'Been in storage too long'. How do you get the smell out?
04-13-2010, 08:02 PM
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: mapleton,iowa
Posts: 303
go to dollar genral they have a product called awsome it has taken a lot of smell out of stuff for me when we moved a lot of stuff went into the garage which leaked this last winter it also removed the mold out mof the clothing i was able to save most everthing be carfull with amonia mixed with some laundry soape it can creat mustard gas which can mke you verry ill or even kill you
good luck
good luck
04-14-2010, 02:59 AM
#43
Super Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 6,764
Originally Posted by shequilts
Don't forget about good old Borax. It's a non bleaching laundry detergent enhancer. It removes odor from clothing.
04-14-2010, 08:13 AM
#44
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: A million dollar view!
Posts: 8,830
Wow some great hints. I may have to try on the 14 boxes of fabric I will be getting from an acquaintance by the EOM. His mom and everyone else in family are/were chain smokers. Thanks folks.
04-14-2010, 10:04 AM
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: montana
Posts: 620
there is a product called Orvis Paste. buy at a farm supply store.bow hunters use it to get all body smells off their clothes. I use it to wash quilts. takes very little, makes
things so soft. they also use it to wash the lambs for show.
Oxiclean works wonders on old linens, etc. maybe it would also
help with this.--when you wash cotton yardage, cut a 3/4",45 degree angle off each corner. no raveling !
smitty
things so soft. they also use it to wash the lambs for show.
Oxiclean works wonders on old linens, etc. maybe it would also
help with this.--when you wash cotton yardage, cut a 3/4",45 degree angle off each corner. no raveling !
smitty
04-14-2010, 10:19 AM
#46
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MS
Posts: 3,434
In case you want to print or copy/paste this for reference this is where we are so far.
Great post. If one solution doesn't work for the item we have others to try.
Thank you all so much. When we have other solutions I will add them to this cumulative list.
Posted by: Solution
grammyp:
For fabric I have had luck with baking soda rinse, sunshine and fresh air. Lots of fresh air. For paper products, sprinkle with baking soda and let sit for a few days.
Charlee:
Cassie69emt:
Baking Soda: add to the wash cycle.
Baking Soda: Place baking soda in an open container and the smelly items in a closed container. Let set for a day or two. Remove the lid and place the items outside overnight when there is no dew.
Oatw13:
I second the baking soda and vinegar.You can soak them in a mixture of baking soda and vinegar in the water. You can also add 1/4 cup up to 1 cup of baking soda to the wash cycle with your detergent and use the vinegar in the rinse cycle or in place of fabric softener. If you use a lot of baking soda, you may want to do a second rinse. Oh, you also want to use the hottest water temperature that is safe for the fabrics.Line dry outdoors if you can.I just used this method on some musty clothes and it worked fine.
jcarilyn :
I would wash on gentle cycle, with some regular detergent and some vinegar. I've used vinegar when things sit in the washing machine too long, it really works and no, your fabric won't smell like salad dressing! Good luck!
Moonpi:
grammyp:
Jois:
watterstide:
Fresh air and sunshine.
EllaBud:
Cloudy ammonia is ammonia with detergent in it, so it'll suds up. I wouldn't add more than 1/4 cup to the washer.
Honey:
Try using a goodly amount of cloudy ammonia with your laundry soap. I have used it for years. It really helps. It also takes that gunky feeling out of kitchen towels. It also takes the sour smell out of cloths and towels that have sat wet for to long.Try about a cup in a regular sized load. Yes, cloudy ammonia is different, it works better. No special brand. It doesn't hurt colors at all and you will not have the ammonia smell in your fabric. I don't know how it works, just know that it does. If it will take the sour smell out of dish cloths and that rotten foot smell from a sweating 14 year olds socks, it should do the trick for you. By the way, I use it in every load of laundry I do. It just helps the detergent do a better job. It also helps get all of the soap out of whatever you are washing.
