How To Remove The Second-hand Smell From Clothes, How Can It Be Removed From Clothes, Washing Methods

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

5 ways to remove unpleasant odors from second-hand clothes

Everyone who has ever bought clothes or shoes in a second-hand shop has come across a specific unpleasant odor. Jeans, sweaters, fur coats and bags are saturated with such "aroma", which discourages many even the slightest desire to visit such stores. And in vain, since there are effective methods to remove the "second-hand" smell from any product.

Content

• 1 The cause of an unpleasant odor on second-hand clothes and its effect on the human body

• 2 How to remove the smell from second-hand clothes

  • 2.1 How to remove odor from fabric clothing (jeans, sweaters, T-shirts, trousers, skirts, outerwear)

    • 2.1.1 Soaking clothes in a solution of ammonia
    • 2.1.2 Soaking in a solution of salt and vinegar
    • 2.1.3 Steam ironing
    • 2.1.4 Spraying with ammonia solution
    • 2.1.5 Essential oils
    • 2.1.6 Long-term ventilation in the open air
    • 2.1.7 Freezing
    • 2.1.8 Using natural flavors

  • 2.2 How to remove unpleasant odors from leather and fur clothing

    • 2.2.1 How to remove the unpleasant second-hand smell from leather products
    • 2.2.2 How to get rid of an unpleasant odor on fur products
  • 2.3 How to remove odor from second-hand shoes
• 3 Reviews of Internet users who removed the smell from second-hand clothes
• 4 Video: how to get rid of the smell on second-hand clothes

The cause of an unpleasant odor on second-hand clothes and its effect on the human body

Before worn clothing goes on sale, it is treated with special chemicals. They do this in order to destroy fungi, bacteria and other organisms that could be inherited from previous owners. For the disinfection of clothing and footwear, formaldehydes and methyl bromide are most often used. They are the culprit behind the eerie "second-hand" scent. Formaldehyde is a poison and carcinogen, therefore, in large quantities, it can harm the human body. According to sanitary standards, the residues of formaldehyde gas must be neutralized, but this is not always done efficiently. In order to play it safe, it is better to take care of this yourself. Then the clothes bought in second-hand stores will definitely be safe for you and your loved ones.

In second-hand shops you can buy very high quality and stylish clothes

How to remove odor from second-hand clothes

Things bought in second-hand shops must be washed. This is especially true for clothes for the little ones. But even after two washes with a double rinse, some items still have a smell. In such cases, we advise you to resort to proven and effective methods that will help get rid of the slightest hint of where the item was purchased. Agree, not everyone wants to let those around them know that he bought his new jeans and a fashionable coat in second hand.

There are many ways to get rid of second hand odor from clothing and shoes. In most cases, a specific "smell" does not disappear immediately and it will take time and a little effort on your part to completely destroy it.

Before you start washing, you need to learn a few rules for handling second-hand clothes:

1. It is not recommended to store such clothes with clothes bought in regular stores before washing, as the unpleasant smell can transfer to other products.
2. Second-hand clothes are washed separately from other clothes.
3. It is important to rinse your garments well after washing in order to get rid of harmful substances as efficiently as possible.
4. Clothes are washed at the highest possible temperature for the fabric.
5. In the first wash, use twice as much detergent as usual.

It should be noted right away that the type of material from which the product is sewn is of great importance. The way to get rid of the odor will also differ for different types of clothing. If jeans or trousers made of mixed fabric can be washed several times, then such actions are contraindicated for a leather skirt or fur vest. Sometimes you have to resort to dry cleaning services, if the thing, of course, is really high quality, branded and you do not mind the money.

Clothes from second-hand stores are washed immediately after purchase

How to remove odor from fabric clothing (jeans, sweaters, T-shirts, trousers, skirts, outerwear)

It is much easier to remove the smell from clothes made from natural fabrics than from synthetics. There is also a difference what kind of clothing it is. Thick knitted sweaters, padded jackets or winter coats take a lot of effort and time to completely neutralize the unpleasant odor. In general, washing powder and fabric softener will not completely eliminate this problem.

The most popular second-hand odor treatments are:

• ammonia;
• vinegar;
• regular and flavored salt;
• essential oils;
• soda;
• coffee and other natural flavors.

Also, fresh air and an iron with a steam supply function will be your faithful helpers.

The fight against the strongest "secondhand" scent is done in four stages:

1. The cause of the odor is removed (residues of sanitizing agents).
2. Wash the garment with laundry detergent and rinse with fabric softener.
3. Hang clothes out to dry and ventilate for several days.
4. After drying and airing, the product is ironed.

