Katrina Rosales
Buying second-hand clothes is a great way to save money and reduce landfill waste. However, it can be frustrating when you purchase an item only to find it infused with an overpowering laundry soap or perfume scent. This often occurs when the previous owner used laundry products laden with artificial fragrances. The good news is that there are several ways to remove these unwanted smells from your clothes. Some common household products that can be used include baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, and vodka. Soaking the garment in a solution of warm water and baking soda overnight before washing it again with unscented detergent is one method that is often effective. Alternatively, you can try using a laundry booster or a scented detergent to mask the smell. For those who prefer sun-drying their clothes, sunlight is also an effective way to neutralise odours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soaking | Soak clothes in a sink or washing machine filled with warm water and one cup of baking soda before washing. |
| Soak for a few hours or overnight. | |
| Repeat the airing-soaking-washing-drying cycle several times, if necessary. | |
| Washing | Wash clothes with unscented laundry detergent. |
| Add distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle. | |
| Add an extra rinse cycle to ensure all the detergent is rinsed from your clothing. | |
| Use a laundry booster or organic homemade soaps, such as Borax or baking soda. | |
| Use a scented detergent to mask the smell. | |
| Wash with fragrance-free detergent. | |
| Use a castile soap laundry solution. | |
| Use lemon juice and water to eliminate odors. | |
| Use alcohol or vodka to neutralize the smell. | |
| Use essential oils to cover up the artificial smell. | |
| Use a fabric refresher like Febreze. | |
| Drying | Line dry the clothes outside. |
| Dry in sunlight. |
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What You'll Learn
Soak in a baking soda solution
Soaking your second-hand clothes in a baking soda solution is an effective way to remove unwanted perfume or detergent smells. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and can be used in place of harsher chemicals to neutralize odors.
To start the process, dissolve one cup of baking soda in warm water in a sink or washing machine. Ensure that the vessel is large enough to completely submerge the garment. For smaller loads, you can adjust the amount of baking soda accordingly. The soaking time can vary from a few hours to overnight, or even a few days for more stubborn odors.
After soaking, proceed to wash the clothing as usual, following the care label guidelines. Use unscented laundry detergent to avoid introducing new scents. If desired, add distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle to further eliminate any remaining odors. Let the laundry soak for about an hour before completing the rinse cycle.
For delicate fabrics like silk or lace, it is recommended to wash them by hand or use a gentle cycle in the washing machine to prevent damage to the fabric fibers. Baking soda is a gentle and effective solution for removing unwanted smells from your second-hand clothes, leaving them refreshed and ready to be worn.
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Wash with unscented detergent
If you want to remove a strong perfume-y detergent smell from second-hand clothes, one method is to wash them with unscented detergent. However, this may not always be effective on its own, and you may need to repeat the process several times.
Before washing with unscented detergent, you can try pre-soaking the clothes in warm water with a cup of baking soda. Leave them to soak overnight, and then wash them with the unscented detergent the next day.
Another method is to use a laundry booster, which is a washing additive that helps remove bacteria and smells. Mix half a cup of laundry booster with your unscented detergent and wash your clothes in warm water.
You can also try a castile soap laundry solution, which is an old-school cleaning method that washes laundry without adding chemicals or perfumes. Soak your clothes in a solution of castile soap and sodium percarbonate for up to six hours, then spin drain and rinse in the washer, before a regular wash with fragrance-free detergent.
In addition to using unscented detergent, you can add vinegar to the wash cycle to help eliminate odours. Add a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle, let the laundry soak for an hour, and then complete the cycle.
It's important to note that some clothes may not release the scent no matter what method you try. You may need to experiment with different techniques and repeat the processes to find what works best for your clothes.
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Use vinegar in the wash cycle
If you want to remove a strong perfume smell from second-hand clothes, vinegar is a great natural deodorizer. It is an effective way to neutralize odors without damaging the fabric.
First, create a mixture of vinegar and water. The ratio of vinegar to water depends on how strong the smell is and how much fabric you are treating. A good starting point is to add 1 cup of vinegar per gallon of water. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture for a pleasant aroma. Soak your clothes in this mixture for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight for more stubborn smells.
After soaking, you can proceed to the wash cycle. Add 1 cup of vinegar to the wash cycle, and use it in place of laundry detergent to absorb unpleasant odors. You can also add baking soda to the wash cycle for extra odor-fighting power. If your garment is delicate, hand washing with a gentle detergent or Castile soap is a better option.
