I just got some fabric from my recently deceased friend. I'm very glad to have it, but she was a heavy smoker & the fabric smells of cigarettes. Most of the fabric is cotton, but I also have a kit to make a fleece rag throw. I had thought to put it in the washer to soak in vinegar water, rinse it, then wash it on a gentle cycle. Is there a better way?

Thanks in advance!

You may need to wash it a few times, but line drying in the sun will also help!

I just learned this from a firend that owns a Serv-Pro franchise. They clean everything. When you wash it use a couple of tablespoons of vanilla extract. The good kind not imitation. I bought a home owned by an Indian couple and could not get out the curry smell. The cleaning company told me $1-3000 to get rid of. He told me wash walls and add tablespoon vanilla to paint and it worked great. I just happen to ask him the other day about odors in fabric which is when he again suggested vanilla if they could be washed in machine. Oh yes and use cold water - line dry is possible.

If you don't want to wash use some fabreze and let it hang out side a for a day or so. This will help make it not too bad. If you can stand a little bit of the smoke smell. I have ahsma that flares real bad around smoke smells and I have to use fabreze and let it sit outside till I can handle it without having to reach for my inhaler every two min.

I find that just a washing as normal with laundry soap does fine

I run a dog rescue, and wash potty pads every day. I can't say enough about Target's version of Oxy Clean. Wash the fabric with a couple of scoops of that, and let it soak a bit. My potty pads (flannel and PUL) have been washed a zillion times and smell sweet. (when clean)

Mags

:lol: :lol: Had to laugh about the last comment. (When Clean). BrendaK

Elizabeth, try the Search button at the top of the page. This is a topic that comes up frequently and there are many suggestions there instead of repeating them. Hope you find one that helps.

WE recently got a top that way and we just put it in the dryer and that worked!

I think you may want to pre-treat this fabric with a grease or oil cutter. Smoke has an oily residue that lands on everything in it's reach and a detergent that cuts grease my be needed for this job.

Try searshing one of the big detergent companies. they may have a help line.
peace

here's some help!

http://www.ehow.com/how_5191327_remo...-clothing.html

http://www.vamooseproducts.com/?gcli...FQWA5Qod127Z6Q

my mom and sister are smokers- everything from them goes into the laundry---with my normal detergent---the smoke smell washes out- just pre-wash as normal---

Well, duh! I wish I would have thought of that! Thanks!

Soak in Oxy-clean

Then launder and add vinegar to rinse water.

wow, great tip and thanks for sharing it with us

that is good to know, thanks

[quote=Elizabeth in Texas]I just got some fabric from my recently deceased friend. I'm very glad to have it, but she was a heavy smoker & the fabric smells of cigarettes.

I have also added 1 cup of vinegar to the laundrry load with good sucess.

a lot of people forget that they can let a load of wash soak for a while before rinsing. A regular wash with detergent should work, just let it soak for a while. Some machines have this feature and some you just turn off.
Somke has a grease component to it so a detergent that also removes grease may help.

I read on a site where the lady had a sewing machine cabinet with smells. She put Irish Spring soap bars in it and the odors disappeared. Can you put the fabrics in a plastic bag with the soap bars? It's worth a try.

White vinegar and baking soda in the washer ... works on EVERY odor I have encountered.