Removing Smoke Smell from Clothing

Vinegar doesn't work as well as people say it does, but it helps. I used Odo-Ban on my daughter's clothing (you can use that stuff on EVERYTHING!) It's biodegradeable and safe to use around animals and children. It can be bought at some hardware stores and Sams Club. I haven't seen it anywhere else, but it makes everything smell fresh and clean. Just don't use it on windows, it leaves a slight film behind that shows all kinds of fingerprints!!!

The vinegar is a great suggestion, also the only detergent I have found that really takes out tough odors is Arm & Hammer. So you might follow the vinegar with the A & H and your favorite softener.

Good Luck and Congratulations on your Pregnancy.

Hopefully some of these hints work!! Otherwise I would say to air everything out for a long time and hope the smoke smell goes away. Good luck! (And congrats!!) :)

Hi, I used to down a clothing consignment shop and ran across this problem often! None of the spays (even febreeze) or fab softeners work but this does... soak your clothing in luke warm water and about 1cup of white vineger for several hours then rinse and rewash (i would wash twice, or at least rinse twice) to remove the vineger smell. Good luck.

Hang the clothes outside on the line. Or use tide febreze.

ODORZOUT! The Queen of Clean recommends this product. Check out www.88stink.com They have all kinds of products to get out odors and one of them is a laundry additive. I haven't personally tried it, but so far, everything the Queen has recommended that I have tried has worked. Good luck and of course vinegar like others have suggested usually works too. I always add a cup to my laundry and it seems fresher.

I used to smoke, so I know how the smell hangs in EVERYTHING. I finally bought an air purifier and, my God, it works wonders. I went out with a friend for a few hours one day, and just being in her car made my clothes smell terrible. Two hours in front of the purifier and you'd never have known I was in a smoky car. If it's in your budget, I'd definitely check it out.

I would use some fabric softner, along with frangranced detergent, then dry then with fabric sheets....my clothes always smell fresh and clean, actually the whole basement does on laundry day some really potent stuff!!
Good Luck

I have this issue a lot, because my parents/siblings smoke. So after visiting them we all smell like it. I had to buy TIDE detergent. I get the purple Febreez Freshness kind. And I put in liquid Downy of the same sent. Then I use a Bounce fabric sheet (same scent) in the dryer. It is usually gone by then. But sometimes I have had to use Febreze spray as well. (By the way, all of these perfumes and dyes won't be good for your babie's skin. You might want to rewash them in Dreft/unscented after the smell is gone, to remove the chemicals.) Is the smell really strong still, or is it now just a faint smell? When are you due? If you just let them sit out for a month or two (on the floor or a bed where a lot of fresh air will get to them, not in a closet or dresser) the smell will eventually go away on it's own.

I hope this helps. I know your disgust and frustration!

Congrats on the babies!

A.

There is a fabric softener out there that is very common with hispanics and I love it because it's so strong. It's called Suavitel you can find it anywhere like walmart etc. Instead of using the normal one capful use two capfuls. It should take the smoke smell out. Otherwise I've taken a spray bottle and used a 50/50 concentration of suavitel and hot water and made my own febreeze which I think worked better and stronger.

I've always used Febreeze on smoke odors and it works great.

Along with the other suggestion I would add this.....There is a product out there (I think Febreeze makes it) that is supposed to get rid of odors. It is something that you add to the wash with the detergent. I don't remember what it's called (sorry) but I have used it and it does an OK job. I actually have a bag of free clothes that has been sitting in the laundry room until I pick up another bottle of it myself. I found it at my local Pick N Save grocery store in the laundry aisle.

yep...vinegar...I agree too, only I use it a little differently than the others, I just put about a cup into the wash with the detergent, and not only does it help with the smell, but it acts a little bit like a softener too, so you can use less liquid or sheets. (although this time of year I wouldnt bank on anything!!)

I once received a beatifully knit baby blanket as a gift from a heavy smoker. My suggestion is to try washing with vinegar (about a cup per load) or wash with Febreze. I had to wash the blanket about a dozen times by hand to get the smell out. Good luck!

Try soaking them for a day in Baby Oxi clean. You may want to repeat ir for two days if it is really bad. Or you could try this stuff I get at Sams Club called Odor Ban

Try this, it works wonders!!:

Soak the clothes in Tri-Enzyme for however 5min-to however long depending on how bad it's set.. with cold-lukewarm water for baby clothes.

Then to be extra sure the smell is out, you can soak them overnight with a scoop of All-Fabric bleach just to be sure.

Then wash it with SA8 laundry detergent. (On warm)

I'm going to sound like a salesperson here.. but these products really do wonders. We had pillowcases that were discolored from "bodysoil" and we tried EVERYTHING to get it out with no luck. Finally I tried doing the above method.. and they are like new again! (They were red checked against a white background.. and it worked without bleeding the colors).

If you are interested in purchasing them, contact me and I can help you out. You can't find them in a store. It's kind of like Mary Kay.. you have to know someone who sells it. And I believe in the products so much that I do that as well.

____@____.com

C. Bolan

Vinager! It seems to get any bad smell out so it should work for smoke. I soak the clothes in vinager and water- I usually use the soak and prewash cycle on my machine. Then wash once or twice (you may have to do twice to get the vinager smell out) with detergent and they should come out smelling fine.