i have a coat, i got it from my grandma after she passed away. its in perfect condition except for the fact that it smells like its been in a closet for 100 years. not musty or mildewy, just like my grandmas coat closet. (kinda an old cardboard with a touch of granny perfumes mixed for several years kind of smell)
the coat is cean otherwise. how can i get the smell out without taking it to a dry cleaners to fill it with chemicals? and what is safe to use on a dry clean only coat thats made out of polyester and acrylic? we prefer to be more natural so anything not using chemicals would be appreciated
(i have not even tried anything yet want ideas first).
ETA: i would prefer it to be a free option too
i will seal it in a bag with a few dryer sheets to start then when its not snow, sleet, raining or 3 degrees i will give it some outside time to air out.
thank you for all the great suggestions
I would hang it outside on the clothesline for a couple of days in the winter. That usually freshens things up. If that doesn't work there are environmentally friendly dry cleaners.
ETA: Snow and below freezing temps are the best time to air it out.
You can purchase a bag and sheets of stuff to dry clean garments at home.
You could also put it in the dryer with a dryer sheet and a slightly damp wash cloth and turn it on timed dry, very low heat, for about 15-20 minutes. This will fluff the fibers and the scent of your dryer sheet will help mask the odors. The damp wash cloth will help keep static down and it will help the fragrance get deeper into the fibers.
I've used the bag and sheet thing in the dryer as suggested below - but that's still chemicals so I think you should avoid it. If it's a fabric that can get wet (vs., say, suede which of course cannot), I think you can use the super delicate cycle on the washer and a very mild organic soap, lighter-than-usual concentration. We have an organic dry cleaner near us - I'm not sure there is just one type available (such as the Green Earth" mentioned below). I don't think ours is part of that franchise or whatever it is. Not saying anything against it, just that there may be more than one.
I would think a good air drying would be good too - tough in Illinois in the winter, I know. Definitely do not let it dry in the basement though unless you have a finished and dehumidified one - otherwise it will pick up new odors!
I also think baking soda cures a lot of ills - try it or white vinegar in the rinse water.
Maybe you can seal it in a garment bag with some baking soda for a few days.
It probably just needs to be aired out really well.
I have always washed all my dry clean only stuff on delicate cycle never had any problems or maybe just hand wash it in cold water and hang dry to be extra cautious:)
If you can find a nice sunny day, hang it outside in the sun all day (the sun can be a great deodorizer). You also might be able to find an ozone spay (it's O3 just like the ozone layer, good for smoky smells). If you want to seal it up with something that will pull odors out, I would use activated charcoal, crumpled newspapers might also work.
By our house is a non-toxic earth friendly dry cleaners. Look for a place like this!
Look up Green Earth Cleaning and see if there is a dry cleaner close to you that uses it. I have used it before and it was great, and no awful Chemical smell.
What is GreenEarth?
The GreenEarth Cleaning process uses liquid silicone in place of petrochemicals. Essentially liquified sand, silicone is non-hazardous and non-toxic to the environment. When released to the environment, it safely breaks down into the three natural elements it is made from: sand (SiO2) and trace amounts of water and carbon dioxide. Which means it is safe for the air, water and soil.
GreenEarth is safe for people too. If you wanted to, you could safely rub it on your skin. In fact you probably already do. Liquid silicone is the base ingredient in many everyday shampoos, conditioners and lotions.
Because clothes cleaned the GreenEarth way aren’t bathed in perc or other petrochemical solvents, they come back fresh and clean without unpleasant “dry cleaning” odor. GreenEarth is also very gentle on clothes. You can actually see and feel the difference it makes. Colors don’t fade and whites don’t gray or yellow the way they do in traditional dry cleaning, even after repeated cleaning. Everything feels better too. Fabrics are smooth and silky, and sweaters feel soft and supple again.
I would try just airing it out for a while and see if that helps. Maybe put some dryer sheets in the arms, pockets, etc.. The Mrs. Meyers brand is natural and has a nice lavender scent.
We have a product that is non-chemical (I think it's biodegradable, and all that) for my kids' hockey equipment that naturally reduces odors. There is no smell to it. I can't find the bottle or I'd give you the name, but it works. It takes the stink away. So I am guessing it could take your closet smell away too. I generally spritz it on and leave to air dry.
I am thinking maybe check a sporting goods store or Google that type of product?
This kind of product will remove the smell from dogs, etc. from cars - a friend of mine uses hers for that. If I find it, I'll update with name but it was just from our local sports store probably in hockey section. Good luck :)
How about Febreze? I think that works really well. And you can use it for other things, not just the coat. (Maybe a neighbor has some you can borrow?)
we've got an organic dry cleaner nearby. super expensive, though.
sometimes clothes just need some sunlight. can you hang it outside in a nice fresh breeze for a while? i'm guessing the 'fresh' in illinois might be more like 'freezing' right now.........
with smelly things that i can't air-freshen i'll put them in a bag or big rubbermaid container with a ton of fresh aromatic herbs for a while. for example, after i get my horse blankets cleaned they spend the summer in rubbermaid tubs with mint, sage, rosemary and lavender.
but then we're back to the problem of the season. not a ton of fresh herbs out there right now.
you could always just do the bag/tub with baking soda and shake the bejeezies out of it afterwards.
khairete
S.
