While the smell of leather is generally pleasing, occasionally it carries with it a few unpleasant surprises in the scent section, especially in leather furnishings or clothing. Secondhand or used furniture may consist of stale cigars or cigarettes. Furniture tucked away in a moist and dark storage unit for years may smell musty; a garage-sale leather chair was clearly, by its scent, Fido’s favorite place to nap. In each case, a fresh-air treatment plus also a modest hands-on care leave that leather furniture fresh enough to sit once again without plugging your nose.

A Breath of Fresh Air

New air works wonders to discharge those set-in scents from leather furniture. A glowing, or at least non-humid, day is greatest, as moisture occasionally contributes to scents like mustiness. Leave out the furniture all day or as many hours as possible during daylight hours, since the sunlight also helps decrease those awful scents. Eliminate every pillow which comes off the furniture to air out those bits as well, propping them up from a table or the side of the sofa vertically for optimum exposure to air. If you can’t take the items completely outdoors, place them in a screened porch or well-ventilated room using a ceiling fan and a lot of daylight.

Baking Soda: Scent Reducer

Baking soda removes stale odors from a sofa, as it will in the refrigerator. Sprinkle it liberally all over the leather upholstery, including the back, armrestscushions and the place underneath the cushions, if the cushions are removable, then vacuum the powder away after an hour or two. When the cushions are fixed in place, stuff some paper between the cushions or to some visible cracks, scatter baking soda onto the newspaper and let it sit for a few hours or maybe a few days. The newspaper and baking soda team up to remove funky furniture aromas.

Victory With Vinegar

White vinegar on leather both cleans the face and combats scents. Spritz a mixture of half vinegar, half water over all leather areas, including cushions, and allow it to air dry for 10 minutes or so in a well-ventilated, dry place before wiping away the vinegar. When the cushions are removable, make sure to spray on the opposite side, as well as the place under the cushions. Repeat the process if the furniture still smells less than fresh.

Action Against Mildew

If the furniture smells a bit musty or moldy, odds are it had been saved in dark, dank conditions for a very long period of time. Such conditions are ripe for mold or mildew, which are indicated by little specks or spots on the furniture. Wipe down the spots with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or lint-free fabric. Once the spots are gone along with the furniture has time to completely air out at a dry place, the odor should disappear as well.

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