People who smoke don't think their stuff smells. I lived with a smoker for 25 years and never thought my house smelled like smoke until I asked him not to smoke in the house anymore because of sinus infections I was getting. Guess what, my house smells of cigarettes and I couldn't smell it while it was going on. I had to paint the walls and ceilings and even now a few years later I still come across something that is sticky with nicotine residue.

When he comes home from work and walks in the door, it's like OMG drop your clothes at the door please.

How about putting the squares in a sack netting that you use to wash fragile items and wash them on gentle cycle.?

try a couple of bounce fabric sheets -

The quilt guild that I belong to has a lady that smokes. All of the charity quilts that she makes are given to me to wash and dry. I use 1 capful of liquid laundry detergent, 1/2 cup super washing soda and 1/2 cup Borax 20 Mule Team Laundry Detergent Booster. I wash for 18 minutes, do an extra rinse cycle and add white vinegar to the final rinse. They come out fresh and clean smelling.

put a fabric sotener in the bag for a day and the smell goes away. I'm serious this really does work.

I guess I will need to really evaluate when I want to post suggestions in the future.

I would be a bit hesitant about that Fabreze stuff. When you iron it, things get worse. Of course, I have industrial allergies and any kind of scented laundry soap or dryer sheets sends me out the back door gasping for air.

I have put them in ziplock bags and sprayed Febreeze in the bag, zipped the bag shut and let them sit for several days. Has worked for me.

I really think the freezer idea would work. Give it a try and let us know ok?

Why? This was a great suggestion! First, it works, and second, it is free. No chemicals, no extra costs..

Overall, I must say, a great suggestion!

Why? Yours was the first suggestion that I did! I posted earlier that it worked! So Thanks! You did good! Keep the advice coming

Same thing happened to me recently. I didn't really want to wash my fabric either, as they were all scraps. My dear neighbor, a retired chemist, explained that after cigarette smoke falls once it has risen in the air - when it comes into contact with fibers it becomes a goo like substance that is difficult to remove. An acid based product like lemon or white vinegar can be added to the laundry soap. Unfortunately, washing in the washing machine is best.

I put all my scraps into two different pillowcases, and once the washer was full of water and laundry soap, I added 1 cup of white vinegar and one cup of baking soda. The soda is not necessary, but is a neutralizer and does not hurt. I don't have a gentle cycle, so used Perm Press. Still, at the end, I had SUCH a huge wad of knotted up fabric, that it took me FIVE hours to detangle, cut threads and iron these scraps.

The person posting these scraps for sale did not mention any smokers, and in my excitement of finding something I wanted, I forgot to ask. :cry: Well, I've since learned my lesson, too. The good news is all the smell DID come out and my scraps now seem to be fine. Best of luck to you.

If u have a candle that is scented put fabric in zip lock bag with candle seal and let set 3-4 days that should help.

I had a really dear friend who was very prolific in making quilt tops. Then she would send them to her 100 yr old mother to quilt them. (that info. is really beside the point, but) When my friend passed, her DIL took a lot of her quilt tops and finished squares to her home. She called me one day and asked if I would be interested in buying some of the blocks. I went to her home and it absolutely reeked!! I did buy a whole quilt worth of Sunbonnet Sue and a Whole double wedding ring. They too reeked. I took them home and put several fabric softener sheets in with them and left them for a while. I would check them every so often and the smell finally left them. I also bought a pair of cowboy boots off e-bay and they reeked of smoke. I put fabric softner sheets inside the boots and finally the smell dissapated. I can now wear the boots with smelling the smoke.

Ugh. Febreeze and sun.

Try spraying them with some frebreeze until you get them sewn into a project and can wash them. That should help the way they smell.

At my little quilt group we had a birthday swap, and when I got my little bag I was so excited !!
Well, when I got home and went to open my gifts, oh my goodness what a smell - it was awful, even my DH said "where have you been tonight" LOL
Well, one of my gifts was a homemade tapestry pin cushion- which was sweet - but that was the culprit. In turn that had made everything else smell. The fat quater was washed and I undid or used other items and left them with an oust room spray, sprayed on them a couple of times. That worked - but the pin cushion sadly hit it's demise in the dustbin - just couldn't save it.
Hope the freezer worked and thanks fot the tips !!
I love it here !!

