I bought a bag of scraps at a quilt show. Got them home, opened them up and they very quickly went out to the garage to air out. Smell lingered for months. I didn't know how to wash scraps.
How do you wash scraps?

Just a comment to this Jeaninmaine, even with the door shut I could still smell smoke on things my mom made. My dad smoked and wasn't allowed in her spare room where she had her hobbies. But it still smelled so I washed everything she sent. Smoke will permeate even those dang doors and walls. Not sure why that nicotine is so powerful!!

Gale, I am subject to migraines too. My husband was a smoker for a number of years, but not in the house. All I had to do was open the coat closet and I would go into a coughing fit. I also do not go to malls because of the perfume aisles. I can't go into carpet stores or bed stores because of the chemical smells. I would be very upset if I bought something and unknowingly got cat hair or smoke smell on it. I would not want to be responsible for someone having an asthma attack or worse. My dogs are not allowed in my sewing rooms. I am so sensitive that I have looked at handmade items at craft shows and could smell smoke on them. I even smelled smoke on a quilt at the Lancaster Quilt show; my DDIL couldn't smell it. Anyhow, off the subject. If you decide to sell your items, put a disclosure in the packaging.

OK I know I am going to make a lot of you mad but what about cats & dogs I did a swap awhile back when I got my 4x4 and opened it I thought she sent me her litter box.I cant stand to go to some ones house an all you smell is cat or dog. Please dont be mad but bad smalls are just that and we have to live with it.

The reason you can still smell it is because it is on the smokers clothes and in his/her pores. When they walk from room to room they are taking the smoke and tar with them. It's not the nicotine, its the tar and the smoke. My parents were smokers and I spent most of my childhood sick with allergies and migraines.

I agree about the dog and cat smells. But smoking is about more than the smell, it is a health hazard to everyone, not just the smoker. Many people are allergic to animals. When I have a new customer come to my house, I ask them if they have allergies or an aversion to dogs. I have large dogs and they are not allowed in my sewing areas. I also try to keep my house clean of their odors.

@nd had smoke is bad for everyone and everything - hope you get a smoking outside pact as soon as possible. Especially for those who can't speak for themselves, children, pets, the elderly, but not great for a mate who doesn't like to argue about issues either. You are on my prayer list.

That's 2nd hand....

I personally would not buy anything that smelled of smoke, but pets would not bother me. I am so happy that our strict laws forbid smoking in all public places.

You have ideas that would work. If you put into even totes after being washed you can use those little dry packs they put into everything to absorb moisture. I save them and put them into my totes of fabric and even project boxes.

I would not purchase anything from a smoke home. However, lots of the ladies have given you good advice. Just be upfront about it and there are others that also have smoke/pet homes that would purchase.

I have had problems with the row/round robins in my guild. I had to take the blocks outside for awhile until I was able to work on them, then back in the bag and my car trunk until time to exchange.

Needless to say, the row/round I added was a simple one and quick to attach.

Jean

help the smoker to quit....and everyone is a winner!!!

smokers do not realize this but to someone that gets
migraines from the smell of smoke, the smell permeates everything...seeps under the door etc......awful...why expose someone to that smell............

I married and have lived with a smoker for 53 years and have sewed for others most of that time. I had a slipcover business at one time. I still sew for ladies and gents in a upper-crust living complex. I GET NO COMPLAINS. I do have a sewing
room up stairs .
My DH uses freebrez for his computer room. I just got a room
deodorizer meant for pet smells. It is by Purina and is just a
little glass jar with the stuff in it. It seems to really illemate the
odars from my cats, the smoking and then we deal with a wood
fire in the winter. Oh yes and my cooking. I am a retired cook
and have trained as a dietition.
Get a life !! Our world is full of all kinds of oders we don't like.
I for one will not allow a little odar I don't like to dictate my daily life.

Have a good one. It is your choice.

