Smoke in the sofa, and febreeze in the sky
April 7, 2014 6:35 PM Subscribe
How do you get a smoke smell out of a couch?
The couch from my previous question has arrived (actual previous question irrelevant to this one however)
The previous owner had febreezed the heck out of it. I can't stand febreeze but it normally fades. Well it has faded only to reveal the smell underneath...stale cigarette smoke. Blech.
Anyone had luck getting rid of stale smoke from a couch? Obviously febreeze isn't going to do it. I've read white vinegar spritz can do the trick. Any experience with that?
Thanks!
The couch from my previous question has arrived (actual previous question irrelevant to this one however)
The previous owner had febreezed the heck out of it. I can't stand febreeze but it normally fades. Well it has faded only to reveal the smell underneath...stale cigarette smoke. Blech.
Anyone had luck getting rid of stale smoke from a couch? Obviously febreeze isn't going to do it. I've read white vinegar spritz can do the trick. Any experience with that?
Thanks!
Is there any chance you can put it outside for a day or two? In the sun would be best, but just outside if at all possible.
Vinegar does an okay job, though in fabric it can take a while for that smell to dissipate.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:44 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Vinegar does an okay job, though in fabric it can take a while for that smell to dissipate.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:44 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I live in an apt bldg so leaving the couch outside not a viable option.
Vodka? Interesting
posted by ian1977 at 6:47 PM on April 7, 2014
Vodka? Interesting
posted by ian1977 at 6:47 PM on April 7, 2014
I got rid of a horrible mildew smell in my car by throwing baking soda everywhere and vacuuming it out two days later.
posted by gatorae at 6:58 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by gatorae at 6:58 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
ian1977 - it was a trick I learned from costumers. They can't wash the elaborate costumes and use vodka.
posted by beccaj at 7:04 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by beccaj at 7:04 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yes, vodka is also used on vintage items that can't be washed.
Baking soda is also a good option, then if it works you can drink the vodka.
posted by Youremyworld at 7:18 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Baking soda is also a good option, then if it works you can drink the vodka.
posted by Youremyworld at 7:18 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Coat it liberally with baking soda for a day or two, then vacuum it off.
posted by oceanjesse at 7:41 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by oceanjesse at 7:41 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: No. Throw it away now, because you will never get the smell out.
We bought a couch from a neighbor who smoked. We tried for a year - vinegar, baking soda, fresh cat litter, expensive crap from the janitorial supply, hauling it out into the yard for weeks at a time during the dry springtime -- you name it. Nothing worked. That couch waited us out. You'll see.
On preview, the vodka remedy sounds good. Drink until you can see yourself throwing out the couch and all the money you spent on it, and then do it.
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:58 PM on April 7, 2014 [22 favorites]
We bought a couch from a neighbor who smoked. We tried for a year - vinegar, baking soda, fresh cat litter, expensive crap from the janitorial supply, hauling it out into the yard for weeks at a time during the dry springtime -- you name it. Nothing worked. That couch waited us out. You'll see.
On preview, the vodka remedy sounds good. Drink until you can see yourself throwing out the couch and all the money you spent on it, and then do it.
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:58 PM on April 7, 2014 [22 favorites]
When I worked in a hotel we used to de-stankify the smoking rooms with a portable ozone machine — but we did that after every smoking guest. A piece of upholstered furniture that has lived long-term with a smoker is likely beyond help.
posted by murphy slaw at 10:12 PM on April 7, 2014
posted by murphy slaw at 10:12 PM on April 7, 2014
Most of the smoke will be in the fabric, so get a steam cleaner - you can rent one at a hardware store. It will steam the fabric and vacuum the yuck back out. There will be cig. smoke all through it, though, so there may be residual smell.
posted by theora55 at 2:25 AM on April 8, 2014
posted by theora55 at 2:25 AM on April 8, 2014
We rehabbed a recliner by using a steam cleaner and the baking soda/vacuum method every day for five days. It lived in my MIL's super-smoky house for seven years. Today it's fine.
Load it with baking soda and let it sit overnight. Vacuum it off in the morning. Then steam clean it and when it's mostly dry dose it with baking soda again. Let it sit overnight. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Get all of the cracks and behind the cushions, the legs, and underneath too.
We had the luxury of leaving it in a garage until it was smoke free. I think the method will still work, you'll just have a messy sofa in your apartment.
posted by kimberussell at 3:37 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
Load it with baking soda and let it sit overnight. Vacuum it off in the morning. Then steam clean it and when it's mostly dry dose it with baking soda again. Let it sit overnight. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Get all of the cracks and behind the cushions, the legs, and underneath too.
We had the luxury of leaving it in a garage until it was smoke free. I think the method will still work, you'll just have a messy sofa in your apartment.
posted by kimberussell at 3:37 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Three members of my family still live at the old homestead, and two out of those three smoke -- inside the house. When I'm forced to visit home, I buy cheap clothes at Target to last me the length of my stay. I stay in a hotel, and I don't take anything permanent with me -- I leave my phone, my computer, my bags, my ID, my credit cards, at the hotel when I go to the house to visit. If I plan to keep it when I get back home, it does not leave the hotel room.
When the visit is over, I strip, double-bag the smoky clothes, take two showers, wash my hair twice, condition it, and change into the remaining Target clothes for the trip home -- for the sake of my neighbors on the plane. Then I drop off at Goodwill anything that has been in my family's house.
Once something has smoke in it, the smoke is in it. Forever. That goes for clothes, suitcases, computer equipment, phone cases, bed linens, carpets, walls, and -- unfortunately -- furniture. Your sofa is likely covered in foam or stuffing covered by fabric -- it will never not smell nasty. You can disguise some of it for a short period of time, but your visitors who sit on that sofa will always think you're closet smokers.
I'd throw it out. In terms of cleanability, I would rather have a cat pee on my stuff than have it be around smokers.
posted by kythuen at 7:32 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
When the visit is over, I strip, double-bag the smoky clothes, take two showers, wash my hair twice, condition it, and change into the remaining Target clothes for the trip home -- for the sake of my neighbors on the plane. Then I drop off at Goodwill anything that has been in my family's house.
Once something has smoke in it, the smoke is in it. Forever. That goes for clothes, suitcases, computer equipment, phone cases, bed linens, carpets, walls, and -- unfortunately -- furniture. Your sofa is likely covered in foam or stuffing covered by fabric -- it will never not smell nasty. You can disguise some of it for a short period of time, but your visitors who sit on that sofa will always think you're closet smokers.
I'd throw it out. In terms of cleanability, I would rather have a cat pee on my stuff than have it be around smokers.
posted by kythuen at 7:32 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Seconding toodleydoodley. I tried to clean a couch for 3 years, using all the same methods plus a steam cleaner and god knows what else. Nothing worked. NOTHING.
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:59 AM on April 8, 2014
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:59 AM on April 8, 2014
Response by poster: I'm convinced. Paid the 40 bucks to have it hauled away. Just have to live with it til friday. I'm very glad I asked because I would have futilely tried to fix it for months. Thanks everyone!
posted by ian1977 at 11:41 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by ian1977 at 11:41 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by beccaj at 6:40 PM on April 7, 2014