It may take several washes for the smell to completely disappear, so be patient and repeat the process if necessary. You can also try hanging the clothes outside in the sun to dry, as sunlight helps break down perfume molecules.
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Air clothes outside
Airing clothes outside is a great way to remove unwanted smells from second-hand clothes. The process of airing laundry outside is called outgassing or off-gassing, and it is an effective way to remove fragrance from clothes without adding harmful toxins. The sun's rays and heat will drive out toxic substances, such as fragrance and VOCs, from fabrics.
If you have a clothesline, that's perfect. If not, get creative! Use clothespins to hang your clothes over a fence, lawn chairs, a porch railing, or similar, and let them air out for as long as possible—at least 12 to 48 hours. The sunlight will break down the perfume molecules, and the air will help to neutralise the smell.
If you cannot hang your clothes outside, you can still air them inside. Hang them in a breezy, warm, sunlit room. If possible, place a fan and lots of green, leafy plants in the room, as these will help to neutralise the smell.
To enhance the airing process, you can also try using a natural deodoriser like baking soda or white vinegar. Before hanging your clothes outside, soak them in warm water with one cup of baking soda for several hours or overnight. Then, wash the clothes as usual, following the care label guidelines, either in a machine or by hand with unscented laundry detergent. Add at least 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle and let the laundry soak for an hour before completing the cycle. The vinegar will help cut through perfume residue in the fibres.
Remember, the key to successfully removing unwanted smells from second-hand clothes is patience. You may need to repeat the airing, soaking, washing, and drying cycle several times to completely eliminate the perfume-y detergent smell.
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Try a laundry booster
If you're tired of the strong perfume-y detergent smell on your second-hand clothes, a laundry booster may be the answer. Laundry boosters are washing additives designed to enhance the cleaning power of your detergent and target stubborn bacteria and odours. They are particularly useful for removing odours from second-hand clothes, which can often linger even after washing.
There are many different types of laundry boosters available, both store-bought and homemade. If you're looking for a store-bought option, there are several highly-rated products on the market, including:
- Lysol Disinfectant Laundry Sanitizer & Scent Booster: This product not only deodorizes but also sanitizes your laundry, removing 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. It is important to note, however, that this product is not hypoallergenic.
- Fresh Wave Odor Removing Laundry Booster: This plant-based booster is a great eco-friendly option that is safe to use on various fabrics, including delicates, cottons, polyester, and wool. It is also hypoallergenic and can be used as an all-purpose deodorizer.
- OxiClean Odor Blaster: This is a hypoallergenic and sensitive-skin-friendly option that effectively eliminates odours without sacrificing your skin's health.
If you prefer a more natural or cost-effective approach, you can try making your own laundry booster at home using ingredients like baking soda, Borax, or vinegar. Baking soda, in particular, is a popular choice for removing odours from laundry. Simply add a cup of baking soda to your wash cycle, or soak your clothes in warm water and baking soda overnight before washing them the next day with unscented detergent.
By using a laundry booster, you can effectively remove stubborn perfume-y detergent smells from your second-hand clothes and enjoy fresh and odour-free garments.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several methods to remove strong perfume or detergent smells from second-hand clothes. You can soak the clothes in a mixture of warm water and baking soda, then wash them with unscented laundry detergent. You can also use vinegar, lemon juice, or laundry boosters to remove the smell.
Vinegar is a great natural deodoriser and can be used to neutralise perfume smells. Add a cup of vinegar to your wash cycle or soak the clothes in vinegar and water before washing. You can also use lemon juice, which breaks up scent molecules.
If your clothing is dry-clean only, you can use a fabric refresher spray to remove smells. Take the clothing outside, spray it lightly, and let it air out. You can also try airing the clothing without spraying to allow the outdoor air to neutralise the smell.
Laundry stripping is an extreme way of removing fragrance from clothes. To do this, soak your clothes in a mixture of water, borax, and laundry booster or baking soda. Then, wash the clothes with a fragrance-free detergent.
To prevent your clothes from smelling too strongly of perfume or detergent, make sure to use fragrance-free products when washing them. You can also try using a scented detergent with plant-based aromas, but this may not be suitable if you are sensitive to chemicals.
