I was given several boxes of fabric that was obviously stored in a basement. All of it has that musty-basement smell.

Do you think just airing it out will get rid of the smell? Or should I begin the long process of washing it all? Should I use anything special in the washing cycle? Should I use cold or warm water?

Any other suggestions and ideas would be appreciated!

Nancy

If there are no obvious signs of mildew, I would just try to find a place to hang up the various pieces of fabric where they can air out for a time. Once upon a time we all had clotheslines outside in our backyards that were perfect for such!

Your other option is to wash it all. I would do it in warm water and a small amount of your regular laundry soap along with some baking soda added to help deodorize.

If you do wash the fabric, put some baking soda and white vinegar in each load---they will smell so nice. Sometimes a musty odor is mildew in the making. I'd wash them.

I agree, definitely wash with the baking soda and vinegar. You would want the material clean anyway. :)

good idea

I was also going to say white vinegar. I was told to do this with the dog bedding to get the doggie smells out. If it will work on that it should work for mildew too.
Linda

I used the baking soda and vinegar a couple of weeks ago when I bought 134 yds of fabric from a household that had 3 heavy smokers in it. The fabric wreaked of cigarette smoke. After washing and drying it smelled wonderful but I had to use a LOT of B-soda and vinegar. Over a cup with each load.

I hate to tell you this, but years ago I had to store fabric in my basement and it also got that musty smell. I did rewash it but only in detergent. Every once in awhile I will pull out a piece and I know that it is from the old stuff stored in the basement. Hopefully with vinegar and or baking soda it will smell great. Good luck.

Baking soda, white vinegar and warm water.

I agree.

Margie

I would use some Febreze on it if you don't want to wash it. I think it would do the trick of getting rid of the smell. Good luck!

so ladies, how much baking soda and how much vinegar per load do you recommend?

I would use a 1/2 cup of vinegar and baking soda per load... and see if that works, if not try using a cup each. I buy vinegar by the gallon for this use and baking soda in bulk too.

Thanks for all the great info!! I knew you ladies would have the answer!! Isn't this board great?!!! :thumbup:

I got some older fabric from my MIL and washed it. Wish I had paid attention because the blues ran like the ocean. 9 washes later (when the quilt was done), and the water was still blue. My recommendation: Wash the stash and check along the way.

Why not try putting some in the dryer with several bounce drier sheets and see if that doesn't help first before having to wash it all.

Rita222,

The dryer thing sounds like a good idea. It's worth a try!

Thanks for the input.

Nancy

Something old that people seem to forget about is Borax. We had a cat pee on some clothes in a box. Since they were ruined anyway I figured I would try some things to clean them . Borax worked the best. I use it now all the time and we use less fabric softener sheets, I cut mine in half. I also use it for the puppy pads when I foster. They come out smelling great.

I got some older fabric from my MIL and washed it. Wish I had paid attention because the blues ran like the ocean. 9 washes later (when the quilt was done), and the water was still blue. My recommendation: Wash the stash and check along the way.
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Try something called Color Catcher. You should find it in the washing section
of your grocery store. I had to go to a bigger town to find it, mine didn't seem
to know what it was.

Thanks, but this fabric was old and died with Indigo. I don't think a color catcher would have done the trick. I have since gotten real careful with "donated" goods.

Try useing some linen spray and hang the fabric outdoors ,or put the fabric in the dryer on med heat.

I also buy vineger by the gallon, great for chocolate cake !!( recipe is a family favorite ) LOL but not a joke.

So, let me see if I am understanding right, you use the vinagar and baking soda in the wash at the same time? I use vinagar in the rinse when I use bleach. I have some musty smelling fabric I need to do something with.

I am a Project Linus coordinator and we were told by a Dr. that we should not use fabric that smells musty or moldy even if we wash it. Washing will not remove all the mold spores so anyone that is going to be affected by molds ( allergies, asthma, copd) should not be using a quilt made with this fabric.

DITTO on baking soda nd vinegar...and, "just in case" the musty smell really doesn't leave after hanging outside (just doesn't smell to you) I'd err on the safe side and wash it!

I would use my detergent (non perfume), color safe bleach, and some Oxyclean. I use this combo all the time and have never had a problem with smells lingering or from colors running.

Also, maybe leave the fabric in an airtight container (providing no moisture whatsoever) and put a 1/2 cup of either ground coffee or some charcoal (none of that ready to light stuff, lol wouldn't that be a mess).

I am fortunate to have a Sanitize cycle on my washer. I would also use that as it would kill anything that is in the fabric. The temp gets to 180*. Of course it may shrink it some too, but six of one half-a-dozen of the other.

Definitely wash the fabric. You don't want your house smelling musty too.

if it was stored in a basement, you want to wash it anyway. it's probably full of dust and mites. just be sure and use a washer bag for the smaller pieces and serge or zigzag the edges on the larger ones.

i always found the soda/vinegar treatment to work on all kinds of smelly things, so that's where i would start. if that didn't work i would separate out the whites and (gasp) bleach those. for the colors i would use borax or ammonia with my detergent. at that point you have nothing at all to lose anymore. you can test for colorfastness and use bleach on anything else that's colorfast. i'll be more than you think. whatever still smells, get rid of it before it smells up everything else.

did you get the musty smell out of it yet?

I haven't tried yet! I haven't been to the grocery store to get the vinegar and baking soda.

I'll keep you posted!

Nancy

I would most definitly wash. It would drive me into a severe allergy attack. The sunshine would do a world of good but who has a clothes line anymore.

Me, one of the first things I had DH put up when we moved to the country-a clothesline. Love that fresh smell.

Can I live with you, wvdek

a lot of us have the clotheslines, but who has the sunshine?

Okay...I got the musty smell out...now how do I get all the wrinkles out?!!!

how did you do it?

re wrinkles: sometimes putting it in the dryer with a damp towel and then grabbing it out before it has a chance to wrinkle works.

Vinegar & baking soda always works. I found a rustic little curio shelf at an estate sale whose owners were heavy smokers. No more cigarette smell!

that's the recipe that always works for me. i wondered if that's the one she chose.

I used 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda as well as a scoop of Gain detergent. Then I used a bounce sheet in the dryer. It worked very well, but I miss the "brand new" feeling of the fabric. So I got some spray starch and that seems to be working pretty well. I thought it would make the fabric really stiff but it doesn't. And it works pretty well to get the wrinkles out.

Thanks everyone for your information!! You guys are awesome!!! :thumbup:

I would use a cup of vinegar and a cup of soda in the laundry. I wouldn't consider using it without washing it.