Waterstide:
I use ammonia that has lemon scent in it..at the dollar store. Cloudy ammonia has a little soap added in. This was done because originally ammonia was cloudy. When they figured out how to make it clear, people were already used to it looking cloudy, so they started adding soap to give it the same look.
Deborah Rae:
I use this spray called 0-2 that really takes the musty odor out of fabric and it also takes out cigarette smoke odor to. If you have a cat, spray the liter box after you clean it out and then put the litter in....no more smell! I have gotten it at the Dollar store, Walmart and the local hardware store.
Amma:
We have companies here that specialize in disaster cleanups in homes. I have gone to them to get cleaners that they use, and I have never been disappointed.
shequilts:
damaquilts:
Borax. Don't forget about good old Borax. It's a non bleaching laundry detergent enhancer. It removes odor from clothing.
Yes try borax. If it gets out cat urine it should get out funky odors.
Rachel:
The best thing I've found (for cat urine and for the musty towels) is the odoban I buy at Sam's Club. You just wash like normal, add to the final rinse cycle and all the funky odors are gone. Works great.
flikkem:
Sometimes fabric softener sheets help absorb bad smells. I keep them in empty pieces of luggage for that reason.
minnow895:
Go to Dollar General they have a product called awesome it has taken a lot of smell out of stuff for me when we moved a lot of stuff went into the garage which leaked this last winter it also removed the mold out of the clothing I was able to save most everything. Be carefull with ammonia mixed with some laundry soap it can create mustard gas which can make you very ill or even kill you.
good luck
penny doty:
lavender water in the rinse.
Jois:
Fabrics saved by the last generation in my family used cedar and mothballs - a frighteningly strong combo. Hung on coat hangers with clothes pins under the deck (in the shade) got rid of the odor in less than a day.
CAROLJ:
Prism99:
watterstide:
This really works, get activated charcoal. (Not the stuff you BBQ with.) You can get it at pet stores in the fish section. Put the stuff in a closed container for a day or two and it takes out most orders. Set it outside on the grass overnight, if it doesn't get to damp, and everything will be gone. It will even take out cigar smoke.
pieces:
Use dry milk in the wash water. About 1/2-1 cup in 1/2 washer load. You can even turn the washer off and let the fabric soak for a while. Then use vinegar in the rinse water, not fabric softener. The only smell I haven't been able to get out is moth balls from a quilt my grand mother made.
lindy:
Ocyclean took mildew out of a forgotten quilt. It may be worth a try.
debbieumphress:
Before trying all the soaking, etc. which I am sure works also.....I take the donated fabric and put it out in my well house which is cold and dry. Leave it a few weeks and walla....no smell. Then you can do normal washing. Cigarette smoke, pet smells, etc. I found this out because my sister smokes and gave me some great purses and when I got home I could smell the smoke..put them outside just because and discovered it worked. no smell. Hope this little suggestion works.
Nursie76:
What about Fabreeze for the fabric. Isn’t there some you put in the washer?
Quiltmom04:
Febreze makes a "Laundry Odor Eliminator' that I use for the kids stinky sports stuff. It works on those - maybe it will work for your quilts!
Rebecca VLQ:
Has no ‘fresh ideas’. LOL.
[email protected]:
On a knitting list it was suggested to use the cheapest brand of vodka from the grocery store. Mix 1/2 vodka and 1/2 water to get the mildew smell out.
I tried it on a 100 year old wool afghan which had been stored in a trunk in my patio room. I could see the mildew on the wool. Nothing to lose -- so I hung it on the line in my backyard and spritzed with vodka/water mixture and let it dry.
Also sprayed mixture into the trunk and left it open and in the sun to dry.
Both fine now, no smell, no mildew.
Seanette:
The Mythbusters tested vodka to remove tobacco smoke and it worked rather well.
smitty:
There is a product called Orvis Paste. buy at a farm supply store.bow hunters use it to get all body smells off their clothes. I use it to wash quilts. takes very little, makes
things so soft. they also use it to wash the lambs for show.
