How to get cigarette smoke smell out of comforter?

[npmommie]

Honestly I can't believe people sometimes.

.

I guess this is aimed at me??
Chill out it was only two articles about 3rd hand smoke and the articles did talk about bedding and clothing.

If you read anything else i posted it was suggestions to help.

 

[aprilgail2]

Every time my son went to stay at his paternal grandparents' home, he and everything he took with him came back reeking of smoke..

My daughter never went to her grandmothers house for this reason! It was so bad that even when she gave her a gift most of the time we never brought it in our home because of the smell!

I shop at thrift stores and yard sales all the time but I draw the line at used bedding. Nevernevernever. ICK!
.

I feel the same way about clothes at yard sales and thrift stores- it grosses me out.

OP vinegar may work if you wash it enough times and hang it outside to dry-but by the time you pay for all the water, detergant, vinegar, electric you may be spending more that just buying a nice new one on sale!

 

[Coconut36]

I guess this is aimed at me??
Chill out it was only two articles about 3rd hand smoke and the articles did talk about bedding and clothing.

If you read anything else i posted it was suggestions to help.

No it's not..so you chill out.

I was referencing the poster asking if the child will get used underwear and the others making a huge hoopla out of a second hand comforter like it is the source of all evil to use/get one.

 

[npmommie]

No it's not..so you chill out.

I was referencing the poster asking if the child will get used underwear and the others making a huge hoopla out of a second hand comforter like it is the source of all evil to use/get one.

Sorry! I thought it was aimed at me! I apologize for my snark!
I do need to chill out

 

[sookie]

Cigarette smoke is such a trigger for kids.
I would toss it. Once smoke permeates a fabric it is hard to get rid of. Febreeze is just as bad.

 

[kaligal]

Wash itin hot water with extra soap and rinse it to death with a good amount of that yellow-capped Downy.

Smoke isn't like cat pee. It comes out.

There is nothing wrong with taking (or buying) hand-me-downs.

 

[torinsmom]

Sometimes people do what they can. It may not be up to your standards, but it is something. The majority of people do absolutely nothing at all.

Your comments are mean and unnecessary.

OP, I think your best bet (assuming you don't want to use bleach on dark material) is a Borax soak followed by a wash in very hot water. Then hang it out to dry in the sunlight outside (you can run it through the dryer first to avoid mustiness) for a few days (bring it in at night). If that doesn't work, the comforter is a total loss.

I, for one, think taking in a foster child is wonderful of you.

Thanks! This has been on my heart for years, but I feel like I am finally ready to do it. I see it as a way to help not only the child, but the bio family as well. I am assuming many of them will be younger than me(I'm 41) and maybe I can be a role model in their lives as well. I can't wait to meet my foster child

Most of the time, when a foster child
leaves a home, they do leave everything behind. It is not like they are going to take all of the comforters from the homes they live in.

In regards to the clothes, they usually have only the clothes on them, but the foster care worker will provide money for the parents to go out and buy additional clothes. It is not a lot of money, but it is something to help.

You may want to rethink yelling at the OP just because she is trying to stretch her funds to go further.

In our foster care class, we were told our state no longer provides clothing vouchers. They suggest you have some basic clothing in different sizes available to help until you are able to go shopping. They don't provide car seats or boosters either, so I may need to buy a car seat as well. That I would only buy new unless a close friend or family member was done with one that was not expired and had not been in an accident. I have a booster seat, as I baby sit every afternoon.

Did the vinegar work?

My DH is a firefighter and that is what I use on his clothes when he gets home from a fire or a live burn. It always takes care of the smell. It may take a couple of washes, but it always comes out. And that smoke smell is crazy nasty when he gets home. I make him leave his clothes in the garage until i can wash them because it smells so bad.

Yes, the vinegar along with borax worked. I can't smell a thing, and I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke.

I understand that some people are thinking of how there are foster parents who do it for the money and treat the kids badly. Unfortunately, you don't know me. I became a teacher because I love kids. I always thought I'd have more, but after a divorce when my son was 3, I never remarried. I see this as a way to feed my need to nurture and eventually, to add to my family, as well as help a child in need. I plan to spoil these kids, but that doesn't mean I will buy them brand new things every day. It means I will shower them with love and help them learn to trust and love, despite what has happened in their lives. I will help them see that things can change for the better. I hope to send them back to their home stronger and happier than when they left. Maybe this is a fantasy, but I am going to try.

 

[duffy]

You know, it was possible to just post something in the lines of, "I just bought a secondhand comforter, I didn't realize how badly it smells of smoke, anyone know how to get the smell out?" Why not just google it?

Why even bring the foster child into the question? Unless, of course, you wanted a pat on the back.

Instead of looking and coming across all noble and kind, original poster, it looks like you don't care if a child has to sleep with stinky bedding. Why not give it to your own child, if it's so great now? Or put it on your own bed, and give up your own comforter to the child?

Good luck.

 

[Ponygirl]

Torinsmom, by providing a stable home life and even a small amount of love, you are giving a child a very precious gift. I admire foster parents, and I think you are wonderful to make a spot in your life and your home for a child. Thank you!

I would love to read occasional updates and progress reports if you are willing to share.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Torinsmom, by providing a stable home life and even a small amount of love, you are giving a child a very precious gift. I admire foster parents, and I think you are wonderful to make a spot in your life and your home for a child. Thank you!

I would love to read occasional updates and progress reports if you are willing to share.

Me too.

