PrintPlease get the smell out of my tablecloth...
So, just call me a stumbling domestic goddess... I completely forgot a RED COTTON tablecloth in the washer a while back. For days. Naturally, it soured. Actually, that's an understatement. It stunk to high heaven. No mildew stains, just stench.
The only time I've ever done this in the past it's been white towels -- nothing a little bleach and scalding water wouldn't handle. Obviously not an option with a RED COTTON tablecloth.
I've tried everything. Double detergent. Soaking in borax, vinegar, ammonia (not at the same time). Even tried an enzyme odor remover for pet accidents. Last night, I decided it was probably destined for the garbage bin anyway, so I washed it in hot water. Shrinkage and fading appear to be minimal. But it still stinks. It has not been put through the dryer, so that's not the problem.
I've probably spent more on water and wash aids than it would've cost me to simply buy a new one.
Any ideas? I've resigned myself to parting company with it, but I've invested so much time and effort at this point, that I can't seem to give it up just yet.
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21 Comments:
I wouldn't hold out high hopes if the vinegar didn't work. But since you have nothing to lose by trying ... what about sprinkling it generously with baking soda, folding it up and letting is sit a few days. (Be sure it is dry first -- no new mildew!) Then launder it again. Baking soda absorbs odors in the fridge ...
kjgibson at 3:24PM on 01/31/08
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. Boosts cleaning and freshening. Add it with Tide (that's all I use, but I'm sure others are fine too) and throw in a handful of dishwasher dry detergent. Once it has agitated a few minutes, let it soak for a couple of hours. When finished, add fragrant fabric softener for an extra rinse.
PerkyMac at 3:28PM on 01/31/08
Plain old baking soda....I've used it plenty of times when I've 'forgotten' wet clothes in the washer in the basement. (Out of sight, out of mind?)
I just add a generous amount, and wash the clothes again, and it takes any smell completely away!
good luck!
mepolo at 3:32PM on 01/31/08
Tomato juice. Soak it in a sink filled with tomato juice for an hour. It sounds weird but it really works. Followed by a run through the washer with proper detergent and fabric softener, of course.
sbelle at 3:34PM on 01/31/08
Second the tomato as well as the baking soda
Kim Nyland at 3:50PM on 01/31/08
Stick it in a bucket with water, baking soda and about 4 cut up lemons for 24 hours.
Then wash as usual and try and hang outside to dry.
Hunnyoil at 4:22PM on 01/31/08
OMG!!! Wow!!! I never even thought of tomato juice. That is absolutely brilliant!!! Especially with a RED COTTON tablecloth! Lemon juice crossed my mind, but I figured it would probably ruin the color.
Tomato juice. Red fabric. Duh. I'm gonna try it. I'll let you know what happens.
Meanwhile, other suggestions will be much appreciated. BTW, I didn't mention it, but I did try the baking soda AND the washing soda AND salt (obviously, none of these worked). I think that's everything.
The really sad thing is that the washer is within earshot of the kitchen and has a nice loud beep when it's finished. From now on, the last load of the day will be reserved exclusively for white towels!
LoCo at 4:30PM on 01/31/08
Good luck with the tomato juice. I tried it on my white doggie when she got sprayed by a skunk and all it did was turn her into a red skunky puppy. Can't hurt to try it on a red tablecloth though.
Did you try SUPER washing soda and soak? It's done miracles for me.
PerkyMac at 5:21PM on 01/31/08
that smell is mildew and the only way to get it out is bleach and heat. sorry. just think you'll have a pretty pink cloth for Valentines Day :S
huney_bumper at 5:52PM on 01/31/08
hey, i'm going to try the super washing soda trick on my bath towels, which have gotten kind of smelly lately.
cybercita at 8:05PM on 01/31/08
One more thought - have you tried Oxi Clean or one of those orange cleaners? Couldn't hoit!
PerkyMac at 9:00PM on 01/31/08
.......or Tilex? It's supposed to remove mildew from tiles and shower curtains. I love the industrial cleaning products aisle at Home Depot. Like other women like to shop for clothing. I'm pathetic......and laughing. Ha!
PerkyMac at 9:03PM on 01/31/08
color safe bleach? It's been working wondersfor my kitchen towels, which inexplicably smell vomit-y when they've been a dishrag for too long. The color safe bleach helps
LizNYC at 12:17AM on 02/01/08
I remember a friend telling me that her solution for stinky laundry was to pour a bottle of really cheap vodka into the washer after it had filled and let it soak for about half an hour before letting the cycle continue. Never tried it myself, but I imagine that the alcohol would help kill the mildew. Hope it helps!
janniceinraleigh at 2:10PM on 02/01/08
Since the tablecloth is red, I would definitely try the tomato juice. If it works to get the skunk spray stink out of your dog, it should work for the tablecloth! Sounds logical.
frederika at 4:04PM on 02/01/08
How about another tablecloth dilemma? My friend (drunkenly) blew out a candle ALL OVER my tablecloth. I have not figured out how to get the wax smears that now polka dot the entire cloth. Any help?
feriorrenna at 8:06PM on 02/01/08
feriorrenna -
There is a product called "Wax Away" by Weiman that you can get at BB&B. I actually haven't had to use it yet, but I make candles so we are always using lots of them and when I came across it I thought it would be a good thing to have on hand.
I have had reasonably good luck with this process though. You need to scrape as much hard wax off the fabric as possible. There will undoubtably be a greasy residue left from the parrafin. Place an old towel or absorbant cloth underneath the spot and another one on top of it. Heat your iron and iron over the grease spot. You will be able to see the grease absorbing in the cloth below. Keep moving the cloths around to clean spots until you no longer see much of a grease spot. Then you can treat the grease with a spot treatment and launder.
Although I have to admit, If there is a spill or a messy disaster in my home, it's usually caused by me. So I'm used to cleaning up after myself a lot.
frederika at 10:02AM on 02/02/08
Heh, so you're saying it'd be easier to just sacrifice the tablecloth to the dishrag god and get a new one - right? :P
feriorrenna at 3:39PM on 02/02/08
feriorrenna
Not at all! I'm sorry if I made it sound a lot more complicated than it really is. I have actually gotten candle wax out of carpeting the same way, except using the blotting towel on top only, of course. The process works pretty well if you're willing to work on it for about 15 min. What have you got to lose? Good luck! ( or maybe you were just in the mood for a new tablecloth?)
frederika at 8:47PM on 02/02/08
for wax smears put a clean cloth under the cloth and another over then iron them out with a medium heat iron, just make sure you keep moving the cloths so you dont redistribute the wax I use rags in a box. then follow it up with a little dish soap to take out the last of the grease.
huney_bumper at 10:02AM on 02/03/08
I am willing to bet that your problem is your washer. This is how to get mold and mildew out of clothes and how to get the smell of mildew out of clothes. SmellyWasher Cleaner is a completely organic powder that is used to clear fungus from any clothes washer. The cleaner is used by adding a small amount (1 tablespoon normally suffices) to a hot setting in your washer and allowing it to complete the cycle.
In order to remove fungus from towels and clothing use just one teaspoon of cleaner instead of detergent. Rinse and dry as normal. This product is super simple and works great! I found it at www.smellytowel.com.
exponent at 2:59PM on 05/17/08