Removal of pet odor from couch?

[bleemus]

Got a real nice looking couch from my sister the other day.  She said it smelled like her dog, but I figured, "How bad could it be?".  She steam cleaned it before I got it... but once I got it home...  man did it wreak.

We've used about a gallon of frebreeze on it... but now it just smells like wet dog + frebreeze.

It is stinking the whole garage up, even.  We're not talking urine or anything like that, just that nasty dog smell.

Anyone have any ideas/experience on how to get this out?

[shardian]

Well, most couch cushions have removable covers on them. If yours does, take off the covers and wash them. Take the foam padding outside and hit it with soap and a hose. Most of the stink should be in the cushions. Rent a good steam cleaning machine and hit the body of the couch hard with it. Lastly, if you get a good few days of dry weather, set it outside to air out.

[Daniel270]

You're ultimately going to need to do a deep cleaning on the couch.  BUT, if you don't remove the pet, ultimately you'll end up doing a "lather, rinse, repeat" rather regularly. 

[MikeDeuce]

One thing to try that might only cost you a few bucks, is a pet odor remover spray. Hit up a local pet store (the Petco over here has around 10 varieties of odor remover). We use one that is fairly effective at cleaning cat urine odor, so I can't imagine wet dog would be as difficult.

I've also had luck removing a super strong enchilada sauce stain+smell from a friend's car seats with a steam cleaner rented from the grocery store though...

[ChadTower]

Nothing short of fire will do it.

[shardian]

Nothing short of fire will do it.

As helpful as ever...

[ChadTower]

It is helpful.  I've had many couches and many dogs.  Once you get that smell really into the couch, it will not come out.  Just won't.

He can try all he wants but that couch is branded.  Sometimes the most useful thing someone can do is recognize when something cannot be done without going past the value of the item in effort and materials.

[saint]

What do you use?

We use one that is fairly effective at cleaning cat urine odor, so I can't imagine wet dog would be as difficult.

[JackTucky]

Natures Miracle provides results.  Sometimes. 

Your sister got rid of the couch because she probably tried everything already.

Lousy free givers.

-Jh

[zvar]

I personally use OdoBan for pet odors we have.  My sister-in-law uses it for removing pig barn stink from clothing with wonderful results.  Frebreeze just doesn't compare to how good odoBan is. The main problem I see though is the padding on the couch...  Maby be able to take the cushions to a laundromat and put them in one of those huge machines (and use the OdoBan instead of fabric softener, you'll smell a huge difference).

Steven

[ChadTower]

Wet dog is worse than cat urine.

[Shape D.]

The smell is relative, get a dog and you won't notice it in about a week.

[MikeDeuce]

What do you use?

We use one that is fairly effective at cleaning cat urine odor, so I can't imagine wet dog would be as difficult.

Simple Solutions, cat flavored, in a spray bottle:

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Product_R_685_PC_productlist_Nav_209_N_23+128_sku_717762MP2_familyID_3935.aspx

http://www.bramton.com/products_us/010279106105.htm

GF's jerk cat likes to urinate on carpet, towels, bath mats, etc. Which makes it a really, really good thing we have hardwood floors.

Wet dog is worse than cat urine.

Hmm, guess it's a good thing my dog is scared of water (brave german shepherd/doberman mix).

[boykster]

It takes 3 things to remove pet odor from furniture:

1) Nature's Miracle (get the gallon bottle sized....maybe pick up a few of them)
2) shopvac -> beg borrow or steal one, this is necessary for this to work - DO NOT use a regular vac
3) time...dont expect this to be fixed overnight.

Put the furniture somewhere that it will be left alone for a few days at a time and you have room to turn it over, etc.  Soak, literally SOAK the affected areas with nature's miracle.  saturate the cushions, seating area, etc and make sure that every square inch is wet (you might want to test a small area first to make sure it doesn't discolor the fabric, but since the couch is essentially ruined if you can't get rid of the smell, it doesn't really matter).

Let it sit at LEAST overnight, then shopvac the hell outta that thing.  Make sure you dump out the cannister regulary otherwise the shopvac will start spitting smelly liquid out of the exhaust port.  When you think you have it totally dry, vac it again.

Now, here's where time kicks in....DO IT AGAIN.....and again if necessary.  Nature's miracle, and other enzyme based pet cleaners take time to work....you could wait a day or two before re=application, but I'd do at least 2 - 3 rounds before you take a break.

[ChadTower]

It's probably easier at that point to replace the cushions, or at least open them up, wash the hell out of the covers, and then replace the filling. 

[bleemus]

1) Nature's Miracle (get the gallon bottle sized....maybe pick up a few of them)
2) shopvac -> beg borrow or steal one, this is necessary for this to work - DO NOT use a regular vac
3) time...dont expect this to be fixed overnight.

FYI, this worked pretty well.  After letting the couch air out outside, we tried covering the whole thing wtih baking soda for awhile, and that didn't do a whole lot.  We then vaccuumed it a few times and soaked it through with the Nature's Miracle stuff and just let it air dry.

The pet odor was mostly gone, or gone enough that it wasn't an issue.  Now that the couches have been in my house for awhile, the smell is all gone.

Thanks for all the ideas!