I have a pair of comfy fleece pants that I dearly love but like most fleece fabric they collect pet hair, lint and get ugly balls on them. They looked so bad I was about to throw them away when I came up with a solution. I take a regular bristle hair brush and lay the pants flat then just brush them one way, then the other.
Make sure the brush is an old fashioned (plastic) bristle brush, and not one of the newer metal or hard plastic styling brushes.
By Cyinda
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Does anyone know how to get urine smells out of fleece? My son isn't night-time potty trained yet, and sometimes his diaper leaks. His fleece sleepwear and fleece blanket are both stinky even after having been washed twice. I've tried (one at a time, not all at once!) Oxyclean, baking soda, regular bleach (just a tiny bit since I don't want to ruin the colors of the fleece), and vinegar along with the usual laundry detergent.
We're allergic to the perfumes in the anti-static rinses like Bounce, so that's a no go; besides, I want to REMOVE the pee smell, not mask it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!I know that if you wash clothes with real vanilla it will remove smoke odors (like from a house fire) It might be worth a shot. You have to use the real stuff not the imitation extract. I would probably use anywhere from 1/4 to a full cup depending on the size of the wash load.
Also, I believe febreeze makes a "Free" formula. You may try a bit in your wash.
Good luck!
I suggest trying Borax added with your laundry detergent. Good luck! Oh, and is there anyway you dry the items outdoors?
I've posted this before regarding other questions to do with odors, but since I really believe in it, I'll post it again. I'm an Independent Watkins Associate (i.e. vanilla, spices, extract, liniments, salves, household cleaners, etc.), and we carry an absolutely great product called Odor Zap. It does not mask odors, it completely neutralizes odors through oxidation, actually chemically taking the odor-causing chemicals away. Odor Zap may be sprayed onto surfaces (i.e. carpets, upholster), put in mopping solutions, humidifiers, vaporizers, etc., and may be added to laundry loads.
If you would like me to send you a catalog, just e-mail me and request one and I'll be happy to get one off to you.
Trudy Powell
Independent Watkins Associate
trudypowell@sbcglobal.net
www.mo3bk.com
Most fleece fabrics won't have the colour effected by bleach....also you have to make sure you use hot water.
Try adding a cup of white distilled vinegar in your final rinse water. Not only does it help eliminate odors, it is anti-bacterial, and helps remove soap residue. There will be no vinegar smell.
Soak overnight in a pretty strong vinegar solution. This won't harm the fabric or color. Drain in the AM and then wash as usual with laundry soap.
If that doesn't work try an enzyme cleaner like Natur's Miracle found in Pet stores.
Try using spreading shaving crem over the area and let sit for few hours, then wash as usual. Another suggestion is to add 1/2 cup of Mr. Clean or similiar type product along with your detergent when washing the articles. Rinse a second time for best results
I would say soak the items in baking soda over night then give them a good wash with hot water and then hang them outside to dry.
Hugs, Zissy
I also had the same problem with both of my sons too, I wash the everyting in as hot as water as I can,
with bleach and soap, then I hang everything out to air dry,
I've had luck washing items with liquid Lysol - just that. Then I wash them a second time with detergent and you could add vinegar to the rinse. I always wash in cold water.
Try Arm & Hammer's Super Washing Soda. It is a laundry booster in addition to absorbing odors. Good luck!
Pet Stain & Oder Remover will remove all traces of urine from any fabric or carpeting. There are many different brands, but they all work pretty much the same.
2 suggestions-Oust spray for rooms-I have an incontinent dog and this works quickly and completely on both urine and stool odors. WalMart $3.47 unscented.
VINEGAR!!!!
Dilute 1/2 cup of white vinegar with enough warm water to make 4 cups vinegar water.
You can double if necessary.
Just throughly wet his sleeper and blanket in vinegar water and I promise no more odor!!
Then wash as you normally would.
Use this to deodorize his matress too if it needs it.
Much safer than using harsh chemicals in his clothing and bedding.
i find that with my two young girls, the best thing for any stain/odor removal is to add borax to the wash -- and if the smell is really strong, let his jammies and blanket soak in the washing machine with the borax and laundry soap added for a half-hour or so before running the cycle.
has always worked for me! good luck!