 

[acourtwdw]

I didn't read the entire thread since I don't want to read how judge-y, for lack of a better word, that others are being.

However here is my advice on how to remove the odor out of the comforter: Hang it in a closet ( or an area) that seals tightly with charcoal briquettes sitting underneath it. That is how I got the smokey smell out of a car once.

 

[taylor3297]

That may be the final verdict, but I'd like to try and get it out first. I have it in the wash with vinegar and borax right now. I used cold water in the first wash(its a dark comforter) but this time I used hot water.

Vinegar is your best bet. My stepmom had to clean out my grandmothers room after she died. My grandmother was a heavy smoker. She used vinegar on the walls, draperies and bedding. After a couple of washes everything smelled ok.

 

[punkin]

Me too.

Me three.

...and I think OP deserves a pat on the back!!!

 

[torinsmom]

You know, it was possible to just post something in the lines of, "I just bought a secondhand comforter, I didn't realize how badly it smells of smoke, anyone know how to get the smell out?" Why not just google it?

Why even bring the foster child into the question? Unless, of course, you wanted a pat on the back.

Instead of looking and coming across all noble and kind, original poster, it looks like you don't care if a child has to sleep with stinky bedding. Why not give it to your own child, if it's so great now? Or put it on your own bed, and give up your own comforter to the child?

Good luck.

Funny, how only a couple of posters took my OP that way I don't know why I mentioned the foster child thing, except that maybe I am way excited about it right now. And there is the fact that some posters would have asked questions and then blasted me for not giving all the info in the OP. You can't win for losing on the Dis.

I actually would use it on my son's bed(it is black and white checked and fits the color scheme of his room), but he uses a full size, not a twin. And I have a queen size bed, so it wouldn't work for me either. I got all the smoke smell out and I'd have no problem using it for either one of us.

 

[torinsmom]

I just want to say that I hope some people aren't as judgmental in their every day lives as they are here. I actually visualize some of the most hateful posters here to be agoraphobics who are as meek as mice in real life. I can't imagine ever saying some of the things people post on here to another human being. Honestly, I have never posted anything here I wouldn't say to someone's face in the same situation.

BTW, I did google it, but thought I'd get opinions form the Dis'ers as well, since we are an experienced lot. For once, I thought I had posted something that couldn't stir up trouble. Guess I have a lot to learn.....

 

[aprilgail2]

You know, it was possible to just post something in the lines of, "I just bought a secondhand comforter, I didn't realize how badly it smells of smoke, anyone know how to get the smell out?" Why not just google it?

Why even bring the foster child into the question? Unless, of course, you wanted a pat on the back.

Instead of looking and coming across all noble and kind, original poster, it looks like you don't care if a child has to sleep with stinky bedding. Why not give it to your own child, if it's so great now? Or put it on your own bed, and give up your own comforter to the child?

Good luck.

Wow- I just have to say that I think anyone that is a foster parent DESERVES a pat on the back. I personally wouldn't give a child that came from a second hand type background second hand anything but that is just me, it- But the OP says she gets used clothes for her own kid so its not like she is buying her own son new clothes and giving the foster child used ones...

 

[kaligal]

You know, it was possible to just post something in the lines of, "I just bought a secondhand comforter, I didn't realize how badly it smells of smoke, anyone know how to get the smell out?" Why not just google it?

Why even bring the foster child into the question? Unless, of course, you wanted a pat on the back.

Instead of looking and coming across all noble and kind, original poster, it looks like you don't care if a child has to sleep with stinky bedding. Why not give it to your own child, if it's so great now? Or put it on your own bed, and give up your own comforter to the child?

Good luck.

I don't know why you got that impression. She didn't say that. She didnt say anything close to that.

In fact, she stated the opposite.

You were very harsh for absolutely no reason.

If I had to pick someone to entrust a child to, just based on this thread, I'd pick the OP before you.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I can't believe how nasty some posters are being. Yes, thrift store shopping is not for every but there's no need to be mean.
Personally I think its pretty ridiculous that some posters are telling the OP to go buy some crappy, clearance $10 comforter or clearance out of season clothes. Have any of you actually ever gone to a thrift store?

None of you have any idea about the type of comforter she bought or its quality. Its the same with the clothes too. You do realize that all those brands that are popular with kids are available in the thrift store, right? I highly doubt some kid in going to feel bad because the North Face (just an example of something popular with kids) jacket didn't have a tag on it. Yeah, I bet a clearance Target jacket would make a kid feel so much better because they got to pick it off the clearance rack.

 

[duffy]

Yes, as I stated, I go to thrift stores a lot. I won't buy secondhand comforters. Yuck.

I'm also not agoraphobic.

I guess the fact that the original poster figures secondhand bedding is good enough for the foster child rubs me the wrong way. That she thinks it's good enough for ANYONE grosses me out, but hey-it's for a foster child, so that's ok.

 

[Tiggerrific]

Yes, as I stated, I go to thrift stores a lot. I won't buy secondhand comforters. Yuck.

I'm also not agoraphobic.

I guess the fact that the original poster figures secondhand bedding is good enough for the foster child rubs me the wrong way. That she thinks it's good enough for ANYONE grosses me out, but hey-it's for a foster child, so that's ok.

Ok so should we judge you on your obvious inability to read and comprehend the rest of the post along with the OP. I hope you never fall off that high horse and the only thing laying around to stop your bleeding is something from a thrift store (yuck). We get it you don't agree, why continue to post. Oh and don't look at my picture in my Sig I might just be wearing second hand clothes