Hand me downs from smoking home

[Claki]

A friend of mine gave me a bag of clothes for the baby we are expecting. She and her husband smoke (I think even in the house :( )

We aren't hurting for the clothes by any means, but it would be nice to use them for daycare.

Does anybody have any advice for getting the faint smoke smell out in the laundry? Would you use them after washing them a few times?

[wellyes]

I would soak in vinegar, then wash in oxyclean and detergent. I'd use them.

[Claki]

Thanks! I will do that.

[swrc00]

Try airing out the clothes outside also before doing the vinegar and Oxyclean.

[hillview]

Personally, I wouldn't use them. I am picky?
/hillary

[mamicka]

Personally, I wouldn't use them. I am picky?
/hillary

What do you do with your clothes when you spend the evening in a smokey place LOL?

I'd wash them well & use them without a second thought.

[hillview]

What do you do with your clothes when you spend the evening in a smokey place LOL?

I'd wash them well & use them without a second thought.

Not looking for an argument :)

We don't take the kids to smokey places except when we are in the UK -- maybe once a year and yes at that time I would wash them. That said, I am VERY sensative to smoke and I wouldn't take clothes from a smoking house.

The OP asked if people would use them, I am offering my personal opinion.

Of course others would do different things -- no judgements here.
/hillary

[mamicka]

Not looking for an argument :)

We don't take the kids to smokey places except when we are in the UK -- maybe once a year and yes at that time I would wash them. That said, I am VERY sensative to smoke and I wouldn't take clothes from a smoking house.

The OP asked if people would use them, I am offering my personal opinion.

Of course others would do different things -- no judgements here.
/hillary

Gosh, I'm not looking for an argument, either. I was teasing. I'm not judging you either.

[Nooknookmom]

I had a friend give me boxes and boxes of clothes for my oldest. They smelled like a bar. I just washed them in Tide and they were fine.

Same friends (who still smoke) gave me a bunch of books for DD2 last night. I aired them out and they are fine this am.

[katydid1971]

FWIW I wouldn't use them. The chemicals in cigarette smoke are so dangerous, and linger longer than the scent. They are very closely tided to SIDs and learning disabilities. You said you are in no need for clothes so why risk it. JMHO

[kijip]

What do you do with your clothes when you spend the evening in a smokey place LOL?

I'd wash them well & use them without a second thought.

Honestly, I don't spend the evening in a smokey place. I would use stuff that came clean for sure but after losing my favorite vintage irreplaceable sweater to a smoke filled bar for a show years ago, I avoided smoke filled rooms and threw a party when smoking was outlawed in bars and restaurants in my state. I tried to clean that sweater 20 times and it never lost the smell of smoke. I still miss it. :hysterical:

Some clothes wash out fine, and I would use them but there are others that don't wash out and I would toss them.

[purpleeyes]

FWIW I wouldn't use them. The chemicals in cigarette smoke are so dangerous, and linger longer than the scent. They are very closely tided to SIDs and learning disabilities. You said you are in no need for clothes so why risk it. JMHO

:yeahthat:

[edurnemk]

:yeahthat:

ITA, with all the new info on third-hand smoke I'd feel uneasy using them. Maybe there's more info out there about wether washing gets rid of all the chemicals, I haven't checked that out.

[hillview]

Gosh, I'm not looking for an argument, either. I was teasing. I'm not judging you either.

Ok cool. :love5:
/hillary

[ett]

I wouldn't use them either for the reasons PP stated above.

[rlu]

I would pass them along. Both DH and I are sensitive to smoke and simply don't do the smokey room scenario. We spent a weekend in Reno recently for a convention and within five minutes of being in the casino to check in I was congested. DS spent the second night dry-heaving from the sinus drainage. DH's sinuses were bleeding by the third day. And we were staying on a smoke-free floor. The casino/hotel is old though, who knows how many years those rooms were smoke-optional - you simply can't "clean" that much smoke out.

eta: re-reading this after seeing some comments I want to clarify I think some used clothing can be cleaned enough to get the smoke smell out. Not sure about the chemicals that may be embedded though. I have bought used clothing from thrift stores and imagine at least some of the items were around smoke, yet I never smelled smoke on them. However, if handed a stack of clothing I didn't really need, I'd just pass it along to someone else who isn't as sensitive as we are. If you def could use the items, trying cleaning and see how it goes.

[JTsMom]

I can't handle any amount of smoke. It makes me totally miserable, and I avoid it like the plague. I'd pass them on.

[wellyes]

If you don't need 'em, sure, pitch 'em.

But I'm not willing to say that all clothes from a smoker's home need to be burned and never again used. I buy most of DD's clothes second-hand, sometimes online, sometimes from shops. That means giving up a certain measure of control.... I honestly can't say that the original owners were non-smokers. I presume that any used clothes were washed before being sold, and of course I wash before putting them on DD. From a frugality perspective and a "green" perspective I do think buying used, particularly for infants / toddlers, makes a whole lot of sense. I don't like the idea that keeping DD safe and sound = only buy new (certainly MIC & freight-shipped to the US) garments. But that does means giving up the certainty that the clothes I buy were never ever exposed to cigarettes.

[Ceepa]

I would first attempt to clean thoroughly. If afterwards there are clothes that make you uncomfortable still to use, don't.

[Melaine]

You know, I always think about this when I see that clothing is from "nonsmoking homes" on ebay. I'm so used to seeing that, that if it DOESN'T say that then I think they must have smoke all over them. I despise smoking and I have asthma, but I do buy a LOT of second-hand clothing. Even though I feel like I could theoretically get something clean, I won't buy it if it smells like smoke. Like, if I walk up to a yard sale it is very obvious if there are smokers there or not.
Still, ITA with previous poster, that you have to have some flexibility and relinquish control when using second hand items. I still :love5: buying used.

[rlu]

If you don't need 'em, sure, pitch 'em.

But I'm not willing to say that all clothes from a smoker's home need to be burned and never again used. I buy most of DD's clothes second-hand, sometimes online, sometimes from shops. That means giving up a certain measure of control.... I honestly can't say that the original owners were non-smokers. I presume that any used clothes were washed before being sold, and of course I wash before putting them on DD. From a frugality perspective and a "green" perspective I do think buying used, particularly for infants / toddlers, makes a whole lot of sense. I don't like the idea that keeping DD safe and sound = only buy new (certainly MIC & freight-shipped to the US) garments. But that does means giving up the certainty that the clothes I buy were never ever exposed to cigarettes.

I also buy used clothes. If on eBay only from nonsmoking homes and if from a thrift store I smell the items. I have found at our thrift stores I don't smell any smoke - I wonder if they use some type of institutional cleaners that strips it away. And, as another pp mentioned, if from a garage sale, you can tell if they smoke or not, I usually just walk away.

[MNmomtobe]

I personally wouldn't use them. I was careful to avoid smoky places while I was pregnant and it doesn't make sense to expose babies to chemicals at such a young age. Plus I suffer from severe migraines and am extremely sensitive to cigarette smoke and perfume/cologne.
Like pp mentioned about ebay, I do on occasion buy clothes off of ebay. I always buy from auctions that state "from non-smoking home".
I also buy clothes from consignment sales. Of course if there is a smoky smell to the clothes I wouldn't buy them. However regardless of any odor or lack of odor to clothes from consigment, I wash them in hot water before DD wears them.