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Hope this is the correct forum for this post. There really isn't a Clothing or Sewing forum & I didn't think Fashion was the place for it.
I received a gift of a wool, lined scali cap from a thrift store. It's great but... it's got that moldy-ish Salvation Army store smell I can't seem to lessen. I tried soaking it in dishwashing liquid & cool water, then shampoo & warmer water to no avail. The smell hasn't even lessened. I'm afraid to soak it too much lest it fall apart or shrink. I also haven't tried washing it in the washing machine... thought too much aggitation or hot water might be a bad idea.
Oh, I also misted it with plenty o' perfume & one day later... it's still got that knarly ol' musty smell. Not even a hint of my perfume. < Insert big frown & shoulder shrug emoticon > Any ideas? Was going to try vinegar & water next & soak for a few hours before I give up & leave it outside on the balcony to let the wind carry it away???
Hope this is the correct forum for this post. There really isn't a Clothing or Sewing forum & I didn't think Fashion was the place for it.
I received a gift of a wool, lined scali cap from a thrift store. It's great but... it's got that moldy-ish Salvation Army store smell I can't seem to lessen. I tried soaking it in dishwashing liquid & cool water, then shampoo & warmer water to no avail. The smell hasn't even lessened. I'm afraid to soak it too much lest it fall apart or shrink. I also haven't tried washing it in the washing machine... thought too much aggitation or hot water might be a bad idea.
Oh, I also misted it with plenty o' perfume & one day later... it's still got that knarly ol' musty smell. Not even a hint of my perfume. < Insert big frown & shoulder shrug emoticon > Any ideas? Was going to try vinegar & water next & soak for a few hours before I give up & leave it outside on the balcony to let the wind carry it away???
Thank you... Moldy in San Diego
Have you tried washing it in Woolite or another hand wash?
Cool site, Rayin, thanks. I don't think it's mildew, but don't know how else to describe that smell. Anything I've ever gotten from a 2nd hand store has that smell, which normally disappears once washed. Perhaps the wool is hanging onto it, however.
I'll try the vinegar, then salt/lemon juice. I also bought a cheap $3 bottle of perfume at a local discount store. It's the most palatable of the imposter perfumes. After I wash it, I'll spray it everyday & put it onto the balcony... at this time of year, unfortunately, the sunshine hasn't yet hit my balcony, so the sunlight (which I think would be optimal) isn't an option just yet.
Have you tried washing it in Woolite or another hand wash?
Only what I listed above. I stopped using Woolite years ago as a gallon of Sally's concentrated shampoo for $13-ish washes out handwashables just as well (& lasts well over 1-yr), makes clothing soft & leaves a nice, gentle smell to boot. I wash a lot of clothing by hand, most of it actually... any lingerie, sweaters, exercise gear, T's (they last forever this way), most skirts/dresses, so it's more economical, as well. I'm like an old prairie woman & sparks really do fly from my palms when I spend money...
To totally kill mold in homes... you will most likely need abrasive commercial products that actually kill the mold & then keep the article "very very dry" = not a good option (expense & the abuse) for a woolen item from a thrift store.
Did you try to take it to a dry cleaner & see what they can do for you???
Maybe they can help.
To totally kill mold in homes... you will most likely need abrasive commercial products that actually kill the mold & then keep the article "very very dry" = not a good option (expense & the abuse) for a woolen item from a thrift store.
Perhaps my wording was misleading. I'm not sure it is true mold... it's that Salvation Army 2nd hand clothing smell one notices in all thrift shops. Perhaps the remedy would be the same, but I'm not sure it's actual mold... it just smells moldy-ish, for lack of a better, actual word.
Quote:
Did you try to take it to a dry cleaner & see what they can do for you???
Good suggestion, although it wouldn't be worth the cost. Actually, I've had dry cleaners ruin lots of my clothing.... probably 20% I've ever sent to them. You can't believe the terror I have when I really need to use one. I do most of it at home with Dryel home dry cleaning kits, which are good for freshening clothing... not sure it would be useful in this situation with such a strong smell.
Well, today I'll soak the hat in vinegar for an hour. On the link Ray provided, it also suggested saturating it in lemon juice then using salt (I forget the instructions, but the link is very useful for all sorts of mishaps & odors)... that will be my 2nd try. I also happened passed a dingy but very cool, tiny discount store yesterday, stopped in for some 99-cent cleaning products & found a bar of Zote laundry soap in one of the far back isles. I don't know that I've ever seen that brand, but my mum used (& made her own) washing soap when I was but a wee lass & I recognize that smell. Perhaps after the vinegar soak, I'll give that a whirl & let it dry.
I wash everything wool in the washer (scarves, afghans, even cashmere sweaters etc) ...on cold water of course and the delicate cycle...also use plenty of softener....
but NO dryer, let dry outside, away from sun.
Could this help you??
Quote:
Originally Posted by PatanjaliTwist
Perhaps my wording was misleading. I'm not sure it is true mold... it's that Salvation Army 2nd hand clothing smell one notices in all thrift shops. Perhaps the remedy would be the same, but I'm not sure it's actual mold... it just smells moldy-ish, for lack of a better, actual word.
Good suggestion, although it wouldn't be worth the cost. Actually, I've had dry cleaners ruin lots of my clothing.... probably 20% I've ever sent to them. You can't believe the terror I have when I really need to use one. I do most of it at home with Dryel home dry cleaning kits, which are good for freshening clothing... not sure it would be useful in this situation with such a strong smell.
Well, today I'll soak the hat in vinegar for an hour. On the link Ray provided, it also suggested saturating it in lemon juice then using salt (I forget the instructions, but the link is very useful for all sorts of mishaps & odors)... that will be my 2nd try. I also happened passed a dingy but very cool, tiny discount store yesterday, stopped in for some 99-cent cleaning products & found a bar of Zote laundry soap in one of the far back isles. I don't know that I've ever seen that brand, but my mum used (& made her own) washing soap when I was but a wee lass & I recognize that smell. Perhaps after the vinegar soak, I'll give that a whirl & let it dry.
I wash everything wool in the washer (scarves, afghans, even cashmere sweaters etc) ...on cold water of course and the delicate cycle...also use plenty of softener....
but NO dryer, let dry outside, away from sun.
Could this help you??
Sure could, GBH, thanks. I'm not as daring to add all you do to an aggitating washer, even if they're protected in small mesh bags first... you're bravely awesome... but I do wash many 'dry clean only' garments by hand & have rarely had a problem. Adding softener, even to handwashables, is a great tip... I never use it, but it would certainly help in many situations.
I also don't have an outdoor place in which to dry clothing... a small windy balcony but no hooks, lines, etc. A small wooden rack (the ones my mum used many years ago) just might blow over, but I could use one indoors. I'll keep an eye out for one in my travels.
I'm soaking the hat now in vinegar, then will wash it in the hand soap (I live in a flat at the moment & have a communal w/d, so I'll toss it in the next time I have laundry)... will report back.
In case washing the hat doesn't work . . . any time you have an item with a musty smell, put the item in a bag and completely cover it with kitty litter. Make sure the bag is air tight. Leave it in the bag for at least 24 hours.
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There really isn't a Clothing or Sewing forum & I didn't think Fashion was the place for it. 
