the fabric softener. They should come out super clean with zero odor.
- If your patch test was successful, let’s continue!
Start Cleaning
-
- Remember, this is an acidic cleaner, so you need to use it very sparingly. Spray a little of your solution onto a soft cloth, not directly onto your couch.
- Work in small circular motions to clean the leather and neutralize those pesky pet and dog smells.
- Buff the leather with a clean cloth and allow the area to dry thoroughly.
Conditioning
-
- Apply an appropriate leather conditioner. It will counteract any drying effect from the vinegar and rehydrate and preserve the hide of the couch. A protective conditioner helps to restore moisture and suppleness to the leather hide and elongates its life.
Dilute * Patch Test * Sparingly * Dry * Condition
Solution Three: How To Get Urine Smell Out Of Couches
So your dog (or cat) wee’d on the couch! Most pet owners have experienced this, and it is no fun trying to deal with getting the smell of pet urine out of your couch and cushions.
You know, I learnt all this when I had dogs years ago, but more recently, I had to learn how to get cat urine out of couch cushions. My old girl, Minnie, lost some of her faculties before she passed, including being able to get to the litter tray quickly enough.
I need to reiterate the need to patch test YOUR couch for this treatment. I have a couch with removable and washable covers and feather cushions. Check yours first, please!
This is a two-part treatment using baking soda first as an absorbent cleaner and pet deodorizer, and a white vinegar spray solution second to clean and neutralize odors.
You can also use this technique for human urine.
You Will Need:
-
- Measuring jug
- Stainless steel spoon
- 100ml spray bottle
- Oil and waterproof label
- Large Towel
Ingredients:
-
- Baking Soda (Sodium bicarbonate)
- Fuller’s Earth (Solum Fullonum)
- White Vinegar (Acetum)
- Distilled Water (Aqua)
Safety:
-
- Remove your dog or pet from the room for the duration of the treatment.
- Always patch best before first use.
- Do not spray towards your face. If the solution gets in your eyes, rinse immediately with clean water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention, taking the clearly labelled bottle with you.
Method:
-
- Mix the baking soda with the fuller’s earth and mix until well distributed.
- Set it aside in a bowl for now.
- Measure out 50ml of white vinegar and distilled water and combine thoroughly.
- Using a funnel, decant the vinegar solution into your spray bottle.
- List both ingredients clearly on the label and affix it to the bottle.
- Add a production date and a 1-month expiry date.
How To Use:
-
- So, you want to know how to clean a couch that smells like dog urine? I’m not surprised, it really isn’t very pleasant, is it?
Step One
-
- The first step is to act while the urine stain is still wet. (You can follow the same procedure, from step 8, if it has dried).
- Clear away any pet hair, dirt, and debris from around the stain to make clean-up easier.
- You want to apply the absorbent fuller’s earth and baking soda mix to the entirety of the urine stain, making sure it has good contact. The fuller’s earth is absorbent and will soak up the urine, while the baking soda neutralizes the odor. Leave the mix in place for at least 6 hours, covering it if necessary with a cloth.
- After 6 hours, apply an old, large towel over the stain, and if possible, flip the couch cushion upside down so any urine will drain down into the absorbent mix and onto the towel (I always put a bin liner under the towel to save getting my carpet stinky too)!
- Can’t flip the cushion? Scrape the mix off the cushion and discard it in the household waste, and reapply for another 12 hours.
- Scrape any absorbent mix away as well as you can. The next part will remove any residual matter.
Step Two
-
- If you want to know how to remove urine smell from couches after they have dried, start here!
- First, soak the stain in hot soapy water, using an appropriate detergent for your couch. Give it a good scrub, but be gentle if your couch fabric has a raised pattern or nap. Give it all a really good clean. Change the water if necessary.
- When you feel you have cleaned all you can, give it a really good spray with your white vinegar and distilled water cleaning solution. This time, you don’t need to be too sparing; you can, and should, get the area wet. Leave for 15 minutes.
- Alternatively, you could steam clean your couch and cushions at this stage.
- Dab out any excess water using clean cloths and leave the couch/cushion to dry in a warm, dry space.
Step Three
-
- Once completely dry, if there is still any residual odor, you can use the fragranced baking soda from solution one to neutralize and deodorize any last remaining scent molecules. It is a great way to leave your couches fresh and clean.
Final Note
-
- It is always worth having a tub of baking soda and fuller’s earth mixed up and ready to go, especially if you have young animals and want to avoid professional cleaners with harsh chemicals. It can be used on hard surfaces as well as fabrics. Patch test first, of course!
Naturally, you can use VINEVIDA Soaps & Candles fragrance oils and essential oils to add scent to your cleaning solution spray. Just make sure you use a proprietary dispersant to disperse the oils through the water. This will ensure you don’t get globs of undiluted oil ruining your couch fabric.
VINEVIDA's odor-eliminating fragrance oils are a wonderful tool to utilize when learning how to get dog smell out of couches and cushions.
Final Words
In this article, we have covered simple, quick, and effective ways to get rid of the smell of dogs using baking soda and white vinegar.
White Vinegar
Sally from Wisconsin asked, “Does vinegar get dog smell out of the couch”? Well, now you know that it will, because it can trap and neutralize odors by chemical reaction. We also learnt that we can use it to neutralize smells in the air and that we don’t always have to apply it to the area that is smelling of dog to work effectively.
Baking Soda
We learnt that the best way to get baking soda to work effectively as a couch odor eliminator is to allow it time to work and give it good contact with the area that is offending our nose and sensibilities. Baking soda both neutralizes and deodorizes odors, making it an extremely effective tool in your battle against dog smells and odors.
Odor Eliminating Fragrance Oils
You can use both of these ingredients to clean your couch and freshen the area. Don’t forget that you have NO. 24 - Citrus Odor Eliminator and NO. 70 - Vanilla Odor Eliminator to help you along the way. As well as a whole catalogue of amazing fragrance oils and essential oils to scent your home.
Hopefully, now, you will feel fully equipped and have discovered how to get dog smell out of couches naturally with just a couple of highly effective ingredients. You will soon be using these cleaning solutions to neutralize odors all over your home.