Smoking scents are no worse than animal hair and dander I am a former smoker and have a pet. Allergies are allergies I strongly feel that our world picks on smokers. I havent smoked for many years, my husband who choose to smoke untill the end of his life died of lung cancer. That being said I say you should disclose to people buying your products that you smoke just as pet owners should disclose they have pets and let the public decide what they want to do perhaps at craft fairs you could make up a cutsie sign that says made by a smoker need help in suportting my habit lol I am sure your products are as good as products made in homes with pets and or in a home that uses hair spray or other chemicals just be proud of who you are and the talent you have. I am sure smokers work in factories and they carry the smell of smoke on their clothing , that being said when they return from there smoke break they still have the smoke smell on them snd they are touching many products thaat consumers buy so in a sence they are contaminating the items they touch with smoke. There is no true smoke free enviroments unless you ban everyone from your home or business who smokes or lives with some one who smokes. Smoking can be bad but alcohol kills many people also

I would give selling a try. Like others have said a label on the package is a great idea.Good luck & happy sewing

It must be horrible to have to be on constant guard to avoid smells that cause bad headaches. Is it from a low immune system? What does the Dr. say? My eyes water when around new bolts of fabrics or a strong perfume smell in a close area but never a headache.

Just be honest in your advertising so people can make an informed decision...to buy or not to buy.

You know it is sad when a smoker doesn't have consideration for others. I can say this because I am a smoker! I wouldn't think about smoking in my house (period!). I don't allow anyone else either! You should talk to the smoker in your home and beg for that person not to smoke in the house. My DH accommodated me by enclosing our back porch so that doing the wintertime I won't be too exposed to the coldness and since he is away a lot, I will be safe when I go out to smoke.

I say give it a go. If someone gets a quilt from you and they don't like the smell, and can't get it out, they'll let you know. Good Luck :)

Add a cup of soda to your wash water to help remove the smell. Or during hunting season, buy some of the no scent stuff hunters use and that definitely work.

My husband smoked for years and I finally put my foot down and said NO MORE!! I started having breathing problems and a reaction so it was that or QUIT! I took if for 35 years. You have a right to breath good air don't worry about you fabric worry about YOURSELF!!

My niece and nephews kept their bedroom doors closed while their parents would smoke on the porches. Their clothes, books, bookbags, etc all smelled of smoke. It took many weeks of being aired out before the smell would leave. I get headaches from being around cigarette smoke - even walking past someone smoking. Sorry, I didn't mean to be a spoilsport but there may be others like me that are affected by smoke.

it isn;t only tobacco that causes sickness it is the thousands of chemicals that are released when a cig is lit - from pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, herbicides etc all thrown on tobacco to maximize growth and minimize productivity loss. Many people are more damaged by this than the tobacco. I have worked as a nurse for 50 years with people dying from tobacco addictions, as young as small babies exposed to second hand smoke to middle agers and seniors going blind, deaf, getting emphysema and horrible cancers of all kinds. The worst was a 19 yr old with his throat and jaw half eaten away by tobacco caused cancer. Tobacco is not a pure product as it was when Native peoples grew and used it for special occasions.
I love teaching people to kick that weed! I do it gently, slowly and people are delighted with themselves when they've beaten "Lady Nicotine" as my father called it. Tho the term brought alarm bells to the beginning feminist I was, I was so delighted he stopped smoking I ignored the chauvinist language.

Please let me breathe! Not only do I have allergies but I live with asthma. Happiness is not having an asthma attack.

My BIL smokes and everything my sister sends me just reeks of smoke. Anything fabric goes immediately into the washer with a healthy dose of vinegar. I open the boxes outside and have to wash my hands immediately. I put anything paper in a rubber tote with a box of baking soda and leave it for days. She does not smoke but lives in it so she can't distinguish the difference.

Fragrances........ugh! How many times I've been 'trapped' with someone who adores their perfume too much! We went to a Neil Diamond concert - spent over $200.00 for tickets only to have seats directly behind some young career gals who reeked of perfume. I was miserable - spent the entire evening holding a paper in front of my mouth and nose.