The first stage is that we remove the smell using one of the above means. Then we wash the product in the usual way, do not spare rinsing water and dry it in the open air. The final stage - ironing - is mandatory and contributes to the complete disappearance of the smell.

Clothes bought in a thrift store must be ironed

Now let's look at the most effective ways to eliminate unpleasant odors from clothes.

Soaking clothes in a solution of ammonia

The most effective way to get rid of second-hand odors. The fact is that ammonia is a neutralizer of formaldehyde and allows it to be completely removed from the fabric. The clothes should be soaked in ammonia solution for 1-6 hours, depending on the material. If the fabric is natural or with a predominance of natural fibers, then one hour will be enough, if a fabric with mixed fibers - 3 hours, fully synthetic, as well as clothes made of thick fabrics - up to 6 hours.

So, let's look at this method using the example of ordinary second-hand jeans. You will need a vial of 10% ammonia solution (this is ammonia) and your patience. Get down to business:

1. Fill a deep container with 5 liters. water.
2. Add 20 ml of ammonia and stir.
3. Soak your jeans in the solution.
4. Take out the thing and wring it out.
5. Hang to dry naturally.
6. After the item is dry, wash as usual.
7. Add fabric softener while rinsing.
8. Dry outdoors or on the balcony.
9. Iron your jeans with steam.

If it is necessary to process products made of thick fabrics, as well as multilayer clothing, then more water and more time will be needed. You will also need to increase the amount of ammonia. To soak warm outerwear, you need to dissolve 100 ml of ammonia in 10 liters. water.

Do not be afraid that ammonia may ruin the product. The ammonia solution is absolutely safe for both white and colored fabrics. In addition, ammonia has a beneficial effect on woolen fabrics, and warm knitted sweaters make them soft and smooth to the touch.

Second-hand clothes are soaked in a solution of ammonia to get rid of an unpleasant odor

Soaking in a solution of salt and vinegar

You will need regular kitchen salt and table vinegar. 5 liters. water will be enough 2 tbsp. tablespoons of salt and 100 ml of 9% vinegar. Do the following:

1. Dissolve all ingredients in warm water.
2. Soak the product.
3. Take out the thing and wring it out.
4. Hang to dry outdoors.
5. Wash as usual and dry.

This method is effective for clothes with a not very pungent second-hand smell.

Salt and vinegar can help get rid of even the pungent secondhand smell

Steam ironing

Probably the easiest way to get rid of a specific smell from clothes. You will need a good steam iron. Do not forget to set the temperature in accordance with the marking on the product tag. If the thing is made of silk or synthetics, then iron it through an iron. Only then will you not damage the fabric.

The following algorithm of actions:

1. Wash clothes and rinse at least twice.
2. Hang to dry outdoors.
3. When the clothes are completely dry, start ironing.
4. Iron with maximum steam and maximum allowed temperature.

This method is more effective for clothes made from natural fabrics, as well as viscose. During this treatment, the smell and residues of harmful substances will evaporate from the clothes along with the steam.

Steam effectively removes pungent odors from second-hand clothing

Spraying with ammonia solution

This method is a simplified version of the neutralization of formaldehyde residues using ammonia. A glass of water will need 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ammonia. The solution is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on clothing. The clothes are then dried and washed as usual. Of course, spraying is ineffective compared to soaking.

Essential oils

The method is very simple and consists in adding a few drops of aromatic oil to the washing water. The clothes are soaked for several hours in a solution of detergent and then washed. But if the product smelled very strongly, then the smell of essential oil will be added to the second-hand smell. The result is a product with an even sharper, more intense aroma. We recommend using oils when hand washing clothes with other products.

Long-term airing outdoors

This simple and effective method consists in hanging the clothes outside or on the balcony after washing, where they hang for at least 2 days. During this time, the specific smell completely disappears. This method will be more effective if you have washed your clothes with a lot of detergent and rinsed twice with the addition of fabric softener. Also, long-term airing can be the final stage after processing the clothes with ammonia or vinegar.

Drying and long-term airing in the fresh air helps to eliminate unpleasant odors from second-hand clothing

Freezing

On the net you can find tips for freezing second-hand clothes in the freezer. To do this, it is advised to first place it in a plastic bag. It is unclear how the odor from the sanitization of the poisonous gases should disappear. But most of all, it is embarrassing that clothes that exude a harmful stench are advised to be kept with food. It's best to use this method when it's freezing outside. You just need to hang clothes on the street or on the balcony, where fresh air together with frost will remove a terrible smell from your new clothes without risk to health.