I quess some peolpe don't realize how much the smell gets into things....my friend smokes and when I ride in her car with her...I get out and even my hair smells....let alone my clothes. I can't stand it! I have to take a shower immediately when I get home. I take my own car now and meet her whereever we are going. I hear that Febreeze is wonderful....I shuld buy my friend some! Good luck with your quilt!

Perfume is just as bad, if not worse, that smoke. I have bought stuff on ebay and it reeked when I got it. I was never able to get the smell out of two blouses I just loved. People who wear perfume or smoke often don't realize how the odor affects others.

It is because they don't realize it smells. I don't smoke but was around it all my life until my late husband had to give it up. After not being around it I could tell if someone came near me had smoked. Back when you could smoke in the office one of my co-works smoked & I could not answer her phone without gagging.

I have found if any Fabreze is used whatsoever that when I iron fabric or blocks, I get dizzy. Do be careful with those high concentrations of these vapors. Yes, I too have problems when going to certain hotels and motels while on vacation because Fabreze is so widely used. Yet, it is my belief that all it does is deaden ones senses to the bad smells and covers up with others.

meant to say "without" smelling smoke

Put them in the dryer with a dryer sheet for a few minutes
till the dryer gets nice and warm...

Try running through the dryer with 2 or 3 dryer sheets for about 15 minutes on low heat. That worked for me on fabric I bought from CL.

I son't think smokers even notice the smell.

I'v heard this one as well

I've heard baking soda works, too.

What about Febreze for fabric?

LMBO,I agree....

I've learned my lesson too! I was so excited to get a great deal on fabric I forgot to ask. I had to wash the fabric or I would have thrown them in the trash. I don't usually wash my fabric before quilting, I like the crisp look.

My MIL never smoked till she was 50 & when she passed at 71, her house was cleaned by a co that does industrial cleaning.Even the walls, where it met the ceiling had lines like a jagged V all around. Smoke had hit the walls & nicotine clung then sagged on the walls.

Her furniture was hauled off by Goodwill.Have no clue what they did with it.Was good quality, but smelly doesn't begin to describe it.

Good morning and happy Valentine's Day! I have noticed throughout this thread that many are using those dryer sheets. Please remember they are an oil-petroleum based product. Once that has been ironed into the fabric, it is there to stay. Now think of who and where your quilts are going? That smell is just as bad as a smoke smell or dander from a cat. We must keep our fabric clean of everything. What happens to a quilt after our long-hours spent making it, is not our concern but keeping it free from everything at first is. Happy stitches everyone; I will get off my soap box now. :)

PS: I do not mean to sound harsh. I love animals (but sneeze a lot). I launder a lot after being around smokers although I give them plenty of space when talking with them and want to always retain their friendship.

I'm not sure that's fair to boycott her store because she smokes. I seriously doubt if she smokes inside or rubs her fabrics all over her smoke laden clothes. Smell the fabric, not the lady... Does your fabric smell like your perfume? Probably not... Just don't think telling others not to shop there is like saying she has bad breath so don't shop there... it could ruin the fabric. JMHO

I don't know what you are going to use them for, but I happened to be very allergic to Fabreeze - If you are going to use them in a quilt you plan on giving to someone, you might want to find out if they have any allergies - Just a thought

SUNSHINE!
A few hours in fresh air on a clear day will take out any odor!
I am allergic to fragrances, so cannot use scented products to remove odors. Luckily, I can use my clothesline, reversing direction of materials so there isn't a corner left blocked by the clothespin. For the charm squares, you could safety pin them to a cord and hang it across the window frame if that's the only way to get them into the sun.

dryer sheets

I have heard of this for books also, not tried it with fabric

I will try this as I am allergic to the smell of Febrese. Have asthma

We had this problem when trying to sell our home as my husband smoked...Bought a product called "Odor Pro"....After several applications on carpet, etc...no smell...The product doesn't have a smell either, as some other products do...It's pricey but works and also gets rid of smelly shoes or anything else that has a bad smell....

I haven't read thru all the posts however, I would not wash those 5" squares. Give it some time and the smell will
come out. I do like the idea of placing them in a freezer.
Also, store them in a bag with a dryer sheet.
Many good ideas on here but I wouldn't wash them if you don't have to.
Good luck to you!