I received a summons for jury duty recently and when I sent the response in I checked off the 'special considerations' box and asked to be seated away from anyone wearing fragrance.

Yes, those are my animals in the avatar.....Brad takes them outside every single morning and brushes, then vacuums them. They have been trained that the floor is theirs, the furniture is mine.

My daughter and her husband both smoke, but not in the house. however, she takes her quilts to the laundromat to wash prior to being given away. Have had no trouble with that so far. Most of ther sewing and fabrics are at my house.

Yes, I smoke, but out in the garage, never in house. I also have cats, so try to keep them out of my sewing room, but every thing I make, I wash and check for hair before giving.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I think I will make something small and go through the steps of the washing/bagging and take it to a brutally truthful friend that has bad allergies and see what she thinks. Thanks again!

Smoke and cat equals possible asthma attack. I dont think it is a good idea

If she discloses the information then the person with asthma needs to be an adult about it and make another choice.

I hope you will not give up on something that obviously means so much to you. One other thing you might try is to get a room air purifier to run in your sewing room. May not take care of all the smoke and pet hair but, they do help. My husband and I have allergy problems and we have one in our bedroom. Amazing what the filter looks like when I clean it. (Don't forget to clean filter frequently) Just one more idea to try. Never, Never give up on a DREAM!!!! Good luck and God Bless your endeavors.

Smoke odor does wash out.

I can't understand why someone would take a bath, wash their hair, brush their teeth, put on colone ALL to smell good and then light up a NASTY CIGARETTE

I used to play bingo and in the large bingo hall there were smokers. When I came home, my husband could always smell the smoke on me. I was even in the non-smoking room too. My hair smelled like smoke, my winter coat........had to wash my clothes and take a shower and I let my coat air out before I put it in the closet. I am sure glad I live in a state (IL) now that doesn't allow smoking in restaurants or public places.

Because you really don't realize how bad you do smell. I am an Xsmoker and I didn't know. Now I cannot stand to be close to a smoker. Is NASTY and STINKY.

I have asthma and I can tell when the slightest bit of cigarette smoke has been near fabric. I had to stop going to the craft shows because I have a reaction to the smoke.

Good grief, people! There's no need to be so RUDE!

Attitudes can be stinky, too.

I used to smoke. I got a forced air heating system installed. I smoked only in the family room, thinking one room was ok. But the smell would wake my DH in the early mornings, so we decided to only smoke outside. I was always aware which way the breeze was blowing so I stayed upwind of the smoke. Clothes still reeked.
Got a haircut one day, they used deionized water to rinse it. They told me I must be a smoker since the smell was literally emanating from my scalp.
Didn't smoke in my vehicle, yet there was still cigarette haze on the inside glass--from breathing out the residual that was always left in my lungs! Whatever I breathed on was exposed to cigarette smoke.
Was in a quilting group for many years. One dear lady started to bring a neighbor with her, a smoker. She took a butt break every 20-30 minutes & never washed her hands. She reeked SO bad I had to just leave if she came.
We quit smoking going on 6 years ago, never thought we could after over 30 years. Nicorette patch made it literally effortless.

In your climate, you can get the fabric very dry in the dryer, let it cool, and store it folded in a very roomy large plastic sealed bag. You probably will not plan for it to be in there for a long time, but it will keep it fresh and clean.
I have had some quilts in large roomy plastic bags for over a year, some longer, with no bad results.
It is certainly is better than letting smoke smell get into the fabric, because trying to remove the smoke smell, could be harder on the fabric.
It is moisture in the fabric sealed inside a confined bag in a warm humid climate that can do the damage.,
After all - archarologists have found bits of fabric several thousands of years old, that have been in a sealed dry place in a dry climate - like your house inthe winter time.
Jeannie

I agree with the advice to give it a go and be honest and up front about being a smoker and having a cat. I'm sure that there are a gazillion smoking, cat-owners out there. Good luck.