How to Give Upholstery a Delicious Fresh Scent: 5 Tips from Professional Cleaners

Before you know how to freshen up the scent of your upholstery, you need to choose a new seasonal scent. According to Vanessa Bossart, owner of a cleaning company, floral or citrus notes are best for summer. “I suggest turning to jasmine, lavender, lemon and grapefruit to bring vitality and energy to your home,” she says.

Removing odors from upholstery is a very important step: before applying perfumes, your sofa must be transformed into a blank canvas. What if he’s already seen a lot – from wet dog paws to fallen pieces of pizza? Here are the tools that professionals recommend using.

“Soda is the first thing that comes to almost every cleaner’s mind when it comes to determining how to remove odors from upholstered furniture. It is a true champion in this field, it is found in all homes, and using bicarbonate is very simple. Sprinkle the powder liberally on your upholstery, leave it overnight, then vacuum it. 9 times out of 10, it will eliminate even the worst stench, says Erin Zanelli, founder of the cleaning service.

“Ultraviolet light does a great job of removing odors from upholstery. Wait for a cloudless day and place the sofa cushions outside for a few hours, in direct sunlight, advises the president of the cleaning company, Hashi Mohamed. “The UV light and fresh air will kill bacteria and remove unpleasant odors, leaving the fabric fresh.”

“Steam is a great way to refresh furniture without chemicals. The high temperature will kill germs and the humidity will soften the stains so you can easily remove their remains. If you don’t have a steam cleaner, use a steamer – it will also do the job perfectly, ”advises an experienced housekeeper and founder of the Maffetta Kruger cleaning service.

When it comes to killing bacteria and viruses, ozone is five times more effective than ultraviolet light and 300 times more powerful than chlorine. It also gives off a delicious fresh smell, the same one that appears after a heavy rain. Using an ozonator is a professional tip for treating upholstery, but you can also use it: rent the device and let it run for several hours in the room where the sofa is located.

Enzymatic cleaners do a great job of removing protein stains and removing even the most stubborn odors associated with them. “If you buy a product like this, you’ll definitely get what you pay for: you’ll quickly appreciate its ability to remove stains not only from upholstery, but also from clothing and carpets,” says Maffetta.

Also read: Cleaning upholstery and perfumes for them: advice from cleaners

You can also scent upholstery in different ways – use the one that seems most suitable to you.

“Essential oils make excellent scents for upholstery, and some have antibacterial properties, including cinnamon, clove, geranium, lemon, lime and rosemary. Add them to a spray bottle of water, spray the sofa and let it air dry. The optimal ratio when using essential oils for furniture is 20 drops in half a glass of water, but you can experiment with the proportions to find the desired intensity of smell, ”advises Zhanil Mangat, employee of the cleaning service.

“Here’s how to keep your furniture smelling fresh for a long time: Place dryer sheets under the covers. This simple trick will fill your entire room with scent – ​​it will become stronger when you sit on the sofa or lean against the cushions. Don’t forget to change your towels as needed and all your guests will be jealous of how fragrant your home smells,” says professional housekeeper Eliana Coca.

“Herbs, dried citrus peels and spices are great home remedies for refreshing upholstery. If you prefer natural ingredients, put them in cotton bags and hide them between pillows or under the couch for a subtle, long-lasting scent, advises Angela Rubin, an employee at a cleaning company.

“Lemon juice is not only a great eco-friendly scent for furniture, but also a powerful cleaning agent. Use it to wash your sofa: add five tablespoons of fresh juice to a glass of hot water, spray the solution on the fabric, wait a few minutes, then wipe the product with a cloth dampened in clean water. Warning: this quick way to rescent your upholstery is not suitable for dark items, as the lemon could lighten them. It’s best to test the juice on a small, inconspicuous area before using it,” advises Angela.

Top notes, middle notes, base notes… We’re used to hearing these terms when it comes to perfume, but now you can choose luxurious scents for your home – more and more brands offer their own textile sprays. You can use them – it’s one of the easiest ways to make your upholstery smell fresh.

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