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Question: How to Keep Fabric Stash Fresh Smelling?

Question: How to Keep Fabric Stash Fresh Smelling?

Old 08-30-2012, 07:11 AM
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Question Question: How to Keep Fabric Stash Fresh Smelling?

Okay, I've got 'enough stash' for many quilts to come. Mostly fabrics bought new. I don't wash till before starting a new quilt.
I have about a 10x12 quilt room (guessing). It includes a nice sized dresser, a standup plastic pull-out drawer storage, and about 10 cloth boxes in cubicles in the closet 1/2 filled with fabrics.
I spent the past few days cleaning the whole room top to bottom, dusting bookshelves and book tops, surge protectors, under and around every piece of furniture, every surface possible. I still detect some odor like a linen closet. I've had cedar balls in some of the drawers/boxes but wonder, what do others do?
Do I need to take out all my fabrics & run them through the dryer with dryer sheets to freshen them up? Take them outside for a day of fresh air? Store them in a different manner? How?
The room is CLEAN but not as fresh smelling as I want to enter winter with....
A friend gave me a gallon of lavender water awhile back. I haven't used it much. Not sure I want everything smelling like lavender. Any ideas how could that be used?
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Old 08-30-2012, 09:03 AM
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I stick used dryer sheets in the back and between fabric piles. Also because of allergies I"m a prewasher. Unwashed fabric is a no-no for me. I also have copd so I need to be extra careful.

What about lavender sachets?
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Old 08-30-2012, 09:36 AM
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You can also get some nice smelling bars of soap, to tuck here and there. Just open the box, then place it among your fabric (this keeps the soap off of the fabric). We used to do this, with suitcases.
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Old 08-30-2012, 09:48 AM
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~Baking soda in a canning jar- omit lid cover with cheesecloth or something mesh-y like- and screw on band... Decorate jar or leave as is..

~plug in scents

~Battery operated spray deodorizers- clean linen scent is my favorite..

~downy dryer sheets, but dont leave them directly on fabrics - they may stain your fabrics.. I re-use the ones that have already gone thru the dryer and put them in the drawers and closet.. they still have a lil scent left on them.. ..
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Old 08-30-2012, 04:10 PM
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I use fresh beads in my wash and my fabrics are in plastic boxes. I also have a Fabreeze air freshened (the pull out kind that does not use power and lasts about a month. When I vacuum I empty a small sachet of potpourri meant for drawers or closets in my vacuum bag. It makes the room smell divine.
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Old 08-30-2012, 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Neesie View Post
You can also get some nice smelling bars of soap, to tuck here and there. Just open the box, then place it among your fabric (this keeps the soap off of the fabric). We used to do this, with suitcases.
That's what I use, too. I put them in my bureau drawers, too. I leave the soap in the wrappers....works great.
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Old 08-30-2012, 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by luvTooQuilt View Post
~Baking soda in a canning jar- omit lid cover with cheesecloth or something mesh-y like- and screw on band... Decorate jar or leave as is.........
I'm sensitive to scented products, so I'm going to try this. Baking soda is cheap and works in my frig and freezer. Thanks for the tip.
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Old 08-30-2012, 04:26 PM
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Febreze. It does not add a smell, it clears away unpleasant ones. There are different kinds now, so go with the one that just leaves fresh air fragrance. Also, find out if moisture is the culprit somehow. Is there dampness from the basement or foundation?
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Old 08-30-2012, 04:34 PM
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I usually use baking soda but lately have tried the scented beads... either works well.
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Old 08-30-2012, 04:39 PM
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You don't say whether your fabrics are stored out in the open or enclosed in drawers/boxes/bins. If there is inadequate air circulation, that may be what's causing the odor you smell. I'd be looking for the cause of the problem, not just a cover-up scent to use. Whatever you decide, keep those cedar balls out of direct contact with your fabrics. They'll discolor it.
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