Garage Sale Find and need advice
05-19-2011, 07:31 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 6,395
Until you get them washed, you can put baking soda or an activated charcoal deodorizer in the container with the objects that have the offending fragrance. Any type of citrus fragrance oil or cleaner can also help.
05-19-2011, 07:36 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IL
Posts: 2,671
One should also be careful of bedbugs when bringing used items, especially clothes, linens, and fabrics in. They can live without hosts/food for 1.5 years. Only extreme heat (not ordinary washing) and harsh chemicals can kills them and their eggs. They are very difficult and expensive to get rid of. Once your home is invaded, you'll end up spending thousands of dollars and throwing out thousands of dollars worth of household goods. The psychological stress is also considerable. I would only bring in used fabric items if I could first take then to a laundromat to wash and dry on high heat for two hours. Hardly worth it, IMO. For blocks, I guess I'd press each one well on high heat. They are all over the US, epidemic in some areas. Very upscale hotels have been affected. Treating a single hotel room costs thousands. Do some research. I hate to be a kill-joy, but they are a nightmare.
05-19-2011, 07:44 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington,State
Posts: 1,602
Originally Posted by quilter in the making
I always read about the wonderful finds the QB members stumble across at garage sales, so last week I went to one myself and hit pay dirt. Attached are the pictures of the yardage I found and also some hand pieced blocks. I spent $16.30 and got 17+ yards, 108 of these blocks and still have a paper box and Rubbermaid container of various pieces of material, miscellaneous cut pieces, a cigar box of scraps, sheets and about 10 sets of pillow cases and about 2 dozen cookie cutters. There are a couple of crewel work pillow fronts (completed). My problem is it all smells horrible from cigarette smoke. I have washed the yardage and that washed up fine, but what do I do about the handpieced blocks and miscellaneous cut pieces? They smell so bad I don't want them in my sewing room until they smell better. Is there a way to wash them without them falling apart?
05-19-2011, 07:49 AM
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Somewhere in Time
Posts: 263
CAn I go with you next timie? :thumbup: on your good buys.
I have also gotten items that had cigarette smell in them. Could you possibly soak the block/s in something like an anti-bactrical soap, and rinse them gently until water is clearn. Then I would lay them on a towel to dry. Think it might work for you?
Julie
I have also gotten items that had cigarette smell in them. Could you possibly soak the block/s in something like an anti-bactrical soap, and rinse them gently until water is clearn. Then I would lay them on a towel to dry. Think it might work for you?
Julie
05-19-2011, 07:49 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington,State
Posts: 1,602
Originally Posted by quilter in the making
I always read about the wonderful finds the QB members stumble across at garage sales, so last week I went to one myself and hit pay dirt. Attached are the pictures of the yardage I found and also some hand pieced blocks. I spent $16.30 and got 17+ yards, 108 of these blocks and still have a paper box and Rubbermaid container of various pieces of material, miscellaneous cut pieces, a cigar box of scraps, sheets and about 10 sets of pillow cases and about 2 dozen cookie cutters. There are a couple of crewel work pillow fronts (completed). My problem is it all smells horrible from cigarette smoke. I have washed the yardage and that washed up fine, but what do I do about the handpieced blocks and miscellaneous cut pieces? They smell so bad I don't want them in my sewing room until they smell better. Is there a way to wash them without them falling apart?
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