Will anything besides washing remove smoke smell from clothes?

[divabell]

I am so annoyed - I purchased two NWT summer outfits for my niece for Christmas from eBay. They arrived today and both reek of smoke. They are super cute and I really want to keep them since it's so hard to find summer clothes right now, but obviously I can't wash them and still keep the tags on. Is there any other way to get the smell out?

[Melanie]

You could try air. I used to air out our luggage after a trip to a smoker's home by leaving them open on the patio or garage.

[amp]

That's what I'd try too.

[pinkmomagain]

Maybe try spraying some Febreeze on it? I think it's safe to spray on fabrics. I sympathize, because we often get gifts from family who are smokers and they smell absolutely disgusting...sometimes still smells after a single washing.

Gina

[lhk777]

I agree with the PP's.
Probably leave it out and let it air out.
I usually put things in our garage to air it out.

Or, not sure if this is what you were looking for, but my DH bought this Whirlpool Steamer/Garment Freshener and it's been great so far.

No more ironing for me and anytime we need to freshen something up we put it in there.

http://www.amazon.com/Whirlpool-LRF4.../dp/B000EQ2CQK

HTH.

-Linda

[MommyAllison]

Pre-DD I went to Russia quite often and once a friend there knitted me a wonderful scarf. After bringing it home and realizing how smokey it smelled, I let it air out awhile and the smell went away. All to say, I agree with the PPs, airing out works!

Allison
Mama to DD 11/05

[lizajane]

i would not do febreeze for kiddos, as i am highly allergic to it and i know you would not want them to break out in hives.

but i would hang them outside to air out.

[C99]

My DH told me an "old bachelor trick," which is to put them in the dryer w/ a dryer sheet for about 20 minutes. It doesn't get the smoke completely out, but it does a fair job.

[tigeratty]

Airing out works for wool, but not so well for cotton. The dryer trick may not work and my ruin the tag.

Otherwise, you could wash them and still give them, just not as a gift, but as a handmedown.

[smkinc]

I have no idea if this will work, but DH put bowls of vinegar around our house to get rid of the smoke smell once when a large amount of smoke came in the house from our fireplace. Maybe air, with bowls of vinegar nearby????--it did seem to get the smoky smell out of our house in that one instance.

HTH.