Does your sofa smell when it is humid? Know how to get rid of the musty smell and save your cushions. Learn where the smell gets strongest and why.
Many people make the mistake of pushing their sofa against the wall. What they do not realise is that the quality of the sofa degrades if the wall remains damp in a humid environment. Lack of air circulation is the reason you see mould on the upholstery. There are many reasons why your sofa loses its quality when the humidity is at its peak.
Fabric couches can still survive in damp rooms, but not leather sofas. With humidity, the sofa starts to smell. As a result, some use baking soda to get rid of the smell. Quietly, the sofa does not remain one of the most comfortable pieces of furniture as it was when you bought it. Some clean sofa fabric without knowing what they are doing, as they add a thick layer of perfumes and air fresheners directly to the couch. The sofa smell and fabric quality become a concern, especially when you are renting the couch and have to return it eventually. So, here are ways you should care for a sofa in humid conditions.
Why Cleaning Sofa Fabric Doesn’t Get Rid of the Smell
In humid rooms, you usually get a musty smell. To get rid of the smell, people clean the sofa. In humid weather conditions, the sofas never dry out within 24 hours. While cleaning is recommended, drying is essential. Even if the sofa fabric is clean, it remains an issue for the smell.
Where the smell is strongest | What usually causes it | What to do first |
All over the sofa | Damp room air, windows kept shut |
Baking soda overnight, then air the room on a dry afternoon
Arms and top of the backrest | Sweat and hair oil | Blot with mild soap water, then dry with a fan |
Seat cushions only | Moisture inside the foam | Unzip the cover and stand the cushion on its side near a fan |
Back of the sofa or underneath | Damp from the wall or floor | Pull the sofa away from the wall and check the wall for wet patches |
Returns a day after cleaning | Too much water used while cleaning | Use less water and clean only on dry mornings |
Once you know where the smell is coming from, you will understand a slice of the problem. The musty smell is usually because of the room. However, most people ignore the root of the smell and go straight to scrubbing.
But Why Do the Cushions Smell?
You can run the back of your hand to figure out whether the fabric feels damp. If the fabric holds moisture, it will naturally feel cool when you press it for a few seconds. It can also feel warm and stick during the day. If the cushion feels damp, you should unzip the cover and smell the foam inside. Does it smell sour? Then the problem needs more attention than just cleaning the fabric.
How to Clean the Sofa When it’s Humid
You can still clean sofa fabric if the room is humid – start dry.
You should check the fabric care guide. It will tell you whether you should use water or just dry clean it. Then you need to vacuum and collect crumbs and dust. If you miss this part, the water will leave muddy stains on the fabric. So, you need to clean the sofa fabric with the vacuum before anything else.
1. Can Baking Soda Remove the Smell?
Yes, using baking soda to clean sofa fabric is the safest way to get rid of the smell. But work on the sofa without using water – you need to start dry. Sprinkle the baking soda and use a soft brush to create a thin layer. Then leave it for a day.
The next morning, use the vacuum. If the smell is still there, you can repeat the same process. Make sure there is no thick crust of powder on the fabric, as you will have a hard time removing it.
2. Use Stain Remover
Get a mild stain remover for the monsoon. Add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of water – this can remove the brown or yellow stains from the couch. You can also use a ready-made stain remover to work on stubborn stains. Dab the mix onto a white cloth instead of applying it to the couch. Press, lift, then move to a clean corner of the cloth – make sure you do not rub the couch.
If you rub it, the stain turns into foam and spreads wider. Then put a dry towel on the spot and lean your whole weight on it for a minute so the towel pulls the moisture back out of the foam. Clean sofa fabric that’s left wet is just the next musty patch waiting to happen.
3. Can You Use Steam Cleaning?
Avoid steam cleaning when it rains, or the weather is too humid. Steam is the best way to deep clean a couch in dry weather. During the monsoon, the warm moisture penetrates into the cushion and traps moisture. As a result, the sofa can end up smelling worse than before.
It is better to use a steamer for dry weeks. If you cannot wait longer, you can steam on sunny days and keep a fan on.
4. Does Keeping the Windows Open Help?
Usually, not. Windows must be shut while it is pouring and opened when the rain stops. You can keep the windows open, but it depends on the time. You should work on getting air into the room.
Fresh air helps clean the sofa fabric when the air coming in is drier than the air inside. On days when the rain does not come, keep the windows closed.
5. Do Sofa Covers or Fabric Fresheners Help?
You can use covers, but avoid fresheners. Instead of plastic covers, you can use breathable cotton covers. Plastic ones can get damp, and the couch smells worse. If you put a thin cotton throw, you can put it in the wash.
Fabric fresheners can hide the smell, but the fine mist of moisture will get trapped. Spraying perfume over clean sofa fabric that’s damp just gives you a perfumed, damp sofa.
How to Care for a Rented Couch in the Monsoon
Since you cannot see the couch at the outlet, you should look for dampness and marks once it’s delivered. If the package gets soaked in the rain, it can leave moisture on the cushions. When the sofa comes in, press a hand on every cushion and unzip a cover to smell the foam.
Maintenance of a rented couch is different. If you soak or bleach a cushion, it can be damaged. Clean sofa fabric gently and raise a service request. Most rental service providers cover maintenance.
Furniture rental platforms such as Rentomojo include repairs and maintenance within the plans. If you see signs of a sagging cushion, you can raise a request, and the technician will visit. When the problem goes beyond repair, the service provider replaces the couch.
Final Thoughts
You can start daily habits that can keep the moisture out. Sometimes the dampness forms by accident – if you keep a wet umbrella against the armrest, the sofa gets damp. If your dog jumps on the couch after a walk in the rain, there is moisture. When the goal is to keep the couch odour-free, you should focus on keeping it dry. Do not push against the wall, know when to open the windows, and do not soak the couch in water to get rid of the smell. If you know what’s working for you, you can clean sofa fabric without much hassle.
(The views and opinions expressed in this guest article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Eastern Mirror)