Phthalates have recently been linked albeit in small-scale studies to reproductive deformities in male infants and obesity and pubescent girls.
Chemical fire retardants: Although toxic fire retardants known as penta brominated diphenyl ethers , or PBDEs, are not known to smell, you may nevertheless be inhaling these VOCs from your couch.
But there's no reason to panic and shun your new couch! Instead, reduce your exposures while gradually getting rid of the smell, using these simple tips. If the couch cushion covers are removable, wash them according to the manufacturer's instructions and air dry them outdoors or near an open window.
If you can't remove the covers, wipe the couch gently with a rag moistened with water and baking soda , which will absorb a lot of the odors. Ventilate that couch: Open windows , or run a fan to disperse fumes, for however long it takes for the smell to fade.
And keep the room cool, since heat causes VOCs to more readily offgas. For more information on phthalates, visit the Greener Penny blog. By Whole Living December 09, Save Pin More.
The thing is, it also has a fairly strong smell of its own, which will dissipate, but which you should know about before using, since some people find it to be way too much. For that reason, you should use it sparingly and at a distance from furniture so you don't wind up overwhelming your entire home with the smell of the thing you're using to eliminate some other smell. This is the cheapest of all the options, which is just one of the reasons it's such a good choice.
White vinegar also has antibacterial properties, and it works really well to kill smells. To use it, put straight white vinegar—not white wine vinegar—in a spray bottle and mist the couch with it. As the vinegar dries, the smell will dissipate, but you should also spritz from about a foot away and try not to overdo it. Aim for a light misting, not total saturation. Remember way back at the beginning of our relationship when I told you that you could use vodka to deodorize vintage items that retained that vintage store-smell?
It's okay if you don't remember, you can just nod at me and pretend you do, I'll act like I don't see you opening that link to catch up. This is how I get you, by the way. Toss in a few links for you to follow and then sit back while you spend the next three hours in a rabbit hole of old columns until you're like, "How is it four o'clock already and did I really just spend the afternoon reading about cleaning?
Use the cheap stuff, decant it into a plastic spray bottle and spritz away. Then make yourself a cocktail. Use the good stuff for that, though. While sprays are going to be easier to use, there's another category of products that bears mentioning. To use them, sprinkle a liberal amount onto your couch or carpet, or both! If the smell is very strong, you may want to allow the product to sit a bit longer. Baking soda is relatively neutral on the pH scale. When you sprinkle it on top of the upholstery, it absorbs both acidic and basic odors.
Because the powder is neutral, it effectively neutralizes the smell! Let the baking soda sit for at least 15 minutes. For more serious odors, consider leaving it overnight to work its magic. After the baking soda removes the odors, you can use your vacuum to remove it. Velvet is a plush fabric with a lot to offer in the comfort department. While the dense pile is great on the skin, it also harbors odors pretty easily. Like vinegar, lemon juice is a natural acid. It also has some great antimicrobial properties to get rid of the bacteria that are causing odors.
Plus, it leaves behind a pleasant smell! Mix about a tablespoon of citric acid to a tablespoon of lemon juice in a bowl. The mixture should start foaming up nicely. Be very light here! The key is to make light contact with the piles. Despite its smooth texture, real leather can still absorb moisture and smells.
Sofa manufacturers can apply a protective treatment to improve water and odor resistance, but that often fades with time. Castile soap is a safe cleaning product. Thus, it can condition the leather upholstery of your couch while removing any odor-causing gunk. Next, use your microfiber cloth to clean the leather material. Just dip it in the mixture, wring out any excess, and wipe the leather clean! But, you might want to remove any residue that accumulates.
Dip a new cloth in some clean water. Go over the area you cleaned to ensure that no soap gets left behind. Technically, suede is just leather. However, manufacturers use the underside of the animal to give it that signature fuzzy feel.
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