Suggestion Box

[dotsam]

Does anyone know how to eliminate the toxic smell of formaldehyde in fabric?  I just received a beautiful quilt by Kim Gravel (made in China).  It smells terrible although it is beautiful.  I really want to keep it and need to know if anyone else dealt with this issue.

I understand it is used to eliminate wrinkles according to Google. 

[SilleeMee]

Hang it outside on a clothesline you have one. Hang it out in a well-ventilated area for a day or two. Do not put it in a hot dryer b/c that will only 'set in' the formaldehyde even longer. Just launder and hang dry.

[Shelbelle]

I would agree, wash in cold water with a good smelling detergent, then hang outside to dry, a good sunny day with a breeze is good. You may have to hang it outside after it dries for a few days too, always a clear day with a breeze is best

[Estellee]

I wish I knew, I purchased a top from Macy's once and could never get the smell out no matter what I tried. @Shelbelle 

[loriqvc]

@dotsam - I am extremely sensitive to chemical and perfume odors, and there have been times when I have ended up returning items because the odors simply would not dissipate, so I feel your pain!

If you are confident that you will keep the quilt and are comfortable washing it, do so using the hottest temperature possible (check the care label) and add one cup of plain white vinegar during the rinse cycle—and don't use any fabric softeners, as they can help odors set into the fabric.

If you want to try to confirm that the odor can be eliminated before deciding to keep the quilt, follow the advice given above and hang it outside in the sunlight for a whole day (bring it in at night; sunlight and UV light are what you need to neutralize the odor). You could also try lightly spraying it with Febreze or a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water, which will start neutralizing the odor but not linger. There are also specific products on the market that can be used to treat these odors, but I haven't tried any of them since there's a chance they will also have unwelcome odors.

I hope you can find a way to eliminate the odor and keep your quilt! Good luck...

[UpNorthGorgy]

I used to avoid Black denim as could never get rid of a strong smell. Dye,chemicals? I had a Black DG jacket and jeans that had to be discarded. It was 10 years ago now.  

I hope you find a solution as so disppointing!

[jackthebear]

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@loriqvc wrote:

@dotsam - I am extremely sensitive to chemical and perfume odors, and there have been times when I have ended up returning items because the odors simply would not dissipate, so I feel your pain!

If you are confident that you will keep the quilt and are comfortable washing it, do so using the hottest temperature possible (check the care label) and add one cup of plain white vinegar during the rinse cycle—and don't use any fabric softeners, as they can help odors set into the fabric.

If you want to try to confirm that the odor can be eliminated before deciding to keep the quilt, follow the advice given above and hang it outside in the sunlight for a whole day (bring it in at night; sunlight and UV light are what you need to neutralize the odor). You could also try lightly spraying it with Febreze or a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water, which will start neutralizing the odor but not linger. There are also specific products on the market that can be used to treat these odors, but I haven't tried any of them since there's a chance they will also have unwelcome odors.

I hope you can find a way to eliminate the odor and keep your quilt! Good luck...

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don't use Febreeze once that smell gets in the fabric impossible to remove

[Bhvbum]

Have you called customer service? If I received something from Kim Gravel that smelled so bad I couldn't use it, I would call customer service for a replacement.  They need to know so they can pass that information to Gravel's operation.  

I have bought many things from Kim Gravel's collections and also from QVC in general, I have never received anything that smelled so badly of chemicals I couldn't use it.  If it is as bad as you say they need to know.

[Kachina624]

It may be the odor that is often in clothing shipped in container that are sprayed with insecticide.  I've used Don Aslett's X-O (Amazon) to get the odor out.  There's a new deodorant laundry product called "Poopff" that I'll try next time.  I spray lightly, let it dry, then spray again.  When it dries, I launder it with detergent.  Not a hint of odor.

I've found air out and just washing doesn't do a darn thing.

[loriqvc]

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@jackthebear wrote:

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@loriqvc wrote:

@dotsam - I am extremely sensitive to chemical and perfume odors, and there have been times when I have ended up returning items because the odors simply would not dissipate, so I feel your pain!

If you are confident that you will keep the quilt and are comfortable washing it, do so using the hottest temperature possible (check the care label) and add one cup of plain white vinegar during the rinse cycle—and don't use any fabric softeners, as they can help odors set into the fabric.

If you want to try to confirm that the odor can be eliminated before deciding to keep the quilt, follow the advice given above and hang it outside in the sunlight for a whole day (bring it in at night; sunlight and UV light are what you need to neutralize the odor). You could also try lightly spraying it with Febreze or a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water, which will start neutralizing the odor but not linger. There are also specific products on the market that can be used to treat these odors, but I haven't tried any of them since there's a chance they will also have unwelcome odors.

I hope you can find a way to eliminate the odor and keep your quilt! Good luck...

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don't use Febreeze once that smell gets in the fabric impossible to remove

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@jackthebear - I have not found that to be the case when using Febreze; it may not completely eliminate an odor, but once the spray dries, its odor lessens considerably, and I have never smelled it after washing fabric it was used on.