I purchased an SUV load of wonderful fabric on craigslist. It didn't smell bad when we were at the seller's home, but when we loaded it in the car, we looked at each other and said "she was a smoker" ... We ran the cottons through the dryer with a couple dryer sheets and that got rid of most of it. Now I am using it and washing it before if I remember and most definitely washing the finished quilts. It was too good a deal to pass up!! I've donated some with the warning to wash before useing. Good luck.