Moth Ball Smell. Help!

[Rebecca D]

I just received the cutest 1950s culottes from an ebay seller, but darn it, the moth ball smell on them is overwhelming!

Does anyone know how to get rid of that smell? So far I've handwashed them, which brought out the smell more, and now I have them hanging on my fire escape to air out. Help!

 

[Tough Cookie]

Vinegar (Apple Cider or White) is supposed to be really good at removing smells without damaging fibers--I'd give that a try with another gentle hand wash. Good luck!

 

[Nashoba]

Baking Soda. It works for the frig it works for pretty much everything. My dad does this all the time with his books (he's a rare, valuable, and antique book dealer and collecter) and I've done it with clothes too. Wrap the clothes loosly in tissue paper or some other kind of thin paper (not newprint you wouldn't want the printing to come off on the clothes!!!) and put into a plastic bag of baking soda. It may take a few days but it really does work....and there's always the good ole stand by febreeze
Nash

 

[Viviene]

You can also try cat litter. I took a dress with really bad tobacco odor and put it in a flat plastic container of kitty litter and put the lid on. Came back a week later and took it out. No odor. I washed it and hung it out to dry and the odor never came back.

 

[pigeon toe]

I'm not sure how this works on moth balls, but I saw an episode of Mythbusters once where they spritzed vodka over a sweatshirt that had been bathed in cigarette smoke, and it helped get rid of the smell. Don't blame me if it doesn't work though!

 

[GOK]

I'm not sure how this works on moth balls, but I saw an episode of Mythbusters once where they spritzed vodka over a sweatshirt that had been bathed in cigarette smoke, and it helped get rid of the smell. Don't blame me if it doesn't work though!

I saw that one too! Vodka appears to be handy for lots of things! Mythbusters rocks!

 

[Tough Cookie]

I saw that one too! Vodka appears to be handy for lots of things! Mythbusters rocks!

Yup, it got that nasty "sober" smell off of me in a right hurry last weekend! lol

I had to soak in it, though. :eusa_doh:

 

[GOK]

Gosh - you really are dedicated, aren't you?!!!!

lol lol lol

 

[Miss Brill]

I bought a cape on eBay & it smelled like mothballs (the seller did not note it), and I used Febreze on it & today, 6-8 years later, it still smells like mothballs & Febreze. I even washed that sucker and it still smells. :rage:

 

[ShrinkingViolet]

I bought a cape on eBay & it smelled like mothballs (the seller did not note it), and I used Febreze on it & today, 6-8 years later, it still smells like mothballs & Febreze. I even washed that sucker and it still smells. :rage:

Have you tried the baking powder tip mentioned above? I used it on a Bob Dylan lp bought online that STANK and it worked!

 

[dandelion-vint]

I don't recommend Fabreeze or any spray on vintage clothing. The sprays only temporarily hide the smells.
If the item can get wet, then vinegar is the way to go with a soaking in it for several hours then hang to dry, outside if possible.
If the item cannot get wet, then the baking soda and cat litter works very well as others here have suggested. Either put the item in a bag or in a box and seal it up for a week or so.
I've never tried the vodka, but have heard that it does work well on smells, even body odor.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

Don't misunderstand that as a silly joke, but how do you get the vinegar smell out of a piece of clothing you can't just put in the washing machine?

 

[Joli7211]

Something that also works is the weather. Depending on where you live (and what season you're in), extreme cold will kill odor. -20C for a couple of days and odor is a thing of the past (and not vintage ). Or oddly enough, place place the odorous item in the hot sun again for a couple of days, and the odour will also fade. Mind you the sun will also fade the colours, so you want to be careful with that one.

 

[Miss Brill]

I washed the cape in the baking soda, and it got rid of the Febreze smell, now it smells like mothballs again.

 

[Caledonia]

I'm up for the cat litter! I have a 50s Dior suit, a 40s suit, and a 30s wool housecoat, all of which have been dry cleaned and still smell of smoke. Will let you know if the cat litter and a good shake and airing works. Clearly I will be using fresh kitty litter and a new box!

 

[ohairas]

I put washable items in Odo-Ban. We get it at Sams. Sometimes I have to run it thru twice, but it takes care of it!
Nikki