Hi I have had this problem with cat urine smell and I believe that it will work here. Use Murphy's Oil Soap with your regular laundry detergent and it will remove the smell and it doesn't harm the colors or the fabric. I know because my cat wet on a pile of my dirty laundry and I used the oil soap and the smell went away. Hope this helps
Have you tried Borax? I have a cat that has a problem and misses the litterbox often. I put 1/3 cup Borateem in a regular warm wash along with the usual detergent and there is never any smell. Borax is inexpensive. A box last a few months.
The only suggestion I have is to use Dreft Laundry Detergent which is especially formulated to remove the urine smell since it was developed to wash diapers.I have used it for years to rid the carpet of pet odors and stains. Long before the new products were on the market.
I bought a fleece sweat suit and first time I washed it balled up and has lint all over it. I followed the washing instructions and that is what happened. I have used all kinds of lint brushes and nothing has worked. Any suggestions please to how I can get all the little lint balls off?
going over it lightly w/ a arazor works pretty well. just remember to be light handed, you don't want to knick the fabric
Sometimes going over the surface with a rubber glove will pick up lint and pet fur.
Is it made with acrylic fibers? Don't ever buy anything made with acrylic - they are the worst for fuzz balling up!
thank you for the suggestions
If any other please i would appreciate
Just tried one of the suggestions for this same problem - I washed a pair of black pajamas and got so much lint. I rewashed several times, then got this wonderful suggestion.
Wash item in water and white vinigar - worked like a charm.
I don't know if it would work on fleece, but when I was young my husband's police uniform pants would get pills in the front across the stomach area and I went over them lightly with sandpaper. I would dig around in his shop equipment and find a piece of the sandpaper whenever I needed a new piece. One piece would work for several times.
I'm able to avoid this problem by not washing fleece with towels or denim. The lint from the towels is guaranteed to ball up on the fleece. If the lint balls are really stuck to the shirt, you'll probably need to use a razor.
I have terrible trouble washing anything polar fleece. It always comes out with fluff which a clothes brush does little to fix. Any tips?
Camille from Canberra
Turn garment inside out before washing in warm water. Don't use the dryer; hang to dry on line.
All I have read recommends washing in COLD water.
You think you have problems - try living with a Golden Retriever.
Yes, do as Edie says, use cold water, wash garments inside out, and hang to dry. Try using a vinegar rinse in your wash to cut down on lint When buying new fleece items in the future, look for the micro-fleece. It stays nicer longer and doesn't attract and hang onto nearly the amount of lint, dog hair, etc.
Handwash it!
I used way too much soap powder to clean my fleece. I was trying to wick it for my guinea pigs. I realize now that I must break down the fleece by stripping it. Will my fleece come back? Or is it too late? I pretty much used an entire tub of OxiClean on my fleece and now I'm soaking it in distilled white vinegar to break down the soap residue. What should I do?
Thank you!
I am not clear on your question so if this is not what you are looking for, I apologize. Rinses with vinegar and cold water in the washer with an extra spin and rinse should get it out. It may take several times. The heavy washing can ruin the fleece which would render it unusable. Please make sure you get a clear rinse before you let any animals near it as chewing or licking residue can be dangerous. Best of luck with this. Post back how it goes. Thanks!
You may have to wash it many times to get rid of the soap powder.
Next time you have to wash it, try using liquid detergent instead of powder. Put the detergent in when the washer is filling up.
How do I remove spider cobweb strands from my fleece top? I went crawling in the attic and got cobwebs all over my back. I have tried sellotape (Scotch tape), and a lint roller. That doesn't lift it at all. I tried washing it off, it's still there!
By Jess
I need help with this, too! My husband has two pairs of fleece pants that are covered with spider webs. Tried rubbing them out and washed them but they are still there. Any ideas?
I used a small amount of Calgon Water Softener on a damp microfiber cloth. Then wiped off most of the webs on a fabric chair that had been stored in a garage.
I have a heated polar fleece blanket. It plugs into cigarette lighter. How can I wash this? Is it safe to wash in the washer and then dry in the dryer or do I line dry?
I have a similar product. The instructions I received were: DO NOT use commercial washers OR dryers. IF your washer has a gentle cycle use it with cool water. If there is no gentle cycle it is advised to handwash in cool water. Never twist and NEVER run through a wringer. Let it soak for 10 minutes before letting the washer run its cycle. It is much preferred to line dry it but if you must use a dryer........dry on low heat for shortest period of time.
