I live in Fl. and we have one of the old pharmacies that carry a product called Tap-A-Drop and this stuff really works. It is cheap several friends I have bought it for has really liked it also. My DIL dumped a gallon of milk,in the summer time,in the back of her car and left it overnight and it brought all the smell out by the next morning. Let me know if this is something you would like to try.

I am sorry to hear about the damage to your home. I had a house fire years ago, so I understand the frustration with the insurance company on top of all the damage.

My insurance company paid "replacement value" for items that was ruined. I needed to re-purchase the items and supply them with the receipts in order to get paid. I know I did not get everything back that was lost. How do you get back your child's first hand print!, etc.


I agree about trying the vinager. I never tried the Tap-A-Drop so have no opinion on that. Hey, I would use anything that works.

Good luck and sorry to hear about your home. I'm glad everyone is alright though!

Hugs!

That is so sad about your home and sewing room. I hate insurance companies!!! Good luck with your fabric!

Aw, Hugs! I would try the amonia, like Honey said. Once one of my kids left wet clothes in there backpack, and by the time I found them, they smelled so bad of mildew. Tried everything, but amonia worked and didnt fade anything. Good luck!

So does that mean I need to have receipts for all the furniture, pictures, towels, bedding, pots and pans, glasses, etc for my home if 'something' were to happen? :shock: :shock: :shock:

Some of that stuff is well over 30 years old...almost antique :lol:

I'll have to check with my insurance today. I can't imagine needing every receipt for everything in my house. . . and probably needing a safety deposit box 'outside the house' to keep them. Stupid! :thumbdown:

Here is what I have found over the years washing stinky things. My mom ownes a laundry business need I say more?

Wash liquid/soap makes some smells WORSE. What I do is set the washer to small or medium load and let it fill up with COLD water, then dump in a fair amount of vinigar. Then add in your items to be washed. Let the water agitate a few seconds and check the items to make sure nothing is sticking out. if you still have room fill till full but nothing sticking out of the water. agitate again to make sure everything is down in the water. then let it set to soak. after it soaks awhile then run the rest of the cycle. Then you can run another normal cycle with washing detergent in the water.

Good luck. I agree that its crazy that the insurance wont pay for your fabric because you don't have a recipt. I asked my insurance guy the other day how I go about listing things for replacement he said take pictures of everything NOW and if something has jumped in price they will pay the NOW price for the item. So it doesn't matter what I paid for it then.

I am so sorry to hear about all you have gone through. Sending huge ((HUGS)) your way.

I would also vote on the vinegar, just from previous experience. Insurance co. have gotten very persnickity as to what they cover anymore. My sewing area is in my basement, however my policy specifies that only the furnace, water heater, stuff like that is covered. I had to get an endorsement to cover my quilting stuff, including my machines. Of course, it cost extra for the endorsement. I would highly recommend contacting the Insurance co. to find out about your antique items.

I'm so sorry to hear about this!
I agree with using vinegar to get the smell out. My kids would go to their Grandma's (DH's Mom, she smokes) she would wash their clothes before sending them home (I know she was trying to be helpful) but the detergent or fabric softener that she used made me ill, it smelled SO STRONG! Anyways!! :oops: I always re-washed the kids clothes in vinegar added to the water (sometimes had to do it twice) to get the smell of detergent/fabric softener and smoke out. It always worked for me!

I work for an insurance company, not in claims, but I still hear the stories. If you reported directly to the company and talked to an adjuster, try calling your agent to intervene for you. You'll want to make a list of what was lost as they have to start somewhere. I'd list the color, size of the piece, the producer of that fabric and expected replacement cost. You might be able to go online and find some of the newer ones and print it off to show the price. They may not realize what an investment it was. You can also include the cost of the soaps, rinses and all that you used trying to get them cleaned. I don't know what is covered, but the more info you give them, the better your chances.

If the agent can't help, call the claims office and ask to speak to a supervisor and if you still have no luck and figure you've lost a lot, try calling your state's Insurance Office. They will review the claim and make the company explain to them why they aren't paying. And... if you get the run-around too much, switch carriers! Some are cheaper, but when you don't get covered for a loss, how much is it worth ?