First steps
Start here
- Scrape or blot off fish residue and slime right away; don't rub it in.
- Rinse or sponge with cool or lukewarm water, not hot.
- Keep the item out of the dryer until the stain and smell are gone.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
Getting fish smell out of bags, purses and backpacks is harder than it looks, because the odor is trimethylamine riding on slime and fish oil that soak into the material. A single rinse rarely clears it, and aged stains may need several hours of soaking with an enzyme product before you launder. The same smell turns up on wooden cutting boards and furniture, so match the approach to the material.
Check a fish-smelling backpack or purse by sniffing it once it's fully dry, since the odor can hide in the lining. A wooden cutting board or cast iron pan with fish smell needs a gentler touch than fabric, so match the method to the surface. If a fishy smell in the garage or on furniture hangs on after repeated tries, a cleaning pro can track down the source.
6 items
What you'll need
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- Absorbent pad or clean towelsThey soak up slime and keep it from spreading.
- Enzyme presoak or enzyme detergentIt breaks down the protein in fish slime. (opens Amazon)
- Liquid laundry detergent or prewash stain removerIt lifts the oily residue from fish and bait. (opens Amazon)
- Color-safe oxygen stain removerIt goes into the hot wash and works on the leftover marks. (opens Amazon)
- Lukewarm waterIt's used for the spot treatment and flush; hot water waits until the enzyme treatment is done.
- Enzyme stain remover (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
How to get fish smell out of clothes
Step 1 of 5
Blot up the slime first
Lay an absorbent pad or clean towel under the fabric, then blot the spot to lift as much slime and fish residue as you can. Work from the outside of the stain toward the middle so the mess doesn't spread.
Tip. Switch to a clean section of pad as it fills up.
Careful. Don't rub or brush the stain; it pushes slime deeper into the fabric.
Step 2 of 530 minutes
Treat the spot with an enzyme product
Cover the spot with a pad kept moist with an enzyme product and leave it for 30 minutes. For a local treatment, mix 1/2 teaspoon enzyme presoak or enzyme detergent in 1/2 cup lukewarm water, then flush the spot with water.
Careful. Don't start with hot water; save the hot wash for after the enzyme treatment.
Step 3 of 510 minutes
Pretreat any marks that remain
Rub a little color-safe stain remover into any marks left and wait 10 minutes before washing. For oily fish or bait residue, use a prewash stain remover or liquid laundry detergent instead.
Step 4 of 5
Wash hot with detergent and oxygen remover
Wash with detergent and a color-safe oxygen stain remover at the hottest temperature the care label allows. If the label rules out hot water, use the warmest setting it does allow.
Tip. Pick the cycle that matches the fabric's care label, not the one you usually use.
Step 5 of 5
Check the spot before drying
Look at the spot in good light, and smell the item while it's still damp. If any stain or smell remains, repeat the pretreatment and wash before the item goes near the dryer.
Careful. Don't dry the item until the stain and smell are gone; heat sets stains and can make them impossible to remove.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for fish smell
Look for a liquid enzyme presoak or enzyme detergent, and a color-safe oxygen stain remover labeled for whites or colors.
OdoBan Odor Eliminator & Disinfectant Concentrate
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on this fabric, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →A smell that keeps coming back needs the longer treatment.
If the smell lingers →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Fish Smell on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
The spot should look clean and the item should smell like detergent when it comes out of the wash. If a fishy smell comes back when the item is damp, the oil is still there, so repeat the pretreatment and wash before drying.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
Whites and white shirts
Whites take the full routine above, including the hottest water the care label allows. The enzyme pad and the oxygen stain remover are both safe on white cotton and linen.
Whites are the easiest case here, so you won't need to change the order of the steps. The set-in options below are only for marks that survive the full wash.
Colors and denim
Colors need the same blot and enzyme steps, but the wash should be warm rather than hot, because hot water can set protein stains. Keep the oxygen stain remover for colors that are known to be colorfast.
Denim is colored cotton, so it follows the same rules. Check that the dye holds on a hidden seam before you use any oxygen product.
