My SIL has gotten a set of leather couches from one of her in-laws. They are in great condition, except that they stink like cigarette smoke. They cleaned the surface with leather cleaner, and have been leaving the windows open to air them out, but there is still the lingering smell deep down, especially when you first sit down and the air whooshes out of the cushions. I suggested maybe sprinkling a little baking soda underneath the cushions. Is there anything else you can think of to help combat the smoky smell? Thanks :)
Stick a mess of crumbled up Bounce sheets under the sofa. Those damn things (and I do love them) can take over any smell, even smoke.
It does not sound like an easy process:
http://www.ehow.com/how_###-###-####_remove-smoke-smell-l...
Particularly because the smell is worse when air is being pressed from within, I'm thinking the smell has gotten into the stuffing.
She might have more luck if she has it re-stuffed in addition to cleaning the outside surfaces.
Can she put them outside in bright sunlight?
I always have washed my leather furniture with Murphy's Oil Soap and water. It smells "clean", not perfumey too.
It probably wouldn't "hurt" to sprinkle some baking soda but I don't think it will work that well....
Nature's Miracle (for pet odors, skunk spray) is good but test a piece first..
The only thing that comes to mind is baking soda...
I don't know as our leather couches were new...my husband is a smoker but not in the house!!! I'll be interested to hear what others say!!
I know this is a bit more challenging, but shallow bowls of vinegar can get out smoke smells if the room can be closed up that has the couches in it, or moved to a room that can.
I've used this trick with my husband's overcoat when he's been by a smoker by putting it in the bathroom with a shallow bowl of vinegar on the counter and it hanging up. By the next morning, all of the smoke smell is GONE. I am very sensitive to smoke and it's gone.
They may have to go in regularly to "squish" the cushions and push it out. If they could take the stuffing out of the cushion covers that would work even better. Set the cushions loose from the couch as well as it is down under the cushions too.
