How to get dog smell out of a couch and keep it out

Step by step: how to get dog smell out of a couch and keep it out

1. 1

   Strip the couch and air the room

   Take off throws, pillows and any removable cushion covers whose tag says they are washable. Open windows and run a fan. Fresh air alone takes the edge off a stale dog smell while you work.

2. 2

   Loosen hair with a rubber glove

   Put on a damp rubber glove and wipe across the cushions, arms and back in one direction. Dog hair balls up and lifts off. A pet hair roller does the same job faster on large areas.

3. 3

   Vacuum slowly, including the crevices

   Vacuum every surface with the upholstery tool, using slow overlapping passes. Use the crevice tool along seams, under cushions and where the back meets the seat, since that is where hair, skin flakes and crumbs collect. Empty the canister or change the bag afterward so the smell does not blow back out.

4. 4

   Wash everything that comes off

   Wash throws, dog blankets and washable covers in the warmest water their labels allow. For machine-washable items, Humane World suggests adding a one-pound box of baking soda to the load along with your detergent, and air drying if you can.

5. 5

   Find and treat spots with an enzyme cleaner

   Sniff the cushions up close, especially where your dog sleeps, and check for drool, urine or vomit marks. Spray those with an enzyme pet odor cleaner, leave it for the label time and blot. Enzyme cleaners are water-based, so use them on W or WS fabrics only.

6. 6

   Sprinkle baking soda over the fabric

   Test on a hidden area first, then shake a thin, even layer of baking soda over the seat, back and arms. Work it in lightly with a soft brush. Leave it at least 4 hours, or overnight, so it can absorb odor.

7. 7

   Vacuum the baking soda off

   Vacuum it all up with slow passes and the upholstery tool, then the crevices again. If you still smell dog, repeat the baking soda the next day or move on to a full upholstery clean.

8. 8

   Put a washable throw on the dog’s spot

   Cover the place your dog likes with a washable blanket and wash it every week. It catches most of the oil and hair that otherwise soaks into the couch.

Why the couch smells like dog, and how to stop it at the source

Dog odor on a couch comes from the oils, skin flakes, saliva and hair your dog leaves there, so a cleaner couch stays fresh only if the dog does too.

• The American Kennel Club notes that secondary yeast or bacterial infections of the skin or ears are the most common medical reasons dogs smell bad. If your dog suddenly smells stronger, or you see red skin, crusting or red ears, see your vet.
• The same article quotes a veterinary dermatologist who suggests bathing dogs about monthly, and says masking dog odor with sprays or perfumes can irritate the skin.
• Wash the dog’s own bed weekly. A smelly dog bed transfers odor to the dog, and the dog transfers it to the couch.
• Brush your dog outside a few times a week so loose hair and dander end up there, not in the cushions.

Which deodorizing method should you use?

Start with vacuuming and baking soda; move up only if the smell stays. Each step goes deeper into the fabric and takes more time.

If the smell is clearly urine, follow our guide on getting pee out of a couch instead. For leather, skip baking soda and wipe with a leather cleaner, as in our leather couch guide.

Dog smell, dander and allergies

Removing the smell also removes some allergen, but not all of it. The EPA’s asthma triggers page says proteins in pet skin flakes, urine, saliva and hair can trigger asthma, and suggests keeping pets away from upholstered furniture for people with an allergy to animal dander.

If someone in the house is allergic, vacuum with a HEPA-filter vacuum, keep the dog off one couch entirely, and wash throws weekly. Humane World also points out that washable rugs make cleanup much easier for pet owners, and the same logic applies to a washable throw on the couch.

Mistakes to avoid

• Spraying air freshener or fabric perfume on top of the smell instead of removing hair and oil first.
• Vacuuming quickly with the floor head, which skims over the dander in the weave.
• Using a steam cleaner on urine spots, which sets the odor.
• Washing covers that are not labeled washable, so they shrink and no longer fit.
• Cleaning the couch but not the dog bed or the dog, so the smell is back in a week.