No, smokers don't know how they smell. I was a smoker for years, and when I finally quit practicing quitting, and really did it, I was suddenly aware of the odors. I bought a new car, removed the carpet in the house and replaced it with Pergo, removed all the drapes and replaced them with shutters, scrubbed down all the surfaces and repainted everything. It was an awakening for me. I still can't believe I did it for so long, and now I simply can't tolerate the odor. I went into a restaurant last Friday with a couple of friends, and as we walked in, cigarette smoke overwhelmed us. We stood for about a minute, thanked the hostess and left. I had to come home and take an antihistamine because my head got all stopped up from the smoke - just for that short period.

Take it from an x-smoker, we have NO idea how badly we smell

Smoke on fabrics goes both ways. I have had to air quilt tops out before putting them on the LA so that the smell would not migrate to my leaders.

It is a good idea to know if your LAer works in a smoke-free or pet-free studio if those are things that bother you.

Geez, I've never had a problem cleaning smoke out of our clothes after a night out back when restaurants and such were smoking. Maybe if the quilts were in the smoke for a long time...I have always just washed and dried.

Sorry to hear about your quilts, I am on the board, and I am also a longarm quilter, I own a Statler Stitcher and can do both digitized and free motion quilting, I quilted the quilt in my avatar. I can send other pics if you are interested in seeing any of my work. I have another lady in Florida that sends me her quilts to be quilted as well. I also get quilts from Michigan, Nevada and from all over Colorado. My home is a smoke free home.

You should have used Charisma on here. She does beautiful work.

I think I would ask for a partial refund!!

What smokers are smoking now has some tobacco but mostly chemicals and fillers that leave a horrible stink.
Pure tobacco smoke doesn't stink that way.
I read putting original Safeguard soap in a plastic bag with the smoke filled quilt will neutralize the odor. Be sure and let the quilter know how bad the quilts reeked of cigarette smoke and you will not be using her again because of it.

Thanks for quitting! I know it isn't easy!

Dial Gold Bar open wrap bar in tissue paper, and put it asnd quilt in plastic trash bag for a couple of days. It works. We had to do it to quilts that were going to be raffled.

A safe product to use is Gonzo odor eliminator for homes. It comes in a mesh bag that you can hang in a closet with the quilt. I got it at Bed, Bath and Beyond some years ago, and it worked well on a musty lamp shade, which I thought was hopeless. It comes with directions. I found it on Amazon just now. Cheap and lasts for years.

I am a smoker and I try hard but realize that the smell is on me and can transfer ot my fabrics. Before sending anything out that I can't wash first (fabric pieces to a friend) I package them in a baggie with a couple of fabric dryer sheets - lavander ones. Most have said they can't smell the smoke on it. On things I can wash - my washer and dryer are out in the garage - I still package them that way.

I realize the smell - especially since I am around so many non smokers and so I do try - but I recognize that it doesn't always work and I apologize for my bad habit to the person!

I am a former smoker, my husband still smokes a pipe. I do not participate in swaps for this reason. Threads like this tend to delegate smokers and or their families to 2nd class citizen status. Especially when the go on and on. Do nonsmokers have no habits that offend others??? Use a little kindness toward each other. None of us are without faults.

If your weather's okay in Southwest Florida, hang it outside for an all-day airing.... Sunshine and fresh air beats fabric softener or Febreeze any day!

Offending is one thing, but causing a possible life-threatening asthma attack to another person is something else indeed!

not arguing with anyone - this is a true question but can the smell of the smoke on clothes alone cause an asthma attack?

I know that there are a lot of places I go - church; airports; and such where the perfumes are so heavy that I get a searing headache but I didn't think it could cause an asthma attack in and of itself??? If it does - are there other strong smells that can set it off?

It sure can for me! As well as perfume, deodorant, hairspray, any household cleaning supplies, smell of some flowers, freshly cut grass, campfire smoke, and many other things. It doesn't even have to be a "strong" smell. Sometimes even a small whiff is enough to trigger an asthma attack.

I have had to go find another line in a grocery store if I catch just the hint of an odor of smoke or perfume on the person in front of me.

Sorry, I did not mean to sound argumentative either.

I'm a smoker who actually hates the smell of tobacco. We don't smoke in our house because we don't like the way a house can reek from it.

From the times that I've managed to quit, I know that smokers smell like cigarettes just from going outside for a smoke break, so I'm very conscious of how I smell. The other day, the doctor said to me, "So you're still smoking, hm?" Of course, he smelled it on me - which I can't do, any more.

I hesitate to participate in swaps, as well. Even though I don't smoke in the house or around my fabrics, the odor can transfer from my clothes to the fabric I'm handling and if someone is really sensitive to it, they'll be upset with me.

I don't think anyone hates smokers - that would be silly, like hating fat people or people who drive SUV's. :mrgreen:

It's our habit that they don't like. Try not to be offended - it's not you, it's just the odor they don't like. I'm sure that you wouldn't intentionally inflict that nasty smell on anyone, but we don't even know it's there. It smells okay to us! :)

didn't sound argumentative to me - I didn't know that smells themselves could trigger....thanks for that information...

my postal carrier smokes in her truck....I have made complaint after complaint, and told to suck it up....I have a business that deals in fabric...I get envelopes filled with fabric all the time...and if you think it is hard to get the odor out of cotton, try getting it out of ultrasuede...it aint easy...at all...

it also can trigger migrains...severe migrains...