Using natural flavors

A popular natural flavor is coffee. The essence of the method is that the washed and dried product is placed in a bag and a bag of ground coffee or whole grains are placed there. The bag is tightly tied and left untouched for 2-3 days. The coffee is supposed to “mask” the unpleasant second-hand aroma. But to eliminate the cause of the smell, namely the residues of formaldehyde in the fibers of the fabric, this method will not work. For this reason, the smell of second hand will still be felt. We advise you to use this method only for additional flavoring of clothes.

Similarly, you can use scented bath salts, baking soda, scented soap, cotton pads with a few drops of essential oil.

Placing second-hand clothes in a plastic bag with some kind of flavoring agent, we can only mask an unpleasant smell

How to remove unpleasant odors from leather and fur clothing

It is more difficult to remove the second-hand smell from leather and fur clothing, since it cannot be washed and soaked in water. The safest and most effective way in this case is long-term ventilation. Ideal if the temperature outside the window is below zero. If the smell is mild, then you can put the product in a bag along with a flavoring agent (coffee, soap, fragrant sachets).

You can also use a special deodorant for your clothes. They process the product, which is then placed in a bag for 4–5 hours. Then the product is taken out of the bag and ventilated outside.

How to remove the unpleasant second-hand smell from leather goods

If the product is made of imitation leather and the tag indicates that washing is allowed, then wash without fear. You can also soak it for several hours in a solution of ammonia.

You can sponge the product with a solution of ammonia. You will also need a zip-fastened plastic bag. Ammonia is safe for genuine leather products and is often used to get rid of bad odors from new leather clothing.

Do the following:

1. Dissolve a tablespoon of ammonia in a glass of water.
2. Soak a sponge in the solution and squeeze lightly.
3. Sponge the outside and back of the garment with a sponge.
4. Place the item in a bag and close tightly (or tie if the bag is normal).
5. Remove the product after 6 hours and ventilate it outside for 2-3 days.

Processing a leather jacket with a cloth dipped in a solution of ammonia

How to get rid of an unpleasant smell on fur products

If you bought a fur coat or a fur vest, then before going out into the world you should get rid of the obsessive "second hand" scent so that your girlfriends would not guess about the origin of your new thing. If the product is practically new and of high quality, we advise you to immediately contact the dry cleaner. If you feel sorry for money, then use the long-term ventilation already described. Before you take your fur coat out into the street, you can treat it with a solution of ammonia as follows:

1. Dissolve 2 tbsp. l. ammonia in half a liter of water.
2. Dip a cloth brush in the solution.
3. "Comb" the fur in the direction of its growth.
4. Take the product outside.
5. Leave the fur coat to dry and then air it for at least 2 days.
6. If the smell remains, then leave the products outside for another day.

Instead of a regular brush, you can use a hair brush

Also, a fur product can be treated with steam using a modern iron. To do this, hang the product on a hanger, bring the iron at a distance of 20 cm and turn on the steam.

How to remove odor from second-hand shoes

If the shoes are washable, use one of the above methods for fabric clothing. For example, soak in a solution of ammonia and then wash. Airing is also very important. Leave your shoes on the outside of the balcony or windowsill for at least 2 days.

If the shoes are made of leather, you cannot soak them. We advise you to wipe it inside and out with a cotton swab dipped in a solution of ammonia, and then dry it in the open air.

Rubbing shoes with a solution of ammonia to eliminate the pungent second-hand odor

You can also use baking soda, which is excellent at absorbing odors. Do the following:

1. Pour baking soda inside the shoe and let it sit overnight.
2. In the morning, pour out the baking soda and put your shoes out on the balcony for at least a day.
3. Vacuum up any remaining soda.

This method is good if the shoes have already been processed and only a subtle second-hand smell remains.

Reviews of Internet users who removed the smell from second-hand clothes

On various forums, users are actively discussing how best to remove the most unpleasant odor from second-hand clothes. Someone uses ammonia, someone ventilates for a long time, someone does it several times, and then iron with steam.

User Lyudmila left a comment under an article about processing second-hand clothes, where she advises to wash the product twice, dry it and iron it well:

Some people advise using pleasant-smelling hair shampoos and shower gels:

They also advise folk methods with the use of vinegar and laundry soap:

Video: how to get rid of the smell on second-hand clothes

Now you know how to get rid of the unpleasant odor on second-hand clothes. Buy branded, high-quality items for little money and do not worry about your health. The main thing is that you like the purchased product and bring joy, and where you bought it, let it remain a secret!