Whether caused by cigarettes, fireplaces, or other fiery mishaps, it can often be difficult to remove lingering smoke odors from clothing. Smoke can quickly penetrate textile fibers and make the item of clothing smell like an old, smelly ashtray. You don't even have to pull it up to your nose to smell this unwanted smell. Luckily, you don't have to be stuck with this unpleasant smell forever as there are a few useful tips and effective steps that can make smoke odors easier to get rid of.
Before removing the smell of smoke from clothes
If you have had a smoky encounter, you should treat your clothing as quickly as possible to resolve the problem. This means, for example, that nicotine residues do not accumulate over time. There are also a few simple onesMethods that neutralize odorsand can be used with ordinary household materials. However, it can be a slow process to regain the desired freshness.
If the clothing is labeled dry clean only, you should take a few steps to ventilate it outdoors or indoors. You can also try dry cleaning your home to freshen up fabrics. Otherwise, you can take your clothes to a professional dry cleaner. If it is an item of clothing that you can wash by hand, home remedies such as baking soda or vinegar can be very helpful. However, if you cannot wash the textiles, try using a textile freshening spray. The formula traps the odor molecules and suspends them until you can properly clean the fabric.
Why do clothes smell like smoke and what to do about it?
Almost every type of smoke contains substances and residues, such as tar in cigarette smoke. Furthermore, oil, ash and thousands of chemicals from cigarettes can get stuck in textile fibers. These smoky molecular combinations are very sticky, and their particles cling tightly to everything from clothing and hair to upholstery and carpets. So what can you use to get rid of smoke smells? Here is a list of cleaning tools and materials that are effective against smoke smell:
- Outdoor space to air clothes
- unscented liquid detergent
- baking powder
- Distilled white vinegar
- Dryer sheets
- Large resealable plastic bags
- Non-chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide
- Water
Remove smoke smell from clothes without washing
If you're traveling and have spent time around the campfire, you may not have access to a washing machine and are wondering how to remove smoke smell from jacket, for example. The next time this happens to you, try one or more of the next tricks.
Air out your clothes
One of the easiest ways to make your clothes smell better when you don't have a washing machine is to leave them out in the fresh air. Hanging your garment in a well-ventilated outdoor area should help eliminate the smell of smoke after leaving it outside for a few days.
Use baking soda trick to combat smoke smells
If you've ever used baking soda around the house, you probably know that it can neutralize odors. To do this, place your clothes in a large trash bag or plastic bag. Next, add about 1/2 cup of baking soda and seal the bag tightly. Shake the clothes along with the baking soda for about 2 minutes to allow the stuff to coat everything. Let it sit overnight so that the baking soda gets rid of bad smellsRemove clothingcan. The next day, open the bag outside and shake out the powder. This method should also help get rid of cigarette smell.
Use steam as an odor remover
Steam is another option that can be used if you don't have a washing machine on hand. Check the manufacturer's label to make sure steaming is OK for your garment. Take an iron with a steam function and fill it with distilled water. Use this on your clothes to get rid of the bad smell. You can also use a 3:1 solution of distilled water and rubbing alcohol to eliminate smoke odors.
Make your own odor-eliminating spray with vinegar
If you have a smoke smell in your garment, you can also try using a homemade solution. To do this, you need to add equal parts water and distilled white vinegar to a spray bottle. Then add 20 or more drops of essential oil to the mixture. Mint or lemon scents are two good options for this.
Use dryer sheets
However, you should not use these in the way you are used to. Place smoke-smelling clothes in a large, resealable plastic bag with one or two odor-free dryer sheets, then seal. Leave the bag sealed for a few days and the smell of smoke will then be fully or partially absorbed.
Use washing machine and remove smoke smell from clothes
Of course, if you have a washing machine at your disposal, it will be even easier to get the smell of fire or cigarettes out of your clothes. If you have a problem like this and need a quick solution, try one or more of these four tips:
- Vinegar solution– Before yourWash clothes, place them in a sink and add a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and warm water. You can also try freshening up your clothes by adding a few drops of essential oils that smell like lemon, orange, or lavender. Soak your clothes for an hour and then wash them according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- lemon juice– Freshly squeezed lemon juice can also be effective. Take 1 to 3 lemons and squeeze them until you have 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Add this to your clothing when it begins its first cycle. This should help remove unpleasant odors such as smoke and other unpleasant odors that are undesirable.
- Alcohol like vodka– Alcohol can also be used as an odor remover. Buy some cheap vodka or a bottle of rubbing alcohol and pour 1/2 cup into your washing machine if you need to get rid of bad smells like that from smoke. Then run your washing machine regularly like you would any other type of laundry.
