9 Ways How To Get Dog Smell Out Of Couch: Easy And Safe Methods
Dog owners often think about how to get dog smell out of couches, especially when guests arrive at their homes. Dog odor is typical to their owners but may not appeal to guests.
Most dog owners use room spray to get rid of dog smell. Using room spray may remove the dog odor from your home for a few hours, but what is the permanent solution?
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In this article, we have shared some DIY tips for removing dog smell from upholstered furniture. These life hacks are not only easy to apply but also practical as well.
Before we dive into the solution, let us clarify your doubt: why does even your dog smell like this or spread odor?
This is a general question that you might have in your mind. Pets are like us; they eat, sleep, urinate, and evacuate their bowels. As humans have some odor in their bodies, animals also have some odor.
To keep ourselves odor free, we take baths; we use aroma; we use fragrances and a lot of things. But in the case of dogs as pet parents, we only help them bathe. We barely take care of their odor. They become sweaty during summer, and their body secretions make them stinky. Unfortunately, we do not bother about this.
Apart from this, dogs also roam around everywhere. They eat food particles from everywhere. Sometimes they get affected and carry bacteria with them that make them stinky. When your dogs sit on the furniture or the sofa, those bacteria and yeast spread all over these things and make your furniture smelly.
Another leading cause of dog odor is the smell of urine. After urination, dogs may come close to sofas and couches, and since they don’t know to clean themselves, they can make the furniture dirty. As pet parents, it can be difficult to keep up with cleaning your dogs every time they urinate, but it’s important to try to train them to go outside instead. You can also use odor neutralizers and cleaners to help combat any lingering smells.
Table of Contents
Reasons why your dog smells stinky
1. Excessive body oil production
It has been noticed when a dog’s sebaceous gland produces excessive body oil (seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis) at that time; your dog emits a stinky odor.
When you give your dog too many baths with hard shampoo, your pet’s skin becomes dry and flaky. But due to dryness, dogs’ bodies produce more sebaceous. As a result, their body odor becomes more pungent and stinky.
2. Medical reasons
Another cause of dog odor is medical issues with your dog. Dogs with ear infections have foul smells. Due to allergic reactions, dogs may get affected with small blisters. As a result, dogs develop red patches and hotspots on them. Dogs with hotspots on their body stink badly, which is a pain to all dog owners.
3. Get affected by surroundings
Your dog likes to roll in the dirt and on grass. From there, they can pick up scents, including the smell of grass, which can stick to their fur. As a result, when dogs play outside on the grass and then come inside, they may carry the scent of grass with them. This scent can also transfer to upholstery, such as couches, and linger there. Fortunately, several easy DIY tips for removing pet odor from upholstery can help eliminate the dog smell from couches and other furniture.
How to deep clean a couch to get rid of dog scent
Use the below methods to remove pet odor from the furniture.
1. Use Baking Soda
One of the easiest ways to remove dog odor from your couches is by using baking soda for 12 hours. This will work effectively and help you eliminate the stinky smell. Baking soda is easy to use. Just sprinkle baking soda on the upholstery at night and leave it. In the morning, vacuum your furniture. This easy technique is an effective way to get rid of dog odor. Now if this will not remove the smell, you can check others also in this article.
Note: Some people may sprinkle baking soda on their dogs, which we do not recommend because if your dog has allergic issues, it may trigger those. So avoid this way of using baking soda to eliminate dog odor.
2. Use Pet Odor Eliminators
There are many products on the market that you can use to remove the smell from the couch. We use Angry Orange Pet Odor & Stain Eliminator spray to eliminate dog pee stains and odor. This is one of the best enzyme cleaners for removing dog odor from couches on the market that works deeply.
This has a few benefits: this dog odor remover will not affect the fabric. The bio-enzymatic chemical eliminates the dog odor from the material quickly.
Note: Some dog owners use detergents to remove dog pee stains and odor, but on a molecular level, regular detergent may make the fabric fray and harsh.
3. Keep Blankets and Couch Covers Clean
If you want to get rid of dog smell out of blankets and couches without spending too much money, washing the blankets and couch covers is the easiest way to eliminate odors. However, you have to use a cover on your furniture when your furry friend sits on it so that you can clean those covers and eliminate any dog odors.
If your dog directly sits on the couches and pillows, then it may be challenging to wash the entire furniture. So using a washable cover is a great way to keep away the stinky smell of your dog from the table.
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4. Use an upholstery machine
There are many upholstery machines available on the market that have a strong odor. Sprinkling baking soda and room cleaner may remove the lighter smells from your couches, but if the odor is strong, you may need to bring a robust reinforcement machine.
In this case, our preference is BISSELL Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner. This upholstery cleaning machine is one of the best available on the internet, and it comes at a fair price. This machine smoothly works on the fabric, removing the stain and odors from your sofa.
