Musty smelling fabric
 

A friend of mine told me she just received a box of wonderful 50's and 60's quilting fabric. Unfortunately, they had been stored in a closed up old house for at least 5 years and smell terrible. She is thinking they will have to be destroyed. I told her "Wait! I know just who to ask!" So please- any ideas that might save these classics? Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions. You are all the best.
Purl

Lots of options, here.

"Air" the fabrics outside for several hours. I expect they've been folded, so be sure to unfold and "fluff" fluff them into piles, enabling the air to circulate around them.

Am sure there will be some residual aroma. In that case, separate the lights from the darks, and make two respective wash loads of the fabrics. Be sure to include a Color Catcher in each load to mitigate color bleeding. Wash on a gentle cycle or regular cylcle (your preference), using your regular detergent / soap and my personal preference, Borateem Laundry Booster
http://www.borateem.com/

I've used Borateem for decades in place of bleach when washing colors and anything other than men's "unmentionalbles". Borateem won't damage the fabric.

If the first round of this process doesn't work...repeat the washing cycle.

Here's hoping your friend incorporates her new "stash" into some lovely projects.

I would add a couple of things to MCH's comments. If you have to wash them, use pinking shears on the edges so you won't get a million long knotted strings. There is a pinking blade for the rotary cutter too. The pinking holds up very well for a couple of washes, but will need to be redone if you go for wash 3. Adding Odoban (available at Home Depot) to your wash water will help with odors too. You won't need much. Maybe a quarter of a cup.

if you put them in the sun, it will kill the smell and anything else in/on the fabric. good side down! i would probably put them out unfolded for at least an hour --15 minute minimum

My brother was a heavy smoker. He had a gazillion plaid shirts and when he died I wanted to use some of them in projects. I washed them 3 times with oxiclean. They still smelled some so I hung them all over my deck railings outside for 4 days. I turned them everyday. I washed them one more time and dried them. Finally, they are odor free and usable.

I received some horribly smoky blocks in a block swap. The sender was obviously a very heavy smoker, they were so bad that when I opened my mailbox it hit me like a Mac truck. I sprinkled some baking soda on my deck, laid the blocks down, then sprinkled more baking soda on top of the blocks. Let it sit for 4-5 hours and the smell was gone.

Only other thing I can think of is maybe adding vinegar to the wash? Never done this myself, but have seen others suggest it before. I got some musty smelling fabric from a family member, just washed it like I normally do my laundry, and it came out fine. Good Luck, hope it is useable!

I agree with Latrinka, vinegar always works for me.

One thing I would do is to test and see if they are rotten first. Being in an old house without heat etc, for 5 years may have caused them to get rotten. Before cleaning and wasting time and money, try and rip or tear it just with your fingers on the cut edge, not the selvage edge and see how easily it rips. If it is hard to rip or you can't rip it it should be good to wash and use. If it rips really easily I would hesitate to use it for much. I have usually gotten this smell out with just a good laundry soap but the sun works wonders.

However you wash it, vinegar can be used in place of fabric softener. Works for people who are sensitive to scents.

Add a cup of sudsy ammonia to the washer. It will not harm your fabric or the colors. The only thing it will do is remove that God awful musty odor. Oh, and your washer won't smell of ammonia and it will clear all the sludge out of the plumbing of the washer. It is a win/win.

Very interesting thread! I appreciate all the comments.

Don't let her toss them!

I have to admit that a smoker gave me some fabric. I don't notice the smoke, however, until I am pressing...then I smell it and think of her.

I now wash all quilts before leaving the house and this is one of the reasons.

I have also heard that putting them in a bag with activated charcoal (the kind used in fish aquariums), closing up the bag and letting it sit for a couple of days will take out the odor of smoke, so it might work on a musty smell too.

I would just normally wash them and see if any of them come out clean. Yes, you need to see if the fabric is rotten. Then proceed using the other suggestions.

How much vinegar do you use for a washer load and does it make any difference if it's white or cider?

Fresh air is what I use. Hanging, draping or laying them out side and the smell is always gone for me.

I use one cup of white vinegar (it is cheap and you can buy it by the gallon in most grocery stores) as a rinse agent in a lot of my wash loads..........my husband is a runner and his clothes often are full of sweat.

Question: Why can't Borateem be used on men's unmentionables?

I wouldn't be afraid to use a little chlorine bleach. A little goes a long way. One quarter cup should do it. Most fabrics are color-fast enough to stand that.

Arm and Hammer Baking Soda

US Marine Corp stuff, stored for months, smelled when he put them in there, smelled worse when they came out of storage. Things he sent to Afghanistan and things he had stored stateside. Works for anything you can wash!!

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Yes, to the other hints plus add white vinegar to the rinse cycle, it really works! Because of charity sewing I get fabric donated to me, some is just to smelly but putting fabric thru a couple of washes, adding baking soda and /or borax and white vinegar in the rinse the fabric comes out great!

You can also add 1c. Ammonia to the wash water. Google it.

My guess? It's not strong enough! You have to use bleach for men's unmentionables!! :D

If it is a true musty/mildewy smell you may have to soak them to get the smell completely out. I had some towels I forgot in the washer for a couple of days due to an emergency. I washed them and the smell went away. Until they got wet again. I had to soak them to get rid of it instead of masking it. Started the wash cycle with just water and 1cup white vinegar. Stopped the machine after agitation and let it soak for 30 minutes. Drained the machine and started over washing as usual. I don't add it to the rinse because vinegar IS an acetic acid and I want to get it all out.

I just saw a spray at Hancock fabrics that is for musty fabric.