Removing mothball/formaldehyde smell from clothes?

Parent Cafe
1

I was in Japan a few weeks ago and bought a used kimono for $10 at a flea market. I intend to use it as a summer bathrobe. It had no smell of any type, and it’s been sitting around at home for the last two weeks. (I do not use mothballs anywhere in my home.)

I washed the kimono with Woolite on the hand wash setting. As soon as I opened the door, there was a very strong mothball/formaldehyde odor. The kimono itself seemed intact, so I did it again. Same thing again. So I used a gentle sensitive skin detergent and did it again. Still stinks. Did it again. Still stinks. Did it AGAIN, this time on active wear cycle. STILL SMELLS!

Anyone have any ideas what is going on? I figured there must be some chemical reaction to something in the kimono fabric. Is my $10 lovely kimono doomed?

2

Vinegar is supposed to counter mothball smells. I haven’t personally tried it but I’ve read to soak garment in equal parts vinegar and water.

3

The febreeze products work well. I once had a vera bradley bag that stunk of smoke (brought it to a hearth cooking program). The febreze worked great and got rid of the smell after 1-2 sprayings.

4

My husband got rid of the odor from his oily work clothes that transferred to his fabric car seats with ZorbX odor remover spray. He bought it at Lowe’s. It is unscented – it doesn’t just cover one smell with another.

https://zorbx.com/unscented-4-piece-value-pack/

5

Actually woolite is not very good to wash clothes with. Best to use a small amount of your regular detergent on a gentle setting. White vinegar removes odors as does baking soda. Try washing with vinegar. If smell is not removed then wash with some baking soda.

6

I soaked it in equal parts vinegar and water for 90 minutes, then rinsed. The smell is greatly diminished, but not gone.

I’m still mystified as to why the smell suddenly appeared. Anyone have any ideas?

7

Actually soap residue can create nasty smells and to remove it wash in vinegar and then in baking soda. This is how to keep your towels fresh. A bowl of vinegar will also neutralize odors in a room and remove hard water deposits from faucets if you soak them in vinegar.

8

Now that it’s dry, there is no smell at all. The vinegar worked.

9

Another method is putting vodka, (cheap vodka), in a spray bottle. The vodka lifts the odors out.