5. Use white vinegar
White vinegar is the best natural remedy for eliminating the dog smell from the sofa and chairs. The potent chemical bonding of white vinegar will break down the urine acid and make your sofa stain and odor free.
While using vinegar on a particular spot, dilute the vinegar with water. Keep the ratio of vinegar and water 1:1. This ratio will be perfect for applying on any fabric.
We used this technique before purchasing the odor remover machine, as white vinegar is a ready-to-use product. This will not hamper the fabric, even your dog’s odor will go away quickly.
6. Bring your furniture outside
The leading causes of dog odor are some bacteria and fungi that develop from dogs’ urine and sweat. Keeping your sofa and couches under sunlight will help you to eliminate the stinky smell, urine, and body odor.
UV in sunlight will kill those bacteria, and your cushions and couches will become fresh in smell. Pet owners should regularly bring pet gear under sunlight so that no fungus or bacteria will grow.
Now when exposing fabric materials to direct sunlight, it may affect the fabric. So if you have a question about how to clean dog urine from the couch, use this method. But remember, do not expose fabric material to the sun for a prolonged period.
7. Use a Vacuum
Vacuuming can clean dog scents from the couch. You may wonder how vacuuming will help you get rid of dog odor. Right? Let me tell you, one of the main reasons for dog odor is your pet’s dander and dead skin.
If you regularly vacuum your room where your dog roams around specifically, you may need to get a dog to do it intensely. Dead cells, skin flakes, and dander accumulate on your sofa and couches. And from them, you may get a dog’s stinky smell.
There are many vacuums available on the market that come with different usability. Investing in a good vacuum cleaner will help you eliminate the dog odor.
8. Teach Your dog not to sit on couches
It may seem impossible, but you must keep your emotions aside and teach your dog not to sit while you’re not around them. On a lazy afternoon, you may want to cuddle with your dog on the couch or sofa, and your dog will love this gesture of yours. These gestures may give them a hint that sitting on the couch or sofas is normal.
So it is essential to train your dog to follow your order. Whenever you see them sitting on the furniture, give them instructions to come down. Show some hand gestures saying no when they are about to sit. This way, you will make them understand these places are not meant for them while you’re not around them.
Sometimes you may notice your dog trying to dig into the sofa. This act may damage your valuable furniture, so teaching them ‘no’ gestures is good.
9. Get Professional Help
Using the above methods to eliminate a dog’s odor is okay. However, if you need professional help, consult a dog behaviorist or consider professional couch cleaning services. They may suggest appropriate solutions or use strong deodorizing products that remove pet odor from upholstery.
So far, professional couch cleaning has been one of the most effective methods for keeping dog odor away. We once asked for help from our local house cleaning agencies, and they used some strong deodorizing products to clean our sofas and couches. It’s been six months, and we have not deodorized our couches, but they still do not stink or spread dog odor.
Conclusion
We, as pet parents, cannot live without our furry friends. But it is also true that dealing with dog odor is quite challenging and demanding. Especially when you’re expecting some guests to arrive, it may feel awkward to feel dog odor all around the corner. But believe us, we have used all the above methods, and after experiencing the odds, we have sorted out these methods for you. So you also can get rid of dog odors.
Read Next:
- How To Potty Train A Yorkie Puppy In 2 Days
- 8 Reasons Why My Dog Sniffs My Ears (And How to Stop It)
- I Accidentally Bought Puppy Food: Things To Do With It
FAQ
1. Can I use regular cleaning products to remove the dog smell from my couch?
A: You can use baking soda to quickly eliminate your dog’s odor from your couch. Simply sprinkle baking soda on the couch at night and leave it overnight. The potent baking soda chemical will absorb the unpleasant odor, leaving your couch smelling fresh by morning.
2. How often should I clean my couch to prevent dog odor?
A: Now it depends upon the odor and how frequently your dog climbs and spends time on the couch. If your dog loves to sit on your sofa or couch, we suggest cleaning the sofa weekly to keep your room stink-free.
3. How long does it take to remove a dog smell from a couch?
A: If you’re using baking soda, it will take around 7 to 8 hours. But it is better to leave baking soda on those specific areas overnight.
4. What are some natural remedies for removing dog odor from a couch?
A: One of the most natural remedies for removing dog odor is baking soda on the couch or some enzymatic cleaner.
5. Is it safe to use an enzyme cleaner on my couch?
A: Yes, an enzyme cleaner on the couch is safe for removing dog odor. These cleaners are made in such a way that they will not hamper the fabric.
6. What should I do if the dog smell persists after cleaning the couch?:
A: If you see your dog still smells bad, then it is better to consult with a veterinarian. If your dog stinks due to skin issues or an underlying medical condition, it is always better to consult with a vet as early as possible.
7. How to get the dog pee smell out of the couch?
A: Use baking soda or vinegar on the couch and targeted area. Leave it for a couple of hours to get the dog pee smell out of the couch.