Cigarette Stale OLD smell on comforter not coming out in wash

[mark_wpduet]

OK, Got back with a comforter someone gave me... It was never used but opened to be looked at and it just laid there in a room for a couple of years of someone who smoked. That thing REEKED of not fresh cig smoke, but STALE OLD built up smoke... So I ran it through the washer on a soak cycle with a little detergent... then after that cycle was over I ran it through heavy duty with 3 rinses, but I didn't add anymore detergent because it was already in in the comforter from the soak cycle.... I also added a wee bit of oxi clean.... after the wash, I can STILL smell it... although more subtle.. but it's still there... Is there something special I should add for something like this? Honestly, I'm not even sure why I'm bothering because this comforter is UGLY as hell and so feminine looking... It looks like a grandma comforter or something but I hate to throw it out

 

[circlew]

Launderess will probably have some good suggestions. In the meantime, you might try soaking it with borax in the water. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer might also help. Since you think it's ugly, I'm sure you don't want to pay to have it professionally cleaned and deodorized. It's difficult to get odors out of anything with padding, and might require treatment in a hydroxyl chamber. This is commonly done in fire damage restoration to remove smoke odor.

 

[qsd-dan]

Use the longest cycle with the most water at the hottest temp the fabric can withstand while adding the most detergent and oxygen bleach the machine can handle without suds locking. Some borax would help, too.

 

[me]

I would also try oxygen bleach, preferably one with TAED bleach activator in as it is stronger, but I would probably have hung it up outside to air it for several hours, before washing it.

If the oxygen bleach fails I'd be tempted to try washing it with a small amount of either anhydrous citric acid (or else acetic acid), and no detergent, but I'm not sure if a mild acid might cause damage. Best get expert advice from Launderess first!

 

[donprohel]

Try ammonia, it is a good deodoriser, does not need too much effort to rinse, and it is generally safe for fabrics.

As an added benefit, it will also remove residues of detergent and fabric softener

 

[lakewebsterkid]

As others have said, hottest and longest wash possible. Whites cycle on my Duet always did well, but yours is likely different. Sanitize cycle if you have it. I have had better experience with odor removal using Clorox 2 liquid versus an oxygenated bleach containing powder, but if you have either, try that first! Ammonia very well could be another great additive.

 

[combo52]

When you’re trying to wash out an oily dirty, smell like cigarette smoke you need to use the hottest water possible and the maximum amount of detergent possible, I have no idea where this notion that I just use a little bit of detergent is ever gonna do anything, the soak cycle is not very effective for this type of soil either Soak cycles are fine for some foods and dried blood.

There would also be nothing wrong with putting a quarter cup of liquid chlorine bleach in the dispenser of your duet if it’s a commercially made quilt that’s colored fast. It will only brighten it. It won’t hurt it at all.

I often pick up really dirty, bedding and pillows and things that people think that can’t be washed, it’s always a challenge to get them cleaned and then I donate them to thrift stores.

It’s just far too wasteful to throw away things like this that have years of useful life in them.

John L

 

[stan]

Re wash it with powdered Tide
Hang in sun to dry

 

[mark_wpduet]

I think I did use too little detergent. Something in me said to use more but I haven't dealt with cig smoke so I had no clue how to deal with it. I guess I could have googled it but my first thought was to come here first... I wasn't sure about bleach because that almost NEVER lets you down... I've washed colors with bleach successfully in the past if it was something kind of gross that I didn't care about...but I've also ruined a few things with bleach too.... I do have a sanitary cycle... and although I rarely use it, I think this TOTALLY calls for that cycle.

 

[pierreandreply4]

@mark_wpduet have you tried using liquid fabric softener to let the comforter soak so the sent of the fabric softener remove the cigarette smell and then wash as usal?

 

[DADoES]

Softener is not a cleaning product. It may temporarily cover the offensive odor until the scent of the softener dissipates, then the stench would reappear.