I would spray it with OdaBan and put in the dryer on air fluff. OdaBan can be purchased at Sams Wholesale.

Ok - I would have issues with that and I'm a smoker...

I know this can be a very emotional issue. In my opinion, the quilter should have mentioned she smoked in her advertising so the person wanting the work done had total knowledge of the situation so she could have made an informed choice. My BIL smokes and when he comes to our house, he goes outside to smoke. However, when he comes back in, he just brings the smell with him and transfers it to the furniture. For those us us who are really sensitive, even this little bit can be a problem. Febreeze works only to a degree. For me, when I get around perfume or smoke, my throat closes up. It becomes a medical issue. I try not to treat anyone like a second-class citizen but when it comes to my health, I have enough problems without adding anything else. I do miss the smell of my dad's pipe. Blessings to all.

tell me, my argument is why is she allowed to smoke in a GOV vehicle? It is against the law? When my last $500 order of ultrasuede came and it smelled so bad I could not have it in my house, I took it down the postmaster and threw on it his desk....he gagged...I told him, I am the END of her route, and this is an issue as I can not sell that to anyone. I can't even have it in my office....

I think that must have worked, she was gone for about a month and now I don't notice anything...except that she is really packing on the pounds....hehehehe

If you don't want to wash the quilt, try wetting a towel in strong vinegar water and place quilt and towel in the dryer on air fluff (no heat). It may work and may not. I do use vinegar for dissolving odors in the house, especially when I have fried fish. Just pour about a half cup in a small dish and sit on the counter top and that's it. It works. I hope you get it out. I hate stale smoke as bad as anybody.

sassy granny

What happened w/your UltraSuede order? I can't imagine the US Gov paid you for it. This is just unbelievable but if you look at the situation in a positive way, you were instrumental in changing this persons life for the better. She will be much healthier now.

Do they still have Govt owned postal vehicles there? Here where I live their all personal automobiles that they've had to convert to have pedals on the right but they still steer from the left with one hand (which I think is insane and dangerous - but I'm not fighting city hall).

put the quilt in a large trash bag and wrap a bar of soap in a washcloth and put in there. close the bag up for a week and then check it. I got some fabric scraps off freecycle and by the time we got them home we were all gasping from the smoke smell. They were too small to wash and this worked.

The mail carrier uses personal vehicles here too but I think they may be contract workers not federal employees? But still they are in charge of federal mail so there should be something against them smoking around the mail being delivered. I would be waiting for the carrier if my packages arrived smelling like that with a bill either for cleaning or Dr. visit. And back it up with a copy of the letters I would be sending to anyone connected to the PO and to my lawyer. Then I would get a PO box because a person that has no respect to smoke around other's belongings would not be passed losing a piece of important mail that you need.

Put it in the washer with a healthy dose (a pint or so) of white vinegar. You may have to do this a couple times then put it thru a cycle with gentle detergent.
And definitely find a non-smoker next time. :-)

When I started my quilting business, I had to chase the smokers outside and subsequently one moved away from home and the other one quit, so now my home is smoke free.

It's like my sister said about having customer's quilts in the house - "the smoke doesn't know where to go, so it ends up in the quilts too."

When I come home from the local casino, the smell on my clothes almost makes me sick and very thankful that I have been a nonsmoker for almost thirty years.

Amonnia is sold in the grocery store, Walmart or K Mart

Good luck with your quilt.

i still smoke. hate it, and no i don't notice the smell. tried to quit before and its about impossible. but smoking has really been bugging me lately. i really want to quit. going to order one of those electric fake cigerettes and see if that works. my nephew swears by it so maybe it will for me too.

You should tell the lady because she may not be aware of the smell as so many smokers aren't. Maybe start the conversation by asking her if anyone in her house smokes and go from there and explain to her how a non smoker has a problem with it. If she's a good business woman she'll thank you for calling it to her attention. If not you should take your business elsewhere.
Me and my DH still smoke and I do know the smell and I hate it but we haven't had what it takes to quit yet. A couple of years ago I scrubbed most of the house and repainted. At that time I told DH there would be no more smoking in the house. He wasn't real happy about it but he knows if he smoked in the house I'd be fighting mad so he lives with it. In the winter we smoke in a heated garage and in the summer we smoke outside in the heat! A few times he smoked in his bathroom with the exhaust fan on but I could still smell it. We've both cut down on how much we smoke but not enough as in quit. I have never known a smoker to complain about it as much as me and still smoke. I can't think of one good thing about smoking!

Try washing and drying first, then cover it with a sheet to prevent sun fading. (Pin or clip at corners?)

My MIL use to smoke, didn't smoke inside even and after we would go visit would open suitcase to be hit with that smell!! YUCK!!! It will wash out, try some tide with febreze! Good Luck!!

my oldest son lives with me. (we are both on s.s. and it works) and he recently quit smoking. He is amazed at how much better his food tastes. I also make some fleece blankets for some grandkids and having lived with smokers most of my life I never noticed the smell. They told me they had to wash them. Luckily they love me so were not upset. LOL..

The vinegar takes odor out of clothing. I have used it to take pet odors out. Now THAT is an odor. :x