What is that foul chemical smell on newly bought clothing?

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painterly
painterly Member Posts: 602
edited October 2014 in Recipe Swap for Healthy Living

Hi Lovely Ladies,

I didn't know where to post this one.

Today, I went shopping and bought several items. I sure needed new clothes!  Gosh with spending my time this past summer in golfing attire and in my spare time wearing my painting/gardening clothes, boy was I needing new clothes!

So, about these new clothes. They stink! Anyone know what is that foul chemical smell on newly bought clothing? I placed them all in the dining room while I prepared dinner and now this horrible chemical smell is permeating the entire house.

I googled my question and it seems clothing has been manufactured with the use of formaldehyde to retain its crispness in crossing the continents. YUK. Anyone know how to get rid of the smell?

One item I bought last year was so strong and after leaving it in the lanai (while in Florida) for several days and then washing it, I still couldn't get rid of the smell so I got rid of the item.

My problem is that after my mastectomy, I am especially sensitive to chemicals and anything with a hint of a chemical odour will cause a rash.

Hoping that some of you lovely ladies have the ideal solution for my problem.

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  • 208sandy
    208sandy Member Posts: 2,610
    edited October 2014

    I share your pain with this "new way of doing business" it has been around for a few years now and on every kind of clothing - expensive or not - I wash everthing before I wear it and in the case of jeans I wash them two or three times before wearing - it is a finishing wash they use to keep the fabric stiff and looking new and also you can faintly smell camphor (moth balls) in the mix to keep out the varmits when stuff is being shipped - I never have anything drycleaned either for the same reason - if it smells like a chemical waste dump I don't want it near my skin - for that same reason I abhor this new love affair that manufacturers of laundry detergents, trash bags and dryer sheets (to name a few) have with Febreeze - it is a scent that to me speaks of cheap perfume - it is nauseating!

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited October 2014

    Yes the smell is strong. I wash everything first. If the smell is still there I use vinegar in the wash. Add it to the rinse as well. Then just wash again. That should get rid of almost any smell. Vinegar is wonderful. 

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited October 2014

    I soak new 'smelly' clothes over night in a solution of OxyClean (or generic version) and then run through the washer.  Squirtz with vinegar water and let dry naturally.  Then wash again to get rid of the vinegar 'aroma'.

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited October 2014

    I wash everything... no more dry cleaning for me! And I always wash new clothes before wearing them.

    With some of the more stinky stuff, I soak it in a tub of BIZ overnight. That's the best product I found when I was trying to get rid of mold and mildew odors from clothing that had been stored in a damp place. (I was donating them, but would have thrown them in the trash before giving any smelly stuff away.)

    I use a hypoallergenic detergent, and things that have been soaked overnight come out quite nicely.

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  • painterly
    painterly Member Posts: 602
    edited October 2014

    Thanks for the tips everyone.

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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2014

    Blessings, yeah, thanks! i am going to check out BIZ. that sounds cool.

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