Anybody know how to get the "old" smell out of woo

[C.f.M.]

It might be a wool blend, but I'm fairly certain it pre-dates such an idea.

Tried:

dry + fabric softener sheet
coating it in baking soda
hanging it outside in the sun + febreeze

I reeeeeeaaaaaalllllly want to turn it into my "playa coat," but just cannot get the musty smell gone...

[Ugly Dougly]

Did you wash it? Dry clean? Exorcism?

[C.f.M.]

Did you wash it? Dry clean? Exorcism?

Don't want to risk ruining it...last time I took something to a dry cleaners, to get rid of the odor, they refused to take it.

[Boijoy]

I had the same problem with a leopard print faux coat. I never did get the musty smell or the grimy feel off of it. I ended up getting rid of it.


Call a dry cleaner & see what they recommend. I was told the febreeze & sunlight thing. didn't work AND I live in Nevada.

[illy dilly]

Maybe instead of getting rid of the odor, change it to something else (not patchouli). Maybe get some lavender oil or something, mix it with water in the bath tube and let it soak for a while.

[Sail Man]

Hmmm, hang it in a smokehouse with some nice mesquite?

[illy dilly]

Hmmm, hang it in a smokehouse with some nice mesquite?

That sounds pretty good too!
Actually, maybe not. If i walked around smelling like misquote all day, I'd end up eating tell I puked.

[C.f.M.]

I reckon I'll try a dry cleaner again...and wish I could fix the title of the thread! Smell out of woo...a problem on the playa.

(vagina)

I don't know how I'd get some other funk on it - might compound it. No water. If I could wash it, I could throw some white vinegar in and take care of it. I'm skeert of getting the wool wet. Even hand washing cold, I've had poor results in the past.

[C.f.M.]

I hate smelling like misquote. I always do my best to provide sources.

[Fire_Moose]

I thought it was gonna be "How do i get the old smell outta wood?"


i Woulda directed you to OED

[motskyroonmatick]

http://www.wikihow.com/Wash-Wool

Perhaps this will be helpful.

[C.f.M.]

http://www.wikihow.com/Wash-Wool

Perhaps this will be helpful.

Yeah, I've washed wool, but it didn't turn out so great.

"I'm skeert of getting the wool wet. Even hand washing cold, I've had poor results in the past."

I think I'm going to try another dry cleaner - the one I went to before isn't in business anymore, sooooo...

[gyre]

Ask around about dry cleaners.
There are only one or two here that are good at this.

[Ugly Dougly]

Yeah, I've washed wool, but it didn't turn out so great.

Doesn't seem too great as it is.

[ConnieH]

maybe try spraying a mist of white vinegar on it, instead of soaking it?

Or lightly steam with scented water? I don't think a light steam would shrink it, so long as you were careful not to get it soaking wet.

Incense smoke??

[crstophr]

A few years ago I bought a commercial ozone machine. These things produce shock levels of O3. O3 does a great job of breaking down and oxidizing organic molecules, and because it's in gas form it can penetrate walls, floors, fabrics, etc. It has a half life of about 20 minutes and quickly disperses with a little time and/or airing out. Theses things produce toxic levels of ozone so you have to get pets, plants, and people out of the treatment area. We love this little machine. It kills the strongest odors, and leaves a slight "bleach like" odor for about a day (remnant o3) .. then... nothing, no odors at all. It'll kill litter box, pet accidents, smoke, and it's fantastic at killing mold, etc. It won't kill some odors (like odor masking sprays =(). It doesn't hurt our furniture, electronics, or clothing. If you attach a hose to it, and feed it into a tupperware tub with a lid, you can put your clothing inside for a nice, contained, high dose, treatment. Your musty smell sounds like mold to me. This would be a great way to get rid of it.

[Bob]

Let a hippie wear it for a month, it won't smell the same.

[Elorrum]

I thought it was gonna be "How do i get the old smell outta wood?"

Funny, me too. then I thought, what does old wood smell like, and is it a playa dust issue? I haven't a clue as to an answer, sorry. I thought outdoors and sun... maybe days of it. Or a giant ziploc and a sachet or cedar?

[C.f.M.]

maybe try spraying a mist of white vinegar on it, instead of soaking it?

Or lightly steam with scented water? I don't think a light steam would shrink it, so long as you were careful not to get it soaking wet.

Incense smoke??

Ah yes! Spritz with vinegar, good idea!

In my (vast) experience steaming vintage stuff, it really brings out whatever latent odor is hiding in the fabric. And, again, wet heat + wool...dunno.

"Let a hippie wear it for a month, it won't smell the same."

Uh-no. The only thing I'm going to let a hippie wear is some bacon on their head, and lighter fluid on their feet.

[ygmir]

and here, I clicked on this thread, thinking you were dating the old Chinese guy from "Deadwood"...............

[C.f.M.]

and here, I clicked on this thread, thinking you were dating the old Chinese guy from "Deadwood"...............

Ah yes, thanks to him, I know exactly what to do with a body.

I mean, how to get miners laundry really clean.

[Token]

For the O3 method, find a hockey rink. They will have a service for hockey gear that uses the magic O3 machine mentioned above.

It really does work like magic.

[Ugly Dougly]

[Bounce530]

After a few hours on the playa it will have that funky dust smell anyway.

[theCryptofishist]

Oddly enough, Woolite is not for wool these days. Now it's for "unmentionables" which are typically polyester.

(This is secret lore from the Underground Tribe of Knitters, so don't tell anyone.)

[SilverFly]

There was a fire in my apartment not too long ago, and in order to get the smoke out of the clothes I salvaged, we doused my clothes in baking soda and put in the washer with white vinegar and alcohol. We first used some moonshine (yes - moonshine) that my stepfather had, then downgraded to Georgi. I'm sure you can use rubbing alcohol as well. This process worked for most of my clothes. I'm not sure how it will work with wool but it's a different suggestion from the others.

[misfit]

biological sprays such as medi-aire. we use them in our rigs to kill odors, and yes we use them on wool blankets with no spotting to fabric. even took the smell of death out of a leather jacket...

[C.f.M.]

biological sprays such as medi-aire. we use them in our rigs to kill odors, and yes we use them on wool blankets with no spotting to fabric. even took the smell of death out of a leather jacket...

Is that something commercially available?

[Ugly Dougly]

Surely your SCA buddies wash woolen costumes on regular basis. I sure do.
Cool water, hang dry.