Many of us are shutting our doors and windows for the cold season, trapping warmth, but also musty odors indoors with us. The worst offenders for hanging on to those smells are your curtains and upholstery.
Luckily, refreshing them doesn't have to mean tedious trips to the dry cleaners.
5 Odor-Busting Curtain and Upholstery Cleaning Tricks Pros Use in the Fall
1. Vacuuming Upholstery
After summer, curtains can hold dust and pollen.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to clean curtains is to vacuum them first, advises Kathy Cohoon, director of operations at Two Maids.
After a long summer with open windows, curtains and upholstery can hold dust and pollen, which lead to musty odors and can even exacerbate allergies.
She says, 'You can cut cleaning time in half by leaving them hanging and running your vacuum cleaner with the upholstery attachment from top to bottom. This mechanical removal ensures you capture the tiny particles causing the smell. Similarly, vacuuming your upholstery is the first step before treating any stains.'
For super speedy cleaning, the Shark Cyclone PET handheld vacuum from Best Buy is ideal, and comes with a crevice and upholstery tool for quick furniture and curtain refreshes.
2. Make a DIY Spray
A simple room spray can help boost fresh fragrance without harsh chemicals.
If you regularly clean upholstery and refresh curtains, you may only need a spritz of nice fragrance to keep odors at bay. Especially when cold fall weather means you cannot open windows to air out fabrics, this will help layer nice scents without feeling cloying.
To create a non-toxic home, Scott Schrader, cleaning expert at CottageCare, recommends combining one cup of water, one tablespoon of vodka or rubbing alcohol [from Walmart], and 10-15 drops of essential oil such as cedarwood, clove, or sweet orange, in a glass spray bottle, also from Walmart.
This set of classic essential oils from Amazon gives you plenty of choice when scenting your home over the holidays.
'This is perfect for freshening up a room, upholstery, or even shoes,' he adds.
3. Fight Odors with Enzymes
Enzyme cleaners can help tackle sprays on all fabrics.
If odors are caused by spills or stains, especially after hosting festive fall dinners, Scott recommends enzyme cleaners.
He suggests, 'fabric safe enzyme spray like Biokleen Bac-Out, available at Walmart, that actually neutralizes the source of the odor. Just lightly mist the fabric until it is damp, let it air dry, and the fabric is fresh smelling in no time.'
4. Steam Clean
Steam cleaning is a quick way to kill winter germs, too.
When you can't take advantage of sunshine to easily kill odor-causing bacteria, steam cleaning your couch and curtains will be your next best bet.
Sarah Sangha, founder of Vellum Wellness, says, 'A handheld steamer is a powerful, non-toxic way to deodorize curtains and upholstery while killing odor-causing bacteria. Add a few drops of eucalyptus or lemongrass essential oil to the water tank for an aromatic boost.'
The Bissell Little Green Mini Steam Cleaner, from Amazon, is one of the best options for this and is highly praised by both shoppers and experts for defeating even old stains in fabric and being compact enough to store easily in small homes.
5. Hide Fragrance Sheets
Tucking dryer sheets into cushions can mask musty odors.
For a lasting fragrance boost, Isabella Flores, cleaning expert at Sparkly Maid San Diego, recommends, 'To refresh fabric surfaces, tuck dryer sheets into a pillow or cushion cover so that they are hidden and the gentle scent can freshen up the area.
'People tend to love Bounce sheets from Walmart.'
This way, you get a boost of fragrance every time you sit down.
What to Shop
Ideal for cars, carpets, curtains, and upholstery, this mini deep cleaner sucks stains and odors from deep fibers in minutes, without any scrubbing. It has a large water tank but is compact to store.
This enzyme-based cleaning spray breaks down organic stains, destroying odor particles for fresh-smelling upholstery and drapes. It's especially good for keeping your home clean with pets.
The Shark Cyclone Pet Handheld Vacuum provides powerful hypervelocity suction while weighing only 1.6 lbs, making it easy for on-the-go cleaning and quick dusting.
Distilled white vinegar is a fantastic non-toxic cleaning tool for any home. When used correctly, it can help to kill mold and bacteria, as well as tackle odors and lighten stains, all without harsh chemicals.
This large room air purifier cleans rooms up to 1,000 sq ft in one hour, helping to catch dust and prevent lingering odors.
An essential oil diffuser is a great non-toxic way to scent your space. This waterless model won't increase the risk of mold in your home in winter, either.
Meet the Experts
Kathy is the operations manager at Two Maids. Two Maids realized that customers wanted more than a clean home. They wanted to trust that their cleaners would do a great job every time they showed up. So, they created a Pay for Performance compensation plan. A customer rates their satisfaction on a scale from 1-10. The higher the rating, the higher the cleaner’s compensation for the job.
Scott is a cleaning expert at CottageCare, which is a leading home cleaning company with over 41 locations nationwide. He's a big believer in using eco-friendly cleaning solutions like baking soda.
Isabella Flores is a cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid San Diego. As a Senior Team Member, she helps families create spotless, clutter-free homes using eco-friendly products and trusted cleaning systems. Known for premium results and reliable service, Isabella makes organizing and cleaning simple for clients across San Diego.
Want to spruce up your whole home fragrance? Try some of the best essential oil diffusers to keep things non-toxic.
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