Febreeze Laundry Odor Eliminator

[cruisnfamily]

So I've searched the internet for something to help remove odors from laundry. Specifically the musty kind of smell in towels after a while and the underarm odor in shirts.

I've tried vinegar with no noticeable difference. I've tried it in the wash and in the rinse and soaking, etc. I know lots of people swear by it but it didn't do anything for me.

So I came across this product which gets absolutely fabulous reviews on every website I could find. So I bought some. I've only used it on a few loads but I don't notice a difference. The icky BO odor is still on the shirts.

So has this product worked for anybody? What am I doing wrong? Any feedback or helpful hints for me?

 

[OK!]

I haven't tried that one, but I have used Tide Sport that's designed to remove sweat odor and stains and it's been fantastic so far. I've been running/walking 10 miles a morning and, until this morning when it was a glorious 65 degrees out, have been sweating profusely (gross, I know). This stuff has really been a lifesaver.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I pre treat my husband's work out shirts and towels with spray n wash or use the Tide Sport. I spray it on or just pour it on the gross spots and throw it over a curtain rod to set for usually a day.

Hav you checked your washing machine? I've ready recently about HE washing machines having a funk odor. Might be something to check out.

 

[golfgal]

I have tried some of these things after DH left towels in the washing machine for a week and then "dried" them. Nothing worked. I ended up buying new towels. Once something has been dried, it is next to impossible to get any smells out permanently.

 

[Robinrs]

I got this from my old Daycare provider, use ammonia with your detergent. Even gets out CAT urine smells, which is unbelievable!

 

[cruisnfamily]

It's not the washer because it's not like all the clothes smell. Most of them don't.

DD17 has some shirts that just seem to hold odor. But others don't, perhaps it's a certain kind of material. On these shirts, if you smell the shirt when moving it from washer to dryer, WOW, it could knock you out. I guess these odors have been dried in, many times. Maybe they won't ever come out now. Wonder if I could rub this stuff into the shirt where the odors are.

As far as the towels. They're hung up after each use and they don't smell awful or anything. Just that "old" kind of musty smell. Not moldy or mildewy or anythign horrible.

 

[torismom]

I use a product I found at Wal Mart called Odo-Ban. It has taken care of that towel smell.

 

[Imzadi]

I love the Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator! It is so pricey, though. I do have to use a whole capfull or two, or twice as much as they recommend. Also, if your towels are really skunky, allowing them to soak in the Febreze for a while will work better.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Ammonia
Vinegar
Pet enzyme (the stuff you buy to get rid of pet smells)

I've had good luck with ALL of these to remove stubborn smells.

 

[Abbie]

When towels get forgotten in the washer and need to be rewashed, I use a scoop of Oxyclean, along with regular detergent. No more odor!

 

[dismom2005]

I was having a similar issue when I was using the newer laundry soap with lavender...for some reason it left a stink in the laundry. I have been using laundry detergent with bleach alternative (Purex) and it's much better.

 

[cruisnfamily]

I love the Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator! It is so pricey, though. I do have to use a whole capfull or two, or twice as much as they recommend. Also, if your towels are really skunky, allowing them to soak in the Febreze for a while will work better.

No, the towels are not bad at all. Just kinda old smelling. It's really the underarm odor in DD's shirts. And it's not every shirt, just some of them.

So tell me, do you use 2 capfulls in every washload? Or just when you know you are washing something particularly smelly? Or do you just use 1 capful sometimes or not add it in at all sometimes? I was thinking I would need to use it every load.

Can I pretreat or rub the stuff in to the underarm areas of the shirt? Will it remove the odor even though the shirts have been dried many times.

I found it for $12ish at drugstore.com and $8ish at walmart.com. Not cheap but so worth it if it can remove the odor.

 

[Imzadi]

No, the towels are not bad at all. Just kinda old smelling. It's really the underarm odor in DD's shirts. And it's not every shirt, just some of them.

