How to keep your living room smelling fresh

To keep your living room smelling fresh, clean the things that hold odor: the sofa, the rug, throws, curtains and the trash. Open a window for 10 to 15 minutes a day, change the HVAC filter on schedule, and deal with pet beds and shoes. Add scent last, once the room smells like nothing.

Where do living room smells come from?

• Upholstery. Sofas and chairs absorb cooking smells, body oils, pets and spilled drinks.
• Rugs and carpet. They trap dust, pet dander and whatever got tracked in.
• Throws, pillows and curtains. Soft things in a room you sit in every day.
• Trash and recycling. A snack wrapper or a can in a small bin is enough.
• Pets. Their beds, blankets and favorite spot on the sofa.
• Shoes and bags by the door.
• Stale, humid air. South Jersey summers are humid, and a closed-up room picks up a musty edge fast.

How do you freshen a living room, step by step?

1. Air it out first. Open two windows on opposite sides if you can, so air moves through. Ten to 15 minutes is enough on a cold day.
2. Take out every bit of trash. Empty the bin, wipe it inside, and put a fresh liner in.
3. Wash the soft things. Throws, pillow covers and removable cushion covers go in the wash. Check curtains for a care label; many can go in on a gentle cycle.
4. Vacuum the upholstery. Take every cushion off, vacuum the deck, the crevices and both sides of each cushion.
5. Deodorize with baking soda. Sprinkle a thin layer on the rug and on fabric upholstery (check the care tag first), leave it 30 minutes or longer, then vacuum it up slowly.
6. Vacuum the floor and rug. Go slowly, in two directions. Fast passes leave fine dust behind.
7. Dust everything reachable. Dust carries odor, and it settles on shelves, lampshades and the TV.
8. Check the filter. A dirty HVAC filter recirculates dust and smells through the whole house. Change it as often as the filter label says, more with pets.

What actually removes odors?

• Baking soda absorbs odor from fabric and carpet. An open box on a shelf helps a little in a small room.
• Activated charcoal bags absorb odor in an enclosed space, like a closet near the living room or a corner where the dog sleeps.
• Sun and air. Cushions and throws left in sunlight for an afternoon come back fresher.
• Lower humidity. A dehumidifier in a muggy month helps stop the musty smell from coming back.
• Washing. It takes the smell out of the fabric instead of covering it.

Scented sprays, candles and plug-ins don't remove odor. They layer another smell on top. If you want scent, use it after the room is clean, and keep it light.

How do you keep pet smells down?

Wash pet beds and the blankets they lie on every week or two. Vacuum the sofa where they sleep at least weekly with an upholstery tool or a rubber pet-hair brush. Wipe paws when they come in on wet days. If a spot keeps smelling after cleaning, use an enzyme cleaner made for pet accidents, which breaks down the source instead of covering it.

What keeps it fresh week to week?

• Air the room for a few minutes each day.
• Empty the living room trash every day or two.
• Wash throws and pillow covers every two weeks.
• Vacuum floors and the sofa weekly.
• Shoes off at the door, with a mat outside and inside.
• Keep food in the kitchen when you can.

For more ways to freshen the whole house, see our post on keeping your home smelling fresh, and for the full top-to-bottom version of this room, how to deep clean a living room.

When it makes sense to have it done

A Standard House Cleaning, RoutineCare, covers floors vacuumed and mopped, reachable surfaces and furniture dusted, mirrors and glass, window sills, and counters, shelves and tables that are clear of clutter.

Carpet shampooing and steam cleaning aren't on any of our cleaning checklists.

Recurring House Cleaning, RoutineCare Plans, puts Standard House Cleaning on a schedule: weekly, every other week or every 4 weeks.

FAQ

Why does my living room smell musty? Check the fabric first: the sofa, the rug, curtains and throws. Low airflow and high humidity make it worse. Wash what can be washed, vacuum the rest, air the room daily and keep humidity down.

How do I get a smell out of my couch? Vacuum it thoroughly under the cushions, sprinkle baking soda over the fabric if the care tag allows, leave it for 30 minutes and vacuum again. Wash removable covers and throws, and let the cushions air in the sun.

Do air fresheners get rid of odors? Scented sprays, candles and plug-ins layer a smell on top. Find and clean the source first, then add a light scent if you want one.

Book a cleaning

We clean homes across South Jersey and Central Jersey. Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.