That nasty vintage underarm funk.

[Erewhon]

Can anyone give advice on removing the smell of perished padding/interfacing (circa1950's on) in tailored jackets and especially overcoats - it's not BO but a more subtle smell of old rubber... I try to take out as much of the gooey curdled shoulder pads as I can and replace them but the smell comes back.
Or should I drench myself in heavy cologne?

 

[reetpleat]

Reminds me of some carpets I owned. They were both from Ikea. I did some research and apparently there are a few people discuss on line that wee made with sub standard latex from India. It breaks down and exudes a nasty rubbery smell. To this day, ikea refuses to do anything about it even though I left the carpet with them. From my research, there was nothing anyone had figured out. But then again, you could try some baking soda.

 

[Cody Pendant]

Problems?

reetpleat

While dresses or shirts can be washed in water, I am very hesitant to do so with suit jacket for obvious reason.

What is the obvious reason? [huh]
I wash almost every (a-hem) pre-owned, I mean vintage jacket/suit/pants/tie I purchase. (yes, wool/silk). My main reason is; as vintage clothing; it is assuredly soaked and saturated in cigarette smoke. Even if the owner did not smoke, everyone else did, so the clothing has been second hand smoking. When I hand wash my vintage garments you would be surprised (read shocked) at the color of the wash water, it is allways a lovely (yuck) tobacco sepia brown. I usually have to change the wash water 3 or 4 times before, I get all the tobacco out. Sometimes the smell is almost overpowering once you first get it wet. The colors are so much brighter and vivid, after washing. Wash, iron while damp, presto…. like new!
I’ve never had any problems so far. Have you had problems?

 

[YETI]

I have this exact problem with a yellow wool Pendleton I just bought. It STINKS! I think it actually smells so heavily of b.o. that it borders on pee smell. YUCK! I've been hanging it in the bathroom to get steamed with each shower, and I've Febrezed a couple times, but it's DEFINITELY not wearable yet.

I'll try the baking soda/water solution. Good one.

Oh--how saturated does the item have to be with this solution?

I don't know how I missed replying to this. :eusa_doh: I sprayed just enough not to soak it too much. It's better to apply it laying flat on a towel so it doesn't run the length of the garment. But be careful to check for fastness of any dyes.

 

[MEDIUMMYND]

I find that nothing gets smells out of wool like good old sunshine. Hang it on the clothesline or out a window for a full day at least, repeat as needed. Of course in these parts that means you'd be out of luck until spring, but you might catch a lucky break.

Sound advice i have found this to work well if you have a greenhouse hang it in there well vented of course