So tell me, do you use 2 capfulls in every washload? Or just when you know you are washing something particularly smelly? Or do you just use 1 capfull sometimes or not add it in at all sometimes? I was thinking I would need to use it every load.

Can I pretreat or rub the stuff in to the underarm areas of the shirt? Will it remove the odor even though the shirts have been dried many times.

I found it for $12ish at drugstore.com and $8ish at walmart.com. Not cheap but so worth it if it can remove the odor.

2 capfulls the first few times. It really got rid of embedded odors.

Then sometimes I cut down to 1 capfull or I have tried switching to vinegar or baking soda. But, vinegar just doesn't do it for me. I've actually poured in almost a full quart bottle, and it doesn't remove enough of the odor.

So, I end up going back to 2 capfulls of the Febreze. I should just stick with it. I don't have a Walmart nearby. So I end up getting it at Drugstore.com when they have free shipping for repeat customers.

I haven't tried pouring it directly on stuff. That actually sounds like a great idea.

I saw this tip once, that I thought about doing for particularly stinky stuff, adapting it to the Febreze, of course. (It was originally about pet odors.)

"I put the soiled clothes in a trash bag, poured in as much [Febreze mixed with water] in as I could, tied the top shut, and let it "marinate" for about a day, rolling the bag over every hour or two to distribute the [Febreze mixture] thoroughly. They came out great. "​

 

[EeyoreEma]

A friend says to use ammonia. I haven't tried it yet, just because it's such a strong chemical smell. I don't know if I want to go that route! It seems to work for us when we use hot water on a cycle if it has towels or sweaty work out clothes.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Try putting less clothing in the machine and washing on hot.

 

[cruisnfamily]

2 capfulls the first few times. It really got rid of embedded odors.

Then sometimes I cut down to 1 capfull or I have tried switching to vinegar or baking soda. But, vinegar just doesn't do it for me. I've actually poured in almost a full quart bottle, and it doesn't remove enough of the odor.

So, I end up going back to 2 capfulls of the Febreze. I should just stick with it. I don't have a Walmart nearby. So I end up getting it at Drugstore.com when they have free shipping for repeat customers.

I haven't tried pouring it directly on stuff. That actually sounds like a great idea.

I saw this tip once, that I thought about doing for particularly stinky stuff, adapting it to the Febreze, of course. (It was originally about pet odors.)

"I put the soiled clothes in a trash bag, poured in as much [Febreze mixed with water] in as I could, tied the top shut, and let it "marinate" for about a day, rolling the bag over every hour or two to distribute the [Febreze mixture] thoroughly. They came out great. "​

Vinegar doesn't do it for me either but I must be doing something wrong because lots and lots of people swear by it and say it does great things. I haven't noticed any difference when I use it.

As far as not having a walmart nearby, walmart.com with 97 cent shipping still makes it about $4 cheaper than drugstore.com

 

[Imzadi]

Vinegar doesn't do it for me either but I must be doing something wrong because lots and lots of people swear by it and say it does great things. I haven't noticed any difference when I use it.

Yes, sometimes I wonder if it's not some placebo effect. They are told vinegar makes clothes smell fresher and they think it does.

It DOES soften my towels. But, they still smell.

As far as not having a walmart nearby, walmart.com with 97 cent shipping still makes it about $4 cheaper than drugstore.com

Oooo! Thank you! I hadn't thought about Walmart.com.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Oh, and also, glad to hear it does help with the embedded odors. I'll keep trying and see if I agree.

 

[sunnyday123]

I honestly have never heard of this problem unless you were leaving clothes in the washer for days.

 

[cruisnfamily]

I honestly have never heard of this problem unless you were leaving clothes in the washer for days.

You've never heard of having some clothes retain the perspiration odor? Or towels to get kind of old/musty smelling? I guess you're very lucky! The towel thing is very minor, I'm more bothered by the perspiration odor that stays in some fabrics.