Oxiclean works wonders on old linens, etc. maybe it would also
help with this.
Great post. If one solution doesn't work for the item we have others to try.
Thank you all so much. When we have other solutions I will add them to this cumulative list.
Posted by: Solution
grammyp:
For fabric I have had luck with baking soda rinse, sunshine and fresh air. Lots of fresh air. For paper products, sprinkle with baking soda and let sit for a few days.
Charlee:
Cassie69emt:
Baking Soda: add to the wash cycle.
Baking Soda: Place baking soda in an open container and the smelly items in a closed container. Let set for a day or two. Remove the lid and place the items outside overnight when there is no dew.
Oatw13:
I second the baking soda and vinegar.You can soak them in a mixture of baking soda and vinegar in the water. You can also add 1/4 cup up to 1 cup of baking soda to the wash cycle with your detergent and use the vinegar in the rinse cycle or in place of fabric softener. If you use a lot of baking soda, you may want to do a second rinse. Oh, you also want to use the hottest water temperature that is safe for the fabrics.Line dry outdoors if you can.I just used this method on some musty clothes and it worked fine.
jcarilyn :
I would wash on gentle cycle, with some regular detergent and some vinegar. I've used vinegar when things sit in the washing machine too long, it really works and no, your fabric won't smell like salad dressing! Good luck!
Moonpi:
grammyp:
Jois:
watterstide:
Fresh air and sunshine.
EllaBud:
Cloudy ammonia is ammonia with detergent in it, so it'll suds up. I wouldn't add more than 1/4 cup to the washer.
Honey:
Try using a goodly amount of cloudy ammonia with your laundry soap. I have used it for years. It really helps. It also takes that gunky feeling out of kitchen towels. It also takes the sour smell out of cloths and towels that have sat wet for to long.Try about a cup in a regular sized load. Yes, cloudy ammonia is different, it works better. No special brand. It doesn't hurt colors at all and you will not have the ammonia smell in your fabric. I don't know how it works, just know that it does. If it will take the sour smell out of dish cloths and that rotten foot smell from a sweating 14 year olds socks, it should do the trick for you. By the way, I use it in every load of laundry I do. It just helps the detergent do a better job. It also helps get all of the soap out of whatever you are washing.
Waterstide:
I use ammonia that has lemon scent in it..at the dollar store. Cloudy ammonia has a little soap added in. This was done because originally ammonia was cloudy. When they figured out how to make it clear, people were already used to it looking cloudy, so they started adding soap to give it the same look.
Deborah Rae:
I use this spray called 0-2 that really takes the musty odor out of fabric and it also takes out cigarette smoke odor to. If you have a cat, spray the liter box after you clean it out and then put the litter in....no more smell! I have gotten it at the Dollar store, Walmart and the local hardware store.
Amma:
We have companies here that specialize in disaster cleanups in homes. I have gone to them to get cleaners that they use, and I have never been disappointed.
shequilts:
damaquilts:
Borax. Don't forget about good old Borax. It's a non bleaching laundry detergent enhancer. It removes odor from clothing.
Yes try borax. If it gets out cat urine it should get out funky odors.
Rachel:
The best thing I've found (for cat urine and for the musty towels) is the odoban I buy at Sam's Club. You just wash like normal, add to the final rinse cycle and all the funky odors are gone. Works great.
flikkem:
Sometimes fabric softener sheets help absorb bad smells. I keep them in empty pieces of luggage for that reason.
minnow895:
Go to Dollar General they have a product called awesome it has taken a lot of smell out of stuff for me when we moved a lot of stuff went into the garage which leaked this last winter it also removed the mold out of the clothing I was able to save most everything. Be carefull with ammonia mixed with some laundry soap it can create mustard gas which can make you very ill or even kill you.
good luck
penny doty:
lavender water in the rinse.
