How to Get Rid of Dry Cleaning Smell

Dry cleaning is such a wonderful way to get rid of dirts and smell from our clothes. However sometimes the smell can pass through and stay stick to some of our clothes even by we bring the items from the dry cleaning place. Therefore, it is important for us to know the reason for dry cleaning smell and to know how to get rid of dry cleaning smell in order to keep our clothes smelling good.

Causes of Dry Cleaning Smell

Dry cleaning smell can stem from various factors, including:

Chemical Residue

It also explains why dry-cleaned clothes still have a chemical odour if the chemicals used in the process are not thoroughly rinsed away or left behind accidentally – such as the infamous perchloroethylene solvent.

Improper Storage

Hanging dry-cleaned items in a wardrobe without ventilation; kept in airtight boxes These will accentuate the smell because the odour escaping will never be enough to dilute it; subsequently, the smells will build up until they’re uncomfortable.

Type of Fabric

Provided this is not an actual issue of organic chemistry, perhaps different fabrics absorb smells more readily than others. After all, soft fabrics – the silks and wool – are more likely to hold than harder fibres such as polyesters and nylons.

Tips for Eliminating Dry Cleaning Smell

Dry cleaning is crucial for maintaining outfits made of fragile fabrics and for keeping our everyday professional attire neat. However, have you ever gone back to your car after dropping off some clothes at the dry cleaners and felt that powerful scent that emerges from the bag? I know I have, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience. Thankfully, there are several remedies you can use to get rid of this dry-cleaning smell from your clothes and make sure they’re ready for wearing. Check out these tips and cheat all the effort away from getting rid of that horrible dry-cleaning smell.

Air Out Your Clothes

The most accessible thing that you can do is hang your clothes in a well-ventilated place; either outdoors or by an open window. Fresh air will cause the chemical odours to evaporate, especially if left for a night or a couple of days. Don’t hang your clothes where they’ll be bathed in direct sunlight, though, as this will cause some colours to fade.

Try a Vinegar Solution

White vinegar is another good natural odour-eliminator. Mix a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar and apply it to the item using a spray bottle. Mist gently so that you don’t start a wet spot on your dry-clean-only garment. The vinegar smell will dissipate as it dries, and the dry-clean odour will probably go with it. Or, if your item is machine-washable, add a cup of vinegar to your washing machine’s rinse cycle.

Use Activated Charcoal or Coffee Grounds

Activated charcoal and coffee grounds are also great for catching smells, so you can put your clothes in a garment bag or Tupperware with a small bowl of either product, then seal the bag or container for a few days to help it absorb the chemical scent without transferring its smell.

Use an Odor-Eliminating Spray

There are plenty of odour-neutralising sprays for fabrics on the market; they’re a fantastic way to eradicate all traces of odour without trying to camouflage it with heavy perfumes. Make sure you use a spray appropriate to your fabric type and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the best results.

Steam Your Clothes

You can also get rid of dry-cleaning odours with steaming. The heat and moisture of the steam can help loosen and lift the odours from the fabric. Either use a handheld steamer or hang the clothes in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. Steam the garment thoroughly, especially the areas with the strongest scent.

Store Clothes with Scented Sachets

You can also keep them smelling good, by using a couple of scented sachets or dryer sheets in with your clothes in storage. Stick the sachets in your closet or garment bag. Lavender and cedar smell good in clothes and also repel insects (and cedar in particular repels moths).

Consider Professional Odor Removal

If these methods don’t remove the chemical smell you might want to take your clothes to a commercial laundry with odour removal experts who can attack the problem with specialised equipment and treatments that are unavailable at home.

Additional Techniques

In addition to the above methods, consider:

Steam

Steaming your clothes with a garment steamer is a good option if you have one – this should release any ‘trapped’ odours created when moisture gets trapped in the garment.

Freezing

Put your clothing in plastic-sealed bags and keep them in the freezer for a night so low temperatures kill odour-causing bacteria, and odours are neutralised.

Professional Odor Removal Services

If all else fails, take your clothing to one of those new dry cleaning odour removal places out there. I don’t know what tools and methods they use, but they can remove most odours.

Preventive Measures

To prevent dry cleaning smell in the future, consider:

Proper Storage

It should be kept dry and stored out of the sun and dampness in a well-ventilated room, and garments such as suits and dresses can be hung in mesh garment bags to curtail odour.

Choosing Environmentally Friendly Dry Cleaners

Use dry cleaners that use odourless, non-toxic processes. Try to find cleaners who use alternative solvents – wet cleaning or liquid carbon dioxide – that are less offensive to sensitive systems.

Conclusion

Anedy chill-out talk with some knowledge of chemicals like CFCs that are present in the dry cleaning odour-creating chemical solvents will usually convert that pesky dry cleaning smell into simply an abandoned emotion on a warm breeze. Your dry cleaning will be odourless for weeks to go.

With these tips you can easily air your clothes and remove chemical odours for good: be it from baking soda, vinegar or other commercial products. Before you know it, your laundry will smell clean and be ready to wear.