Getting Rid of Smell in Clothes!

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

This is the first time something I've ordered from Louis that has that horrible smell in it.

I didn't even realize it had the smell (wool jacket) in it (it was still in the pastic wrapper.

I'd thrown it over in a pile of clothes with the wrapper still on it.

I pulled off the layers of clothes in the pile and one by one that horrible smell kept getting stronger.

Finally, I got to the wool jacket from Louis. I'd just tossed it in the pile and threw more clothes on top.

Now all of the clothes smell terrible. I've always been told it was Formalydyde by the ladies who worked at Joann Fabric store.

They'd tell me they'd feel dizzy working around the material that had the strong smell.

Well, here's one explanation. I've tried over and over to get the smell off of this coat of his that I love so much.

Vinegar doesn't do it. Airing it out doesn't do it. Now all of the clothes on top and under this garmet have that terrible smell.

I won't buy my daughter's dog toys anymore because they're all made in China.

Yet in this country more and more people are coming down with various cancers. All we hear about is we have to do more to help the environment but no one says a word about how our medicine and everything is made in China. China is one of the largest contributors of poluting the environment there is.

I found this on the internet:https://www.home-ec101.com/formaldehyde-its-not-just-for-embalming-anymore/

The smell you are referring to is most likely formaldehyde. I used to work for Old Navy and I’d come home with that smell all over me. My dad would tease me about smelling like a mortician, because that’s the chemical that is most often used in embalming. In clothing manufacturing formaldehyde is used because, in theory, when combined with urea (Yes! That’s pee! Ewwww!) it makes the clothing more wrinkle resistant, stain resistant, and is a disinfectant (what self respecting germ could survive that?). For you chemistry nerds out there, here’s a wikipedia article on formaldehyde.

So, what’s the best way to get rid of the smell? Borax and/or baking soda. When I worked at Old Navy, I would use baking soda to wash my hands when I got home. It usually worked.

In your case, I’d probably use a cup of baking soda per load of new clothing. It may take several washings as some companies are now using even stronger disinfectants and even pesticides to protect the clothing during clothing is storage.

But my point is not everything can be washed.....(like this jacket).

I hate to return it like I've done so many other things.

I remember once I spilt an entire bottle of water..just water..on my bed. After awhile the entire mattress area where I'd spilt the water started smelling like that terrible smell in the clothes.

That's when I bought a new sleep number bed.

hopi · ‎03-09-2010

I get rid of the smell by sending it back and marking it defective.

Those chemicals have to be so toxic to smell that bad.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

To get rid of smells like that, the clothing needs to be hung outside in the air, a sheltered spot on a back porch, in the garage, or in a storage building for at least a week.

SandySparkles · ‎06-13-2010

I've had to return an item from another network because of a strong chemical odor. I checked reviews and saw many similar complaints. Airing it out for a few days, helped some, but the strong scent remained. I didn't even bother washing it, packed it up, and sent it back. A lady at my doctor's office with a beautiful jacket sat next to me, and it wreaked of chemical. Hopefully, a cost effective way to preserve clothing during transport, prevent wrinkles etc, without the use of potentially toxic chemicals will be discovered soon. Until then...😐

~~~All we need is LOVE💖

fthunt · ‎12-24-2010

@RedTop Air ain't the answer.................

Two years ago bought a jean jacket from L L Bean and it stunk. Washed it - washed it again - and again.

This was Fall time so draped it over porch chair to 'air on screen porch'. Zero temps and all - Spring it still had that terrible smell. Threw it in the trash. Out $70.00

piperbay · ‎04-03-2013

I can't even walk into an Old Navy store because that formaldehyde smell is so strong.

I have tried steaming clothes after I have washed them to get the smells out of clothes.

I have also tried adding a few drops of tea tree oil and even oil of oregano to the wash to get smells out.

If I buy jeans from a discount store, like Ross, I smell them first to see how strong that "made in China" scent is, even at the risk of looking silly.

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

Take it to the cleaners. If they can't fix it send it back

shoekitty · ‎03-10-2010

I sent my goodSiberian down comforter to cleaners. It came back with this nauseating smell. Wecouldn't keep it in same room with us. The odor permeated any room it was in. We took it outside everyday for 2 weeks to air out on line. We dried in dryer fluff. Nothing, smell lingered. Took back to cleaners. We had to tie it in trash bag so smellwouldn't waft out. Guy at cleaners smelled it right away. He said give him 3 weeks. I came back 3 weeks and he was prepared to buy it from me. He said he called chemical company that they used. He tried every method to remove odor they had on a check list. They came to conclusion the chemical was indelibly etched into fabric. A chemical reaction. Cleaners had to pay me 390 for comforter.

this was a cleaners from old school I had been going to for 22 years. I returned a few times after, but noticed it was hit or miss with that odor. In that case it was removed by airing. Cleaners told me because of new laws and standards with using toxic chemicals in cleaning, they were replaced by chemicals that didnt work as well, or had masking scents to cover scents cleaners leave

“sometimes you have to bite your upper lip and put sunglasses on”….Bob Dylan

willomenia · ‎07-31-2011

Maybe putting baking soda on it, leave for a week, and brush off. I wash with baking soda in washing machine for real stinky clothes, and it works. Since you can't wash, id just skrinkle some on, heavy sprinke everywhere, might be worth a try