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My son has received some great hand-me-downs from a friend, but they have been washed in scented laundry detergent. He has allergies and asthma, so I always use unscented detergent and fabric softener. I have tried washing them in hot water with baking soda and my own detergent, but the smell is still very strong. How can I remove the detergent smell from the clothes?
Target makes a product called "Smell Remover" you might try it.
I along with the other members agree that you should wash the clothes with a cup of vinegar. Another solution is to hang the clothes outside for a few hours and let the sun remove the odors for you.
Try "Odor Disposers" It's a shampoo intended to remove the odor from dogs! Pretty appropriate, actually. I soaked cotton shirts in it and then tossed them in the regular laundry. No smell!
Hang clothing outdoors for a few days to a couple of weeks. Then use the steam setting on your washer or dryer if you have one, or possibly use a portable steamer on the clothing.
How do you get strong perfume smells out of clothing?
By Bonnie
I haven't had a problem with perfume smells,
but I once had a sweater with strong mothball
scent. I tried Fabreeze, all of the "do it
I was going to recommend hanging outside, also. Another good way is sprinkle baking soda all over the garment. Put it in a plastic bag for a few days then shake out the baking soda. It should absorb the odors. - Susan
Place the article of clothing in a bag and place 1 lb of zeolite in a breathable bag in with it. The zeolite will absorb the odors
How do I remove perfume smell from clothes?
By Dale
Hello, I have heard that full sugar Cola works to remove smoke smells from clothes and even stinky socks! It may well work on perfumed fabric.
Good luck, I hope this helps.
Monique :)
When I buy clothes from consignment shops they always have a "perfume" smell. I am allergic and have trouble getting this odor out of the clothes yet love the discounted prices.
By C Marie
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
I bought a cotton shirt from a thrift store. I can't get rid of the previous owner's nasty perfume smell, even after multiple washings. I have been hand-washing it so tips on that angle are appreciated.
SLK from Colorado
I've used Febreeze to get out all kinds of smells from clothing. I've even sprayed it on dry clean only clothing, and it really works! The only thing I haven't tried is something silk, so you might use caution with that. Just put it on a hanger, spritz both sides and let dry. It the perfume is still there, turn it inside out and spray it that way.
Good luck! (12/06/2004)
By Christine
Water washing is the best way to get out smells. Dry cleaning does not eliminate odors. We used Febreze at the plant where I worked, and it was even good for body-odor left in sweaters that had been dry cleaned. Toss sweaters in the dryer, spray Febreze into the drum and turn on dryer for just a few minutes. (12/06/2004)
By dracnalb
Being chemically sensitive, I wouldn't spray anything with Febreeze. To get odors out of used clothing I use baking soda and/or vinegar. Sometimes direct sunshine will help. (12/08/2004)
By Jacqui
There is a product called SCENTS-AWAY. Get it at sporting goods (Wal-mart has it) Its for hunters to get the human smell off there clothing so that the Deer can't smell them.
I also use 1 TBSP mixed with water in spray bottle to get odors out of carpet and furniture, I use it as if it was Fabreez, and there is no perfume in for those of us that can't take the smell of Fabreez. My bottle cost $5.00 4 yrs. ago and you can only buy it in hunting season in most places. (12/10/2004)
By shirli
I would just hang the clothes up somewhere out of the way, until the smell is gone from them. (12/31/2004)
By Jeanette
Use white vinegar in your washing machine. About a cup along with your regular detergent, it takes odors out of clothing. (09/09/2005)
By Susan
My sister often "inherits" clothes from her perfume loving neighbor and her way of dealing with the smell is to put the clothes in an open area of her laundry room for several weeks to months, and the smell eventually dissipates. Good luck!
Also, if the item needs to be hand-washed, why not try it on the gentle cycle in the washer? My washer has a hand-wash/delicate cycle and it works very gently. Adding 1/2 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle (in place of fabric softener) not only helps remove odors, but also irritants in your clothing. Plus, vinegar is much less expensive than fabric softener with the same properties. (09/09/2005)
By Sara C
I am a chemically sensitive person and it seems like the whole world thinks Fabreeze is God's gift to the stinky world. I don't know if you've noticed, but Fabreeze has a fragrance. Getting rid of one fragrance by putting another over it is hardly a solution. Try to think less of smell (which is a huge issue) and more of the chemicals that create that smell. Get rid of the chemicals by cleaning with something rather than ADDING more chemicals to the mix.
If something smells really bad to me (fragrances of any kind) they make me sick. I just returned from my dentist who obviously sprays his chair with Fabreeze and his office has some plug in fragrance things as well. I washed my clothes six times and the smell just actually got stronger. I'm trying to get it off my car seats as we speak.
My solution which I hope will work: Lightly wet the seats with a wet paper towel and my shampoo and, I've found this to be a great and natural "fragrance." Get a big pack of Juicy Fruit or Double-mint gum. Get two or three. Take all the gum out but you don't have to unwrap the sticks. Spread a few packs out all over the place. Everything smells just like Juicy Fruit or Double-mint. The smell is very strong, non chemical, and a heck of lot better than any perfume. Lasts a week or so and by that time the other smell is usually gone.
Don't chew it. (02/01/2006)
By Diane
By Lewissan
Is there anyway of getting a strong perfume smell out of clothes? A friend who has gone away for six months gave me some clothes. However, whatever perfume she used is clinging strongly to the garments.
I bought a cotton shirt from a thrift store. I can't get rid of the previous owner's nasty perfume smell, even after multiple washings.
