Urgent Help Please! (updated with pictures)

[hunter1211]

I had just finsished 9 family shirts, 4 princess shirts and 1 tinkerbell shirt for my trip this past week. Well, I dh and I decided we didn't want to do the vinegar wash. (I know it's a big debate on here to do it or not.) Anyway, we couldn't stand the smokey smell the shirts still had. So, this morning I decided to try and spray some fabric febreeze on a couple.

I had turned them inside out and when I reached inside one of the stick family ones to feel if it dry, my finger accidently ran across it and smeared some of one of the minnie people's red dress onto the white background!!!

Does anyone know how I can get that out and/or how I can get the odor out of the shirts without making them bleed? Why are they bleeding? Dh said that we can buy some more and I can redo them, but I am just scared they will bleed again too!

Help please! We leave in 2 weeks and I am almost in tears over this.

 

[hunter1211]

Anyone? Oh, and I forgot to mention I used HP dark transfer paper.

 

[tinkerbell/pixie]

I am sorry this happened.The smell would have aired out if you let them hang after ironing.. I am not sure you can fix the smear at this point. You could wash them after the iron on next time to get the smell out. I always use hp and do not do the vinegar wash and just hang shirts after doing the iron on.

 

[hunter1211]

Thanks!

I did hang them immediately after iron them on and then put them in my closet hanging for the rest of the week. (I got them done Wednesday.) All week every time I put walk into my closet I smell the smoky smell. (and we aren't smokers. lol ) So, that is why I wanted to try and get the smell out.

 

[tinkerbell/pixie]

I am not sure if it makes a difference but I hung them out in the open. We are not smokers either and ds is an asthmatic so I wanted to get rid of the smell also. The ones I didn't wash before wearing I packed in the suitcase with dryer sheets.They were fine by the time we got there. But I also packed weeks ahead so they had a lot of time to sit in the suitcase.

 

[hunter1211]

I did some researching and the HP site says .......

" To make sure your designs remain vibrant, follow these instructions:

1. Always turn the item inside out to wash it.
2. Wash in cold water using a detergent with color protection.
3. Remove the item immediately after the wash is done.
4. For best results, line dry.

NOTE: If the colors are bleeding, wash again in cold water until the excess ink disappears."


So, I wonder if I should try that? I would wash it inside out and then immediately dry on low or hang dry. Do you think I should try it?

 

[tinkerbell/pixie]

Are you going to make the shirt over if the smear does not come out? If so then I would say give it a try, but if you are not then I would not risk it messing up more.I have to admit I don't turn the shirts inside out and I don't line dry. Our shirts have held up fine. If you are going to make the shirt over, after you do the iron on spray scotch guard on the shirts inside and then wash them to be safe or don't wash and pack them with the dryer sheets.

 

[hunter1211]

So, after I iron them on, then spray scotch guard on the design or inside the shirt? (On the inside of the shirt on the opposite side of the design?)

Here are some pictures of what happened. When I turned it back right side out the red did bleed on the shirt some too.

 

[everydaymathchick]

Yes, I'd try washing now. Even though it smeared, you have not added heat to it since, so you did not set the "stain". Now that it's smeared it doesn't hurt to try washing that one to see how it holds up. Cold cycle. No fabric softner. Don't spray anything else on it. Take out of washing machine immediately. If you don't like the results after washing it, remake the shirt as planned. You have nothing to lose since the shirt is already smeared...

 

[hunter1211]

Thanks so much!!!!

I have it in the washer now and will update on how it turned out once it's done. I have it washing on a gentle/cold cycle.

 

[hunter1211]

Well, after 2 cold washes and one extra just plain rinse cycle it still didn't come out. So, now I am either going to leave as is. (It is the back of shirt and from far away, is barely noticable and it's just my 9 year old's who will probably will not wear it much after the trip.)

My problem still lies though as to how without washing to get the smokey smell out of the other ones? I may try folding them with some dryer sheets in a suitcase. Any other suggestions????

 

[everydaymathchick]

Well, after 2 cold washes and one extra just plain rinse cycle it still didn't come out. So, now I am either going to leave as is. (It is the back of shirt and from far away, is barely noticable and it's just my 9 year old's who will probably will not wear it much after the trip.)

My problem still lies though as to how without washing to get the smokey smell out of the other ones? I may try folding them with some dryer sheets in a suitcase. Any other suggestions????

OK so it didn't wash out the smears -- did it fade the design? That should be your clue on whether or not you can go ahead and just wash the others.

If it didn't fade, or isn't noticibale fade, try washing one (start with one) of the others. If it smears when washed, rinse again. Take out of washer immediately. If you already have to remake one, might as well risk one more. If it doesn't fade (or fade too bad), you know you can wash them all and take out the smell.

 

[hunter1211]

Yes, you are correct. It didn't take out the smears, but it didn't fade the design any. (Just some red ink is where it should be/was white.)

Thanks for the advice. I will talk to dh and see if he would rather the smell or the smeared shirts? LOL If I do one more, I will try the 2 year old's since she can't tell the difference anyway. lol

Edited to add....I just went and got the one that messed up to look and see how bad it really is. Well, it is still a little damp, but dh and I both smelled the shirt and where the transfer is, it still smells smokey!!!! This is not normal is it??? I did wash it with detergent twice and one rinse cycle. I am so upset. I worked so hard.

 

[everydaymathchick]

Yes, you are correct. It didn't take out the smears, but it didn't fade the design any. (Just some red ink is where it should be/was white.)

Thanks for the advice. I will talk to dh and see if he would rather the smell or the smeared shirts? LOL If I do one more, I will try the 2 year old's since she can't tell the difference anyway. lol

Edited to add....I just went and got the one that messed up to look and see how bad it really is. Well, it is still a little damp, but dh and I both smelled the shirt and where the transfer is, it still smells smokey!!!! This is not normal is it??? I did wash it with detergent twice and one rinse cycle. I am so upset. I worked so hard.

Ah, so if it didn't fade the design, you should be able to wash the others to decrease the smell. I'm betting the others won't smear when you wash them -- sounds like the fabreeze (chemical) caused a reaction with the ink that caused the smearing.

The smell not leaving... hm. Are you the person that bought your transfers from ebay and was worried about the smell? Where are your transfers from?

 

[tinkerbell/pixie]

You can wash the shirts the regular way after doing iron ons. So use fabric softner. I have even washed it with other clothes.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

Yes, I noticed that distinctive smell on the HP transfers as well. These are the only transfers I have used that have had that smell.

 

[hunter1211]

Ah, so if it didn't fade the design, you should be able to wash the others to decrease the smell. I'm betting the others won't smear when you wash them -- sounds like the fabreeze (chemical) caused a reaction with the ink that caused the smearing.

The smell not leaving... hm. Are you the person that bought your transfers from ebay and was worried about the smell? Where are your transfers from?

Nope, I wasn't the one. I bought mine from the HP site. I think I might go ahead and try the white vinegar wash.

 

[everydaymathchick]

Let us know how it goes. Hey just noticed you're from Canton. I grew up in Woodstock!

 

[hunter1211]

Thanks I will update tomorrow. I decided to wait and go to the store to get some tomorrow. Now, I just have to decide how much of the vinegar to put in with the one shirt. I know the instructions on here say 1 cup, but is it less with only 1 shirt?

Wow, what a small world! I am actually in Holly Springs/Woodstock/Canton area. (Basically I live in Holly Springs, but I can go 5 miles one way and be in Woodstock and go 5 miles the other way and be in Canton. LOL )

 

[everydaymathchick]

That's so cool. Small World.

Good luck with the vinegar. Maybe 1/2 a cup?