I have inherited, over time, contents from 3 loved ones sewing rooms. Some of the things had been in storage too long and have 'the smell'. I use a vinegar soak but it takes many washings and sometimes the items are a loss and have to be tossed. The smell is that of our great, great, (?great?) grandparents house and furniture after it has been closed for years with no fresh air.
Anyone have tips and tricks?

Try baking soda in the wash? I know the smell you're talking about...I'm really not sure what would work!

Dry cleaning maybe?

It is fabric pieces, lace, ric-rac, thread, templates, patterns, stuff.

I will use the baking soda soak on the fabric and let you know what happens. Thanks.

Try using a goodly amount of cloudy amonia 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.

Can you hang them on a clothesline to dry after you launder them? The sun works wonders on funky smells.

Can you hang them on a clothesline to dry after you launder them? The sun works wonders on funky smells.

How much is a goodly amount? 1/2 cup. 1 cup. ???????
Is cloudy ammonia different than just ammonia. A special brand?

I will try the ammonia on some and put some in direct sunlight as the later post suggest. I will let you know.

Don't forget about good old Borax. It's a non bleaching laundry detergent enhancer. It removes odor from clothing.

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!

What is "cloudy amonia" ? regular amonia?

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.

Good luck :)

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 it in a closed container for a day or two and it takes our most orders. Set it outside on the grass overnight, if it doesn't get to damp, and everything will be gone. Ir will even take out cigar smoke.

I agree with the activated charcoal. Amazon sells it. It will work on those things that can't be washed, such as the patterns, etc.

What about Fabreeze for the fabaric. Isn't there some that you put in the washer?

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.

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.

I use this spray called 0-2 that really takes the musty odor out of fabric and it also takes out cigerette 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, wallmart and the local hardware store.

Try about a cup in a regular sized load. Yes, cloudy amonia is different, it works better. No special brand. It doesn't hurt colors at all and you will not have the amonia 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.

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 :D:D:D

I'm sure I'd have to wash those things. I hate to wash fabrics and laces in the washing machine so I just soak and rinse. The real odor killer is fresh air and if the fabrics are old and have the old dyes in them I'd air dry them out of the sun.

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.

Jois

activated charcoil can also be bought in pet shops..fish dept.

the small stuff..i would di it in a sink or let it set in the sun like suggested.

i use ammonia that has lemon scent in it..at the dollor store.

Um, What is cloudy ammonia? This is a new term for me.

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.

got it! thanks for the info.

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 awhile. 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.

You just need to put a cup or something to hold the baking soda in , in with the fabric, let it set for a while after that you can hang the fabric out on a clothesline and the smell should be gone, Yes this works for stuff that smells like smoke too.

Ocyclean took mildew out of a forgotten quilt. It may be worth a try.

Before trying all the soaking, etc. which I am sure works also.....I take the donated fabric and put it out in my well hosue 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.

I have some activated charcoal for our aquarium. Can't wait to try it.

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!

I don't have any fresh (ha!) ideas to add, but let us know what you do and how it works! :D

In case you want to copy/paste this for reference this is where we are so far. Great post (I think). 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.
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
Moonpi
grammyp
Jois
watterstide
Fresh air and sunshine.
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.
shequilts
Borax. Don't forget about good old Borax. It's a non bleaching laundry detergent enhancer. It removes odor from clothing.
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!
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.
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 hosue 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.
Thank again, keep them coming/Dorothy

I had a large scrap bin behind my cutting table and forgot about it until I started cleaning. The fabric had that old smell and it's only about a year old. The scraps were really mashed in the bin, almost compacted. I wasn't about to wash all those scraps. They became a sewing room cleaning fatality.

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.

Pat

The Mythbusters tested vodka to remove tobacco smoke and it worked rather well. :)

Yes try borax. If it gets out cat urine it should get out funky odors.

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.

Sometimes fabric softener sheets help absorb bad smells. I keep them in empty pieces of luggage for that reason.

Great post and great idea to keep all the replies together.