Silk, wool and delicates
Silk and wool can't take an enzyme presoak, a hot wash or chlorine bleach, so skip all three. Blot the spot gently with a clean cloth, rinse it with cool water, then hand-wash in a gentle detergent made for silk or wool.
Don't wring the item out, and never put a heirloom textile in a washing machine, even on a gentle cycle. Velvet should not be ironed, because heat and pressure flatten the nap.
Dry-clean-only items
Don't wash dry-clean-only items at home, even with the steps above. A professional cleaner can choose a solvent that suits the fabric.
Tell the cleaner the stain is fish slime and oil, and point out the spot before they start. Don't use an oxygen stain remover on these fabrics, since it can damage wool and silk.
If the smell lingers
An old fish stain is harder, so give it an enzyme soak before the wash. Soak it for at least 30 minutes, or for several hours if the stain has aged, then wash hot with detergent and a color-safe stain remover.
If the item has already been through the dryer, heat has set the stain, so repeat the enzyme soak and hot wash and expect only a partial result. Check it in good light before you put it back in the dryer.
If the smell is still there after that, a diluted chlorine bleach rinse can be the very last step, but only on white cotton or linen and only after the item is fully rinsed. Skip it on wool, silk, mohair, leather and spandex.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on fish smell?
Most household fixes work by scrubbing or lifting a surface, and that doesn't handle fish slime and oil in fabric. An enzyme product and a color-safe oxygen stain remover do the real work, so most of these fixes aren't needed.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use bar soap on the spot
Bar soap and soap flakes can set many stains and make them much harder to remove. Use a liquid laundry detergent or an enzyme pretreater on fresh fish marks instead.
Don't mix chlorine bleach with other cleaners
Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other cleaners. Rinse out any other product completely before any bleach goes in the washer.
Don't use bleach at full strength
Undiluted bleach can weaken fabric so it tears or wears out sooner. Dilute it first, and only use it on white cotton or linen as the last step.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The stain is gone but the smell isn't.
Repeat the enzyme pad and the hot wash. For an old odor, give the enzyme treatment several hours before laundering.
A greasy ring remains.
Pretreat the ring with liquid laundry detergent or a prewash stain remover, then wash hot again.
The item already went through the dryer.
Go back to the enzyme step and expect to repeat it; heat makes the residue harder to release.
When to call a professional
If the smell is still there after two full rounds of these steps, or the item is dry-clean-only, take it to a professional cleaner. Carpet gets its own treatment, so use the Carpet & Rugs guide for fish slime on carpet.
Questions
How do I get fish smell out of a bag, purse or backpack?
If the bag is washable, follow the blot, enzyme and wash steps, using the care label to pick the water temperature. A leather bag shouldn't be soaked or washed, so wipe it lightly with a dry, soft cloth and let it air out.
How do I remove fish smell from a wooden cutting board?
The fabric approach doesn't suit a wooden board, so it needs its own care. Test a hidden spot first, then cover the stain with an enzyme product as you would on fabric and leave it for 30 minutes. Then let the board dry upright, and don't soak it or run it through the dishwasher.
How do I get rid of fish smell on furniture?
If the cover is washable, follow the blot, enzyme and wash steps after checking the label. Don't soak or scrub upholstery that can't be washed, because liquid can leave a ring and stay in the padding. Vacuum the spot, air the piece out, and ask a professional upholstery cleaner if the smell stays.
How do I get rid of a fishy smell in the garage?
Find and remove the source first, such as fish scraps, bait or a cooler, then air out the space. For metal tools or other metal parts, see our Metal, Chrome & Tools guide.
How do I remove salmon smell from a cast iron pan?
Cast iron is metal cookware, so this fabric approach doesn't apply. Our Metal, Chrome & Tools guide is the right place to go for pans and tools.
Can I put fish-smelling clothes in the dryer?
No. Heat sets stains and can make them impossible to remove, so keep the item out of the dryer until the stain and smell are gone. Air-dry it and check it in good light first.
Odor guides
Still smells?
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.