25 answers

Scented Clothes

I have some kids clothes that were passed down to my daughter by a friend. My friend uses scented laundry soap, and even after washing and drying, the clothes still smell like perfume. We are a strictly "un-scented" house-hold because I am allergic to perfumes of all sorts. (Soap, candles, laundry soap, make-up all have to be un-scented.)

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could get the perfumed-soap scent out of these clothes?

What can I do next?

Featured Answers

I would try baking soda/white vinegar HOT water soak then hang or lay to dry in the sun. The sun can work miracles sometimes.
L.

Ammonia is harsh and caustic. It does work well, but really bad stuff. I would go with the other suggestions of white vinegar (about a cup) and baking soda (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup). They are friendly and great for sensitive people. Good luck!

I know others have said use white vinagar and baking soda but I use them both at the same time in every load of towels to get rid of any potential smells. Good luck!

More Answers

Have you tried Charlie's laundry soap? Use some in an empty washing machine to get any residue from the clothes off the machine first - then try a wash or two with Charlie's.
Good Luck!

Hi K.,
I have had this some issue so many times! We are also a fragrance-free household. I find that a long soak in a strong vinegar solution can help. I often have to do this multiple times,. alternated with washing A wash with baking soda is good. I often find that hanging things outside for a few days really helps. I have a clothesline for just this purpose. In my experience, it can take a while to get the smell out, but it eventually works.

Good Luck, and feel free to contact me if you have any further questions!
E. Bender, NC, CHN
www.nutritionforthewholefamily.com

What about adding vinegar to the wash or rinse cycle? It removes stinky smells, so maybe it would be effective on perfumey smells. Let me know if it works. Or, will unscented Oxyclean work? I use it in every load, for stains, but I'm pretty sure it freshens clothes, too.

We had a friend do that too. It was so perfumed that I coughed when I breathed in. A few washing did the trick for us. Eventually the smell will come out. If your daughter isn't allergic to it, let her play outside in them to take the smell out. This helped for us.

Hi K.

I have the same thing I hate scents. I'm only mildly allergic. I would try and wash them with vinegar. Put a cup of distilled vinegar in the rinse cycle. The other option is to have them out on a sunny day but not sure how many of those we will have right now and let the sun get the scents out.

Good luck

K.

Soak in Vinegar or throw some into the rinse cycle.

K.,

Have you tried washing the clothes with white vinegar? I spilled perfume on a favorite blouse, and that took it out. Just add a cup to the water before you put your clothes in, let the washer get about half full before you start adding clothes, and then was as normal. Your laundry should be scent-free when you are done.

K. D.

Hi K.,
The only thing I can think of is soaking them in the washer with baking soda. I add it to my hubby's work clothes and it neutralizes them smell.
Sincerely,
L.

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