How to Remove a Musty Smell from a Leather Sofa? Is That Possible?

Mold is everywhere! It frames the windows, invades the walls, spoils the food and covers plant soil. Powerful as it is, we know methods and tricks to eliminate it for a certain period. Sometimes you can smell it in the air, and that can be manages. But when you lie down on the sofa to relax and a musty smell attacks your nostrils, it’s really bad. How to a remove musty smell from a leather sofa? Why a leather sofa is so prone to “locking up” any pleasant and unpleasant aroma and how to eliminate it, our article will tell you enough.

What’s the Connection Between Fabrics and Musty Smell?

A leather sofa is tempting. Its durability par excellence is the key factor that determines your purchasing decision. The smooth and soft material promises the perfect relaxation. Chic and elegant, it gives your living room a noble appearance. Adaptability to any style is the last advantage that persuades you to opt for this piece of furniture. As is always the case, there’s one small drawback that affects your enthusiasm. Leather absorbs odors. Leather vs pets! Are you ready to choose between the two? It is possible to cleaning the surface of a sofa without damaging it, but to remove a musty smell from a leather sofa is a challenge. Neutralizing the smell of smoke (tobacco) is common for high-end furniture. Whatever we do afterwards, prevention is more important. Do not smoke indoors, avoid animal contact with leather, and most importantly, do not allow mold to penetrate deeply.

To get an accurate picture of the humidity level in your home, use hygrometers, ventilate the house and opt for reliable insulation. These precautions guarantee fewer or no problems. While a hard surface made of wood, tiles or plastic is easy to treat, when it comes to upholstery, things can get worse. Soft upholstery picks up moisture faster than wood or even your clothes, and it’s not easy to wash them and make them fresh again. What’s more, these aren’t pieces you can throw away and get a new one the next day. Since calling in the professionals to remove musty smell from a leather sofa can be costly, you can rely on simple tricks.

How to Remove a Musty Smell from a Leather Sofa?

Before doing anything, make sure the surface is real leather and not faux leather. The latter, containing a lot of dye, can be discolored by the application of an alcohol-based product. Caution requires testing on an inconspicuous surface before proceeding. Unlike other fabric, leather should not be stitched loose, as this creates holes that tear over time Therefore, when it’s necessary to insert an alcohol-based product via a syringe, it’s best to do so through the seams of the sofa or in less visible areas of the periphery. Why use alcohol-based neutralizers? Because alcohol evaporates while eliminating musty odors. Camphor, for example. As a child, you treated your sore throat with compresses soaked in camphor. You remember how quickly the smell faded, so as not to “embarrass” you in front of your classmates. This substance is commonly used in religious ceremonies in India, but is also extremely useful for eliminating strong odors and fungal infestations. How to use it?

Five or six camphor crystals are all you need to neutralize the musty smell on your leather sofa. Place them in a steel plate and install under the furniture.

As for the other method of burning, you need to be careful not to leave it unattended. Light the crystals in a bowl on a table, away from any flammable object, and let them burn completely. Close doors and windows for about 15-20 minutes. Then discard the residue. No more smells coming from the furniture and bothering your nostrils.

How to Remove a Strong Musty Smell with Lemon?

The firm or soft upholstery of a leather sofa consists of foam (polyether, polyurethane, high resilience foam). These materials are absorbent and can collect and retain unpleasant odors over time. If you have ever used the acidity of lemon to clean your oven, nothing prevents you from taking advantage of its strong pleasant smell to remove an unpleasant one.

Squeeze a lemon to get 4-5 tablespoons of juice. Mix in a bowl with ½ cup of water. Dip a clean sponge into the solution and scrub the surface of your upholstery. Wipe with a clean cloth before the lemon discolors the leather.

It’s easy when it comes to a leather jacket that has endured the attacks of tobacco smoke for several hours. You put it on a hanger and hang it outside to air it out. But what about the leather surface of your sofa?

Well, if you’ve followed the advice above and the smell persists, it’s very likely that you need to treat the upholstery. Fortunately, with many sofas, you can remove the leather upholstery, allowing you to clean or replace the padding and eliminate the smell. But if this isn’t the case, you’ll need to resort to an industrial-type leather cleaner. Use a lint-free cloth to moisten the areas where the musty smell is particularly strong. Without rubbing, let the leather dry and “sniff test” the area. That’s it?! No? If the bad odor persists, reapply. Don’t try to smother it with another smell, such as perfume, as the two will interfere and become heavier and more persistent.

Last tip: Treat real leather every six months, which won’t prevent odors from setting in, but if it’s mold, treating with Leather Honey conditioner is the best prevention.