My couch smells like puke :(

[thecheshirekat]

All three kids and I were sick all weekend with a nasty stomach bug - really the first one that we've had go through the house like this.  It was a nightmare.  DS threw up while sitting on DH's lap on the couch, and it got EVERYWHERE, and I've tried to clean every inch of this damn sectional three times now with enzyme cleaner, baking soda and vinegar, and leather cleaner.  I took it apart, scrubbed all the sides and cracks and everything.  It still stinks . What else can I do to it before I take it out back and light it on fire?  

[Deleted]

Omg so sorry that sounds horrendous.

Have you tried good old dish soap and water?? Otherwise it sounds like you tried everything I would have. Ughhhh.

[momin2013]

I have no idea whether these would affect the integrity of the material (leather?), but:

- lemon juice, as in rubbing a cut lemon over it?
- can any parts be left out in the sun/fresh air for a while?

[gastro]

Solution of dish soap (a few drops), couple tablespoons baking soda, and a few cups of hydrogen peroxide (maybe 3 or so?).
And then put the cushions or whatever you can outside in direct sunlight.

[thecheshirekat]

I'll try the dish soap. I wish I could take the cushions off, but the darn thing is all sewn together. Maybe I can get DH to help me take the two worst pieces of the thing outside for a day to see if it will help. I'm really glad we didn't buy a brand new couch when we were thinking about getting a sectional and tried one out secondhand first. I would be so pissed.

[Deleted]

This is terrible...but same thing happened and we washed everything and scrubbed and the smell still lingered for like two weeks!? It was nasty and we were tired of trying ways to clean it....but did eventually go away??? Good luck. Hope everyone is feeling better!

[minerswife17]

Throw it out. Buy a new one.

[lattelady5]

Ours smelled faintly too for a week or so after the last stomach bug. Can you put it in front of a window and open?

[NandaB]

When my carpets are stinky I mix baby powder with baking soda and sprinkle it liberally. Let it sit for a while and vacuum. Maybe sprinkle the cushions and in the cracks/under the cushions and let it sit overnight?

[thecheshirekat]

I'm kind of glad to hear that it might just go away eventually. I'm going to do a scrubdown with some dish soap before I go to bed tonight and try the baby powder/baking soda tomorrow if it's still gross, and at that point I guess I'll just wait it out. Thanks guys.

[gastro]

I think when people say the smell eventually went away they've just gotten used to it. I would ask a friend in two weeks who hasn't come over to tell you the truth if there aren't any offending odors.

[Deleted]

Apr 29, 2015 0:07:48 GMT -5 gastro said:

I think when people say the smell eventually went away they've just gotten used to it. I would ask a friend in two weeks who hasn't come over to tell you the truth if there aren't any offending odors.

Haha! This could be true! :0P