 

[ea56]

If you’ve ever been in the home of a long time heavy smoker that they’ve lived in for many years you’ll notice that everything is covered with the patina of exhaled tobacco smoke which contains both tar and nicotine. The walls will have a deep yellow-brownish tinge and so will the window coverings and blinds. If you touch these surfaces they may even feel slightly tacky and the smell of the tobacco tar and nicotine will remain on your hands.

This kind of film and scent can only be gotten rid of with HOT water and a STRONG detergent, The suggestions of both John in reply #7 and Stan in reply#8 are probably the best ones I’ve read in this thread. Especially hanging the comforter out in the sun to dry. Plenty of fresh air and sunlight can go a long way in getting rid of the terrible smell of tobacco smoke.

I don’t know if powdered Spic and Span is still sold, but that used to be one of the very best cleaners for removing tobacco tar and nicotine from the walls of a long time habitual heavy smoker. But it may be too harsh for a lighter weight fabric.

Good Luck! There is no more repulsive smell than stale, old tobacco tar and nicotine. Yuk!

Eddie

 

[nmassman44]

Borax is your friend in this case. It will knock out the aroma and you could also throw in some liquid Biz along with Clorox2. My dear partner used to smoke and I used these to knock out the scent along with a good detergent and don’t be stingy with it. Add a couple of rinses to the cycle. Also use the recommended amount on the packages as well.

 

[stan]

I think Eddie means Spic and span powder not the liquid version. It is still available in powdered form and I find it at Ace Hardware.
However it dose not have the TPS that it use to years back. That ingredient was replaced with washing soda. Still cleans well though.

 

[stan]

TSP

 

[simpsonencore]

Do you have a bathtub?

Strip it - at least 3 cups of Lectric soda or equivalent with tepid (lukewarm) water in the bath; just enough water to cover the whole blanket after absorption, let soak overnight, or up to 24 hours, agitate the blanket a little every now and then.

Drain bath water (wear gloves, water will be quite dirty by then) and squeeze as much as you can out of the blanket, then into the washing machine on a spin-only cycle, followed with a rinse and spin, then add regular dose of laundry detergent on a full hot wash with extra rinse.

I have a dog who sleeps on my bed, and they absolutely stink sometimes lol



Attached is a photo of Lectric soda, which might be called something different where you live

 

[vacerator]

My sister bought a comforter once from TJ Max that stunk like funk. Someone had obviously slept??? in it returned it. So did she.

 

[sudsomatic]

If all the above wet options don't help you can try some dry options I've learned about for rescuing vintage paper and fabric items I collect. These methods take time though, a lot of time, but have always worked.

You'll need a garbage bag large enough that the blanket can fit in it with plenty of room left over, it needs to be free from holes or snags as it must be airtight.

You can then put one of three different things in the bag with it to work on the odor.

1. Baking soda. Depending on the size of the blanket you may want to put a couple boxes worth in the bag, just dump it directly in with the blanket and shake everything up. Close the bag tightly with a rubber band and make sure no air can get out/in.

Check it after a week, take everything outside to avoid a mess inside, remove the blanket and shake it free of powder and check to see if the smell is still there. After just a week it probably won't be completely gone, but (if it's working) you'll definitely notice that it has dissipated. If you think so, put it back in the bag, you can either keep the old baking soda in there and just add some more fresh to top it off, or dump it all out and put fresh in, shake and seal again. I usually give the next round twice as long. Once you feel like the smell is gone just wash normally.

2. Newspaper. This one is tricky if you have a light colored blanket, because of potential ink transfer. But the idea is basically the same, you start with the item in a large garbage bag and stuff the open areas with crumpled newspaper, seal it up and let it sit for several weeks. The paper absorbs the odor the way the baking soda does in the other method. You can change the paper every time you check the progress to make it more effective.

3. Ozium Odor Eliminator Gel - you want the tabletop cup not the room spray LINK . Same principle again. The blanket goes in an airtight bag or container and you open one or two of these gel containers and place inside with it. I like to create an air bubble in the bag when using these before sealing up to create more space for it to work inside. As before check in intervals, but keep using the same cups every time, no need to replace until they dry up.