Favorite home treatment for seriously smelly clothes? (how much, washer, washing)

[jacqueg]

I know, if a good wash doesn't work, just throw them out. But I want to make an effort to rescue them, for several reasons. What would you try?

[TerraDown]

Baking soda and Gain detergent.

[Threerun]

Baking soda.

[ClaraC]

Do they smell from something other than human body odor? (For example, skunk, fire, mothballs, mildew)?

[Tenebrae]

You can try vinegar or vodka sprays as well. Vinegar is what I used on a garment that my cat peed all over. Worked great.

-T.

[jacqueg]

Originally Posted by ClaraC

Do they smell from something other than human body odor? (For example, skunk, fire, mothballs, mildew)?

Yes, it's a strongly rotten odor. No visible mildew, but I have to wonder...

The result of bad storage conditions.

[jacqueg]

Originally Posted by Tenebrae

You can try vinegar or vodka sprays as well. Vinegar is what I used on a garment that my cat peed all over. Worked great.

-T.

Straight or diluted?

I did put vinegar in the wash water, but I may not have added enough.

[jacqueg]

Originally Posted by TerraDown

Baking soda and Gain detergent.

How much baking soda?

[littlelou]

many years ago when I was involved with a rec sports league I used to have to wash the pullovers that a team would wear if their jerseys were too closely colored to the home team. Helping the referee recognize teams. I would pour at least 1 cup of ammonia in the washer to get rid of the stank!!! I have also had a wool sweater that got sweaty and I put vinegar on a cloth and dabbed the armpits til they were damp and I couldn't smell the sweat any more.

[Tenebrae]

Originally Posted by jacqueg

Straight or diluted?

I did put vinegar in the wash water, but I may not have added enough.

Diluted, and you should always test on your fabric first to make sure whatever you're using won't damage the fabric. I used a spray bottle with vinegar mixed with water. I can't remember the ratio because I found it on a historical costuming mailing list 10 or so years ago and then promptly forgot it.
I use baking soda based laundry soap and vinegar "liquid fabric softener" diluted in my wash for hubby's smelly gym clothes. Works a treat. I only use 1/8 cup vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser of my machine diluted with another 1/8 cup water. For the cat pee clothes, though, I think I sprayed them and let them sit for a while before rinsing. I did find a few articles online suggesting soaking right in the washing machine with up to a cup of white vinegar. Again, I would suggest checking what the fabric does when exposed to high concentrations of vinegar because it will damage some materials (and washing machines, apparently).

-T.