After I washed it there was an "old" odor about it. I can't quite describe it--not mildew or mold, just old. I was so disappointed. I've done this before and had to pass on the fabric after several washes didn't remove the odor. But I really liked these fabrics so I decided to try to get rid of the smell.
No photos of the process here but you can imagine it. I put the fabrics in a bath of vinegar water and let them sit for a few days, then rinsed them. Still the smell. So I put some blue Dawn dish detergent into a large container, added water and the fabrics and let them sit for several days. I was so pleased that they smelled fresh and clean without any hint of old odor. Next, I machine-washed them and they were fresh and fine. (Caveat: Use Dawn only for soaking, not as a substitute for laundry detergent in your washer.)
I love these fabrics for their bright energy but have no idea how I will use them. The one on the left is only a fat quarter and the one on the right is a half yard.
I also saved these pieces of fabric. They will be easier to use. These range from 8" squares to about 2 yards.
If you find you've purchased fabrics that have an odor, how do you get the smell out? What has worked for you in the past?
--Nancy.
I can't say that I recall ending up with fabrics with an odor, even though I have purchased from thrift stores and yard sales before. However, I did have a bottle of oil leak in my suitcase onto a relatively new pair of jeans this summer, so I am thrilled to learn what Blue Dawn can do for them. I haven't even put them through the dryer--I just keep washing them and hanging them to dry, trying not to set the stain in. Thanks for the info, Nancy. You found some fun fabrics, and I am glad to hear you were able to get them smelling fresh and clean.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet. So glad this post was helpful. It's awful to get oil on clothes, isn't it? You might need to let the Dawn sit on the oil spot for a few days and, if I were you, I wouldn't put the jeans in the dryer after the first wash. I would check them after they're dry to see if the spot is gone. If it's not, you could use Dawn a second time then wash them again. You probably don't have much problem with clothes drying but here in Ohio with often have high humidity and some things can take 24 hours to dry.
DeleteThanks for the Dawn tip! I will be the recipient of some donated fabric soon that has already been identified as having an odor and this, hopefully, will make it useable as the charity has intended. (Fingers crossed along with a hefty appreciation of having my own washer and dryer!)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Katie. I hope Dawn works on whatever odors the fabric coming to you has. I don't know how many odors (as in cigarette smoke, mildew, etc.) Dawn will take care of. Maybe you could let me know? And yes, great appreciate for having a washer and dryer!
DeleteIsn't Blue Dawn the most amazing product! I've used it in combination with powdered Biz to soak old yellowed fabrics with great success.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think Dawn is like a magic formula sometimes Pat. That's a great piece of information to combine Biz and blue Dawn to pre-soak yellowed fabrics. Do you use specific proportions? We were at an antique fair where a lady had a huge booth of old linens, all looking pristine. I asked her how she managed it. I don't think she wanted to give away trade secrets (she said she tried a huge variety of things to get linens white) but did mention using Biz. I'll give that combination a try.
DeleteGlad you were able to find a solution. That blue Dawn is magic.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robin. I was thrilled that Dawn worked.
DeleteInteresting and useful info about the Dawn. Thx for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Jennie. I know others have used Dawn for other things but I didn't realize it had the power to remove odors. So grateful.
DeleteI've never noticed an odor in fabrics, but I use vintage fabrics and lace that I always soak in blue Dawn for freshness, air drying in the dun when possible. I also use it for stains, as you did the oil stain, very affective.
ReplyDeleteThe only textile [s / there were two quilts now I am recalling] i ever had that was terribly smelly was a flea market quilt that was so encrusted with cigar smoke and nicotine that it appeared brown. Not touchable without gloves, took it home in a black trash bag. I soaked it in repeated baths of cold water, in the bathtub. For days. Finally it emerged no longer dark brown, sort of tan or ecru. I was ready to give up so I washed it in Tide, my mom's go to detergent, and Clorox 2. Imagine my open mouthed shock when it finally came out of the washer, bright, vibrant turkey red and ''poison'' green, just so beautiful, perhaps c 1840-50. The other then got the same treatment, it was one of those X mosaic blocks, and it too was beautiful. I sold that one for a good amount right away on eBay.
Your fabric finds are wonderful, well worth the effort.
lizzy
Wow about opening the washer to turkey red and poison green after seeing tan/ecru. Amazing. I've always heard that Tide is hard on clothes so don't use it but in a situation like this, when about to give up anyway, I would certainly give it a try. Amazing recovery of an old quilt, Lizzy! Do you still have the quilt? You've probably blogged about it before?
DeleteMy effort with these fabrics seems so tiny compared to your repeated soaking of a whole quilt in a bathtub!
I'm glad it worked out with your fabrics! I won a half portion of a "jelly roll" in a guild raffle and when I got it home I realized that it smelled horribly of cigarette smoke and I will admit I threw it away. Now I know if something like that happens again, persistence... and Dawn to the rescue. Thank you for the tip!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome for the tip, Cynthia. I don't know if Dawn gets out cigarette odors but I suppose it would be worth a try. I think cleaning the fabrics in a jelly roll would be much more challenging than in fat quarters or yards. Jelly rolls end up as twisted strings! But, it would be worth a try, especially if the fabrics are fabulous.
DeleteThanks so much for this tip--glad you were able to salvage these lovely fabrics. Hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Julierose. I'm pleased to have salvaged the fabrics, too!
DeleteWhen I laundered a L-O-N-G piece of yardage I safety pinned along the length so it would not twist as much in the machine and turned out OK. That MIGHT work with jelly roll stuff too. Thank you for these tips.
ReplyDeleteI've thought about trying this before, QuiltGranma, and now that I know it works I'll probably do it the next time I have yardage to wash. Thanks!
ReplyDelete