Debbie C

The best and most effective product I have found that works every time, on every smell (including cat urine) is Odo-Ban. You can find it in pet supply stores. I recently used it on my 'Coach' brand coat with a Beaver trim collar. This is a $750 coat that was sprayed on by a friend's cat while I was visiting them. My coat was on the bed in a guest room. I'm so sorry this fire happened, but I know the Odo-Ban will do the trick....it has a very strong, yet pleasant odor itself, and it will remove the smoke smells. As for any staining, I have always had success with Oxy-Clean. Best of luck!!

Barb in Louisiana

I am a big fan of Odoban. I buy it at Home Depot stores in our local area. I buy only the original Eucalyptus scent. Several years ago, hubby & I bought a very pre-owned trailer to use as a camp. The original owners smoked VERY heavily in it. We tried several things to get the odor out of the fabric that decorated the walls. Nothing worked until we sprayed it down with Odoban. That was a miracle cleaner for us. We sprayed it so heavy, that the Odoban odor was actually choking me. It sat in the hot sun with the windows open for a couple of days. When we went back in, there were NO odors. To this day, you cannot tell anyone ever lit a cigarette in it.

We have a couple of dogs that do get on our upholstery fabric covered furniture. Every so often, (maybe every couple of months) I mix a couple of Tablespoons of Odoban in a quart spray bottle and soak everything down. The furniture, the pillows that my kiddos insist on sleeping on, the rugs they walk on. Everything fabric in my house that touches them. Odoban is a wonderful disinfectant and odor eater. I, also, use about a about a quarter cup in the rinse of every washer load that I do. Can you tell I love this product????

citruscountyquilter

Getting the smoke smell out will be difficult but if the fabric has been subjected to extreme heat it will deteriorate more quickly over time even if it looks OK now. It doesn't take long in a fire for the heat to reach high levels even at the other end of a house where there might not be actual burning. I had a clock melt in the opposite end of a house during a fire. Even if you can get the smoke smell out I would be cautious about using the fabric on anything that you put a lot of time and work into. If the fabric was stored in a plastic bag at here house then obviously it didn't get that hot or the bag would have melted but if it was put into a plastic bag after the fire to remove it from the house then I'd be cautious about the heat damage.

GailG

I am sorry for your friend who has had the fire (and also for others who have been through this horrible experience). This has been an informative thread. I will make a note of the products mentioned that have worked successfully for some of you.

Barb, you are really sold on Odoban. I think I'll pick some up soon.

lclang

We had a house fire many years ago and all my fabrics were smoked and edges were scorched. What I found out was that the scorched places were weakened and the smoke stains would not come out Save yourself a lot of trouble and just throw it away. It won't wear very well if you do manage to save it. Such tremendous heat makes it worthless for quilts that you want to last a long time. Maybe you and some friends can just start a new stash for her.

oleganny

A friend of mine had a house fire - lots of smoke - the professionals took her things to what the called an ozone room at their facility - they were stored there for some time - I'm thinking at least 2 weeks - when she got them back the were completely odor free

quiltwoman

Thanks so much everyone! I have a Home Depot so I will look for the odo ban. I like the idea of having a stash party too! Maybe that's what I do with the leftover vodka.

tessagin

This works for me. I let it soak for about 30 minutes though and I use Arm & hammer washing soda. Some times I do it twice.

tessagin

What many are saying about the fabric, after being subjected to such intense heat, the fibers end up being broken down even if you can't see it. Hope all works out for your friend.

hybearn8er

Have you tryed 20 mule team borax? I've had good success with it on smells.