One evening, I was at my office drawing the new clothes designs for my new fashion line, when the stink knocked me off guard. It was my office boy who had come into the room barely five minutes to deliver some documents to me.
‘Hey man, do you smell this?’ I asked him gently. ‘It must be due to your clothes.’
The face of the young man blushed with embarrassment. The young boy said: “Oops, ma’am sorry I had my lunch and accidentally this shirt got stained and I have not washed it.”
The lucky man, I almost said, although that was probably not the appropriate thing to say in this case. This evil has bitten me many times – sometimes it is so exhausting to get rid of the smell that clings to our clothes. However, with my knowledge and the experiences that I have acquired as a fashion designer, I realized that there are other methods that could be used to address the issue without necessarily having to put the clothes through a full wash cycle.
“No need to apologize,” I reassured him. “I have some handy tricks that can help get rid of those unwanted smells quickly. Would you be willing to give them a try?”
The office boy did not hesitate, gratefully accepting the solution presented to him. When I explained to him each of them, he looked embarrassed but it quickly turned into amazement. After awaring him , I decided to make a blog on “how to take smell out of clothes without washing?” to save someone from this embarrassment.
Whether you are trying to get rid of food odors, smoke smell, or just a musty smell, this general guide will make sure that you have all the knowledge and tools that is necessary for you to ensure that your clothes always smell fresh in-between ironing and washing.
With my tips , your chances of prolonging the durability of your garments and ease in the process of washing garments will be achieved. Let’s dive into the top ways to take the smell out of clothes without washing:
1.Baking Soda:
This common product found in most households is excellent at removing odor and bland it leaving behind an even worst smell. All that needs to be done is placing a small bowl filled with baking soda right on the stained spots of the clothing, the underarms or collars. If given some time to sit for a few hours, or even better – night, baking soda will pull through those hard-to-get rid of odors.
2.Vinegar:
White vinegar has similar soda like properties and must be applied on the dirty garments since it is an effective deodorizer just like baking soda. Dilute one part white vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle, and spray it on the affected parts of the garments. The vinegar is helpful in decomposing the molecules responsible for the odor and your clothes will smell fresh as new.
3.Essential Oils:
Infusing your clothes with the refreshing scents of essential oils is a gentle and effective way to eliminate unwanted odors.Use about 5 to 10 drops of the oils of your choice, lemon, lavender, tea tree among them and spray it on your clothing. The natural fragrances will especially cover bad odours and also eliminate them as they are natural scents.
4.Airtight Storage:
First, washing your clothes and restricting the stinky garments in an airtight bag or hamper is a good technique to get rid of smell. This shields the other garments from the smells and lets the clothes ‘breathe’ while enclosed within the mentioned location, thus assisting in neutralizing the foul odors.
5.Freezing:
Believe it or not, the cold temperature of your freezer can actually help remove odors from your clothes. Place the affected garments in a resealable plastic bag and leave them in the freezer for a few hours. The cold air will help kill any bacteria or microorganisms contributing to the unpleasant smells.
6.Activated Charcoal:
These carbon-based pouches which are rather ‘leaky’ are famous for their ability to mask smells. All that is needed is the placement of a few charcoal bags in your clothes storage area where they will continuously work to confiscate and eradicate numerous appalling smells that may range from food to smoke.
7.Fabric Refreshers:
Commercial fabric refresher sprays can be a convenient solution for quickly freshening up your clothes between washes. Look for eco-friendly, non-toxic formulas that use natural ingredients to deodorize and revive your garments without the need for a full washing cycle.
8.Sunlight:
The natural disinfecting and deodorizing properties of sunlight can be incredibly effective in removing stubborn odors from clothing. Hang your smelly garments outside in direct sunlight for a few hours, allowing the UV rays to kill any bacteria and freshen up the fabric.
9.Vodka:
Believe it or not, plain vodka can be a surprisingly effective deodorizer for clothes. Simply fill a spray bottle with unflavored vodka and mist it onto the affected areas of your garments. The alcohol in the vodka will help neutralize and eliminate odors without leaving behind any residue.
10.Dry Cleaning:
For particularly difficult-to-remove smells, such as smoke or strong perfumes, professional dry cleaning may be your best bet. The specialized cleaning process and chemicals used by dry cleaners can often remove odors that are resistant to at-home methods.
FAQs:
How can I remove food smells from my clothes without washing?
- Use baking soda, vinegar, or essential oils to target and neutralize food odors.
- Isolate the smelly clothes in an airtight container or garment bag to allow the odors to dissipate.
- Try freezing the affected garments to kill any bacteria causing the smell.
How do I get rid of smoke smell in clothes without washing?
- Sprinkle baking soda directly on the smelly areas and let it sit for several hours.
- Spray a mixture of water and white vinegar onto the clothes to break down the odor-causing compounds.
- Place activated charcoal bags in your closet or storage area to absorb the smoke smell.
What is the best way to remove general mustiness from clothes without washing?
- The garments should be hung outside to air freshen them naturally.
- Spray a fabric freshener commercially available for the specific type of fabric but it better if it is made from all natural and non-toxic components that will safely neutralize odors.
- You can also wash or pack the cloths and freeze them for sometime so that it removes all the bacteria resulting to the smell.
Conclusion
With these approved techniques, you should be able to maintain the freshness and cleanliness of your clothes regardless of the aggression of the life around them. Always keep this in mind that the best form of combating odor are preventive measures, therefore as soon as signs of odor are noted, see that you correct them.
It’s time to forget about regaling yourself to the stink of old clothes because with this easy guide, you only need easy household products and a bit of knowledge to get the job done.