Jois:
Fabrics saved by the last generation in my family used cedar and mothballs - a frighteningly strong combo. Hung on coat hangers with clothes pins under the deck (in the shade) got rid of the odor in less than a day.
CAROLJ:
Prism99:
watterstide:
This really works, get activated charcoal. (Not the stuff you BBQ with.) You can get it at pet stores in the fish section. Put the stuff in a closed container for a day or two and it takes out most orders. Set it outside on the grass overnight, if it doesn't get to damp, and everything will be gone. It will even take out cigar smoke.
pieces:
Use dry milk in the wash water. About 1/2-1 cup in 1/2 washer load. You can even turn the washer off and let the fabric soak for a while. Then use vinegar in the rinse water, not fabric softener. The only smell I haven't been able to get out is moth balls from a quilt my grand mother made.
lindy:
Ocyclean took mildew out of a forgotten quilt. It may be worth a try.
debbieumphress:
Before trying all the soaking, etc. which I am sure works also.....I take the donated fabric and put it out in my well house which is cold and dry. Leave it a few weeks and walla....no smell. Then you can do normal washing. Cigarette smoke, pet smells, etc. I found this out because my sister smokes and gave me some great purses and when I got home I could smell the smoke..put them outside just because and discovered it worked. no smell. Hope this little suggestion works.
Nursie76:
What about Fabreeze for the fabric. Isn’t there some you put in the washer?
Quiltmom04:
Febreze makes a "Laundry Odor Eliminator' that I use for the kids stinky sports stuff. It works on those - maybe it will work for your quilts!
Rebecca VLQ:
Has no ‘fresh ideas’. LOL.
[email protected]:
On a knitting list it was suggested to use the cheapest brand of vodka from the grocery store. Mix 1/2 vodka and 1/2 water to get the mildew smell out.
I tried it on a 100 year old wool afghan which had been stored in a trunk in my patio room. I could see the mildew on the wool. Nothing to lose -- so I hung it on the line in my backyard and spritzed with vodka/water mixture and let it dry.
Also sprayed mixture into the trunk and left it open and in the sun to dry.
Both fine now, no smell, no mildew.
Seanette:
The Mythbusters tested vodka to remove tobacco smoke and it worked rather well.
smitty:
There is a product called Orvis Paste. buy at a farm supply store.bow hunters use it to get all body smells off their clothes. I use it to wash quilts. takes very little, makes
things so soft. they also use it to wash the lambs for show.
Oxiclean works wonders on old linens, etc. maybe it would also
help with this.
04-14-2010, 10:37 AM
#47
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MS
Posts: 3,434
Originally Posted by smitty
there is a product called Orvis Paste. buy at a farm supply store.bow hunters use it to get all body smells off their clothes. I use it to wash quilts. takes very little, makes
things so soft. they also use it to wash the lambs for show.
Oxiclean works wonders on old linens, etc. maybe it would also
help with this.--when you wash cotton yardage, cut a 3/4",45 degree angle off each corner. no raveling !
smitty
things so soft. they also use it to wash the lambs for show.
Oxiclean works wonders on old linens, etc. maybe it would also
help with this.--when you wash cotton yardage, cut a 3/4",45 degree angle off each corner. no raveling !
smitty
smitty, this would be an excellent post.
04-15-2010, 08:00 AM
#48
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Central Coast CA
Posts: 1,918
Just last week I had the same problem. I used hot water and heavily sprayed some Febreze onto the fabric while it was sitting in my front load washer. I also added 1/2 cup baking powder to the wash cycle. Everything came out odor-free!
04-16-2010, 06:54 AM
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 986
I had this problem and didn't have the time or energy to wash everything. I invested in a room air cleaner, it was costly $350.00 but it was and still is worth every penny. It costs about $3.00 a month to run. It also keeps the room clear of pollens that come in on our clothing. Easier to sleep in the next bedroom. I figured what I saved in water, electric, vinigar and soaps etc. it was worth it.
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