Smoke is problematic since it contains a variety of staining compounds; no single technique is effective for all of them, and smoke itself frequently contains harmful carcinogens that need to be eliminated. There’s no way to perfume the issue.
Nevertheless, there are methods for getting rid of the smoke odor from clothing, as well as some things to think about before trying. Checking the care tag on your clothing item should be your first step. You might attempt the suggested techniques to get rid of the smoke odor if the item is washable. It might be advisable to take the garment directly to a professional cleaner, though, if it is only meant to be dry cleaned.
Read also: Things Professional Cleaners Do Every Morning
How to Get Smoke Smell Out of Clothes
Wash Your Clothes
If you come across a piece of clothing that has been exposed to smoke, you should first rinse it outside with water before using detergent and a strong brush to get rid of any visible particulate. To increase the effectiveness of pre-soaking, rinse the item before soaking to help get rid of any residue or particles.
Pre-Soak Clothing in Detergent
The clothes should be pre-soaked in water with a small amount of detergent. Clothing that has been soaked beforehand may be able to loosen smoke particles that have become lodged in the fabric, making it easier to remove the odor.
Wash on High Temperature
You should wash at the highest temperature that is safe for your items. Simply refer to the fabric care labels on your item to determine the appropriate temperature if you’re unsure.
Allow to Air Dry
After finishing, either use a dryer sheet or hang your items outside to get rid of any remaining smell. By allowing air to pass through the cloth, air drying helps to eliminate the odor of smoke. Fresh air and sunlight can cause clothing to lose its scent.
If the smoke smell continues, repeat the process
To completely eliminate the smoke odor from extremely filthy clothing, it can take multiple cycles. If it still smells after two washes, you should check on a few things.
First, ensure the laundry detergent you’re using has been shown to remove over 80% of smoke and soot particles. Second, make sure your washing machine can adequately agitate the clothes and is free of hard water buildup that could be preventing your detergent from working as well as it could.
Other Ways to Get Smoke Smell Out of Clothes
Put Baking Soda in Your Washing Machine
One of the most adaptable, multipurpose items that is frequently found in most homes is baking soda. Because most smells are acidic, baking soda’s inherent pH-neutralizing properties make it ideal for eliminating even the most stubborn odors. For optimal results, capture and neutralize smoke scents by adding a cup of baking soda to your regular wash cycle.
Use Scented Dryer Sheets
Scented dryer sheets are a terrific way to freshen up your clean clothes while they dry, reducing unnecessary static cling and softening your materials in the process. Just put your moist laundry in the dryer with a scented dryer sheet and choose the proper drying cycle.
But exercise caution. Your dryer sheets can be merely covering up odors rather than eliminating them completely if you’re not taking anything to neutralize or eliminate them in the wash.
Use a Deodorizing Spray
Strong smoke odors can be effectively eliminated from clothing and even textiles like carpets and curtains with deodorizing sprays. Quality deodorizing sprays contain odor elimination chemicals that bind to the individual molecules of odor and modify their chemical structure. Its smell is eliminated once the structure is altered because it can no longer attach to the odor receptors in our nose. Whole-room deodorizers or sprays that can be applied to specific materials, such as curtains or coats that smell of smoke, are readily available.
How to Know if Smoke Smell in the Clothing is Beyond Repair
If you’ve tried all the strategies and checked that the washer is running correctly, yet your garments still smell of smoke, you may question whether they can be saved. Depending on the type of fabric, the length of time the garment was exposed to smoke, and the intensity of the odor, it can be difficult to determine whether they are irreparable.
Examining for obvious stains that are causing the smoke odor is one method to determine this. The item might need to be thrown out or professionally cleaned if it is stained and still smells.
However, you should speak with a professional laundry service before throwing away your clothes.
Read also: Ways You Can Use Pumice Stone to Clean Your House