How to Remove Pet Hair and Pet Smell from a Sofa

Short answer: for hair, use a slightly damp rubber glove or a rubber squeegee in one direction, then vacuum. For smell, sprinkle baking soda, leave it overnight and vacuum. If the smell is from urine, you need an enzyme cleaner, because baking soda won’t fix it.

Best tools for pet hair

How to get rid of pet smell

1. Remove hair first, because hair holds odour.
2. Wash removable covers and throws as the care label allows.
3. Deodorise: sprinkle baking soda over the seats, leave it several hours or overnight, then vacuum thoroughly.
4. Air the room: windows open, or the fan on, during the day.
5. If it still smells, the odour is in the foam. That usually means saliva, oils or urine, which need deeper cleaning.

If your pet has peed on the sofa

Blot immediately, then use an enzyme-based pet urine cleaner, which breaks down the uric acid that causes the smell. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners: they smell like urine to pets and can encourage repeat marking. Old or repeated accidents soak into the foam and usually need professional extraction. See urine and odour removal.

Keeping a pet-friendly sofa fresh in Singapore

• Brush your pet regularly, outdoors or on the balcony, to cut shedding indoors.
• Use washable throws on your pet’s favourite spots.
• Vacuum the sofa twice a week.
• Keep humidity down: damp fabric holds pet odour much longer.
• Get the sofa deep cleaned every 3 to 6 months with pets.

When to call a professional

If hair is woven deep into the fabric, the sofa smells even after cleaning, or there are urine stains, hot-water extraction removes what home methods can’t reach. See sofa cleaning or the sofa cleaning price guide.