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Good non-scented clay cat litter. It absorbs odors very well. Unlike baking soda, you can stick it somewhere warm and dry it out and reuse it. Let fabric sit until you don't smell it anymore, then finish up with a good airing outside.

It's good for grease and other spills, too.

Don't be afraid to use a little chlorine bleach if everything else fails. Probably I would finish it first, then do the final wash.

I had a piece quilted a while back and it picked up terrible odors from the house. I put it in a tub with several (4 I think ) bars of DIAL soap. Left it for a few weeks and the odor was gone......worth a try.....Be sure to use a very aromatic soap.

I was going to suggest the baking soda process, too. It's a great absorption product. After doing as Tartan suggests, you might also tumble it in the dryer, very low heat, gently, for a few minutes. Sometimes heat does wonders.

You could also put it in a plastic container or a large plastic bag that seals closed with two or three dryer sheets and leave it for awhile.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tartan (Post 7367101)

Musty smell is hard to remove. If it was mine, I would get an old white sheet bigger then the top and lay it out on my clean garage cement floor. I would lay the quilt top face down on the sheet. I would sprinkle a couple of boxes of baking soda over the back of the quilt top and let it sit most of the day. I would then take the quilt top out in the yard and give it a shake to remove the baking soda and give it the sniff test.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS FIRST BECAUSE OLD QUILT TOPS CAN SOMETIMES BLEED WHEN YOU ADD WATER.
If still musty I might take the quilt top into the house and place it on the sheet in the bath tub, add more baking soda or retro clean and let it soak for a while. I would then let the water drain out of the tub, add more water to rinse and let the water drain out again. I would then use the sheet to roll up the quilt top and remove it from the tub. I would press out as much water as possible and line dry with the sheet to support it.

This is excellent advice from Tartan. I am familiar with museum conservation practices for textiles and her advice is right on. The rule is sort of like a doctor's oath: First do no harm. Always try the least harmful technique first. Often fresh air or a little indirect sunlight (careful of direct light which fades) will work if you monitor the fabric carefully.

Adding this to my favorites "Notes to resuscitate quilts and tops"

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearisgray (Post 7367096)

You could try hanging it outside to air out for a while. That sometimes works wonders.

I agree with Bearisgray. Good fresh air will make a big difference.

I agree with Tartan.