How to get smells out of clothes that have been in storage

[Pilotbaby]

Hello everyone,
Most of my clothes and other fabric items like linens, have been in storage for about 4 months. We are now unpacking and the smell is terrible. They smell like they have been stored for years, not months. I tried googling ideas to get the smell out and saw that it may be mold? The suggestions for getting rid of the smell are vinegar or borax however many people are posting and saying that it doesn't work. Does anyone have any idea what this smell is and suggestions for getting rid of it. I now have the smelly stuff in my closet with my things that were not stored and am worried the stink is going to spread!
TIA

[Smillow]

I would wash it all before putting it away. In hot water with vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. Hang in the sun to dry, if possible. I would also use bac-out in the washer to help with the smell. Clothes can get like this in our basement unless they are sealed in vacuum bags. I also wash clothes I buy in thrift stores this way.

[lalasmama]

Wash in hot water with a HUGE scoop of Oxiclean, and a good amount of Tide with Fabreeze.

We had old, musty closets at our old house. Ventilation was completely non-existent. Generally, a good wash with the above combo was all that was needed.

[Pilotbaby]

I would wash it all before putting it away. In hot water with vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. Hang in the sun to dry, if possible. I would also use bac-out in the washer to help with the smell. Clothes can get like this in our basement unless they are sealed in vacuum bags. I also wash clothes I buy in thrift stores this way.

In looking through the first batch of clothes, most of them are dry clean only. Not sure what to do about that.

[Smillow]

Hang them out on a dry sunny day.

[TraceyMann]

I would wash it all before putting it away. In hot water with vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. Hang in the sun to dry, if possible. I would also use bac-out in the washer to help with the smell. Clothes can get like this in our basement unless they are sealed in vacuum bags. I also wash clothes I buy in thrift stores this way.


+1 for this post. Hot water and vinegar is the key.