Getting sickly sweet perfume/laundry detergent smell out of thrift store sweater?

[AmyAnne]

Yesterday I bought a fleece sweater at at thrift store, and when I got it home I realized it smells--like perfume, or a sweetly scented laundry detergent.

I soaked it overnight in baking soda, which helped, but did not totalyy get rid of the smell. I am about to try soaking it in vinegar.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Disneylover03]

I would suggest the vinegar option.
I even throw vinegar in my rinse especially with towels...there is no smell afterward and the towels are so fluffy and very absorbent!.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

A fleece should be machine washable. Why not just run it through a regular wash?

 

[SDSorority]

I would suggest the vinegar option.
I even throw vinegar in my rinse especially with towels...there is no smell afterward and the towels are so fluffy and very absorbent!.

I second this! Maybe do another baking soda soak, then a vinegar rinse.

 

[sbsteel]

A fleece should be machine washable. Why not just run it through a regular wash?

Right? I'd just wash it as instructed and see if there is any residual scent and then go from there.

 

[disykat]

The OP is right to soak it etc. first. A regular wash won't do it.

I use fragrance free products only due to allergies. If some of the kid's friend's clothes end up in our laundry I always am surprised when folding them how I strongly I can still smell their family's laundry products.

 

[wiigirl]

Works miracles.

 

[AmyAnne]

Thanks for the suggestions. Right now it's soaking in vinegar, so we'll see.

I haven't run it through the washing machine because I don't want that smell in my other clothes. It might be fine if I washed it by itself, but I am a little paranoid about this sort of thing. I only use fragrance free detergent, and no chemical softeners or stain removers.

I am surprised I didn't notice the smell when I bought it--and I probably should just donate it (it was not at all expensive) but I feel like I should at least try to get the smell out.

 

[bjscheel]

You should be able to get it out eventually. I also use only the clear & free detergents and can definitely tell when I come across something washed in a strongly scented detergent. I buy lots of used clothes and it generally comes out in a wash or two.

The worst was when I bought snow boots on eBay and they were shipped with dryer sheets inside them! They could about knock you over. They had to sit in storage for a year and so younger daughter used them instead.