First steps
Start here
- Air the items out first; airing can often remove odors.
- Read the care label before you wash anything.
- Brush off visible mildew outdoors, not inside.
- Take dry-clean-only items to a dry cleaner.
Clothes from a thrift store or damp storage usually carry a musty, sour smell from mildew, or the smell of smoke or mothballs they picked up along the way. Mildew is the hard one, since it can damage the fibers, and badly mildewed fabric may be beyond repair. Smoke and mothball odors are usually easier, though they can take several washes before they're gone.
Before you clean thrift store clothes, read the care label, since it decides how hot the wash can go. Skip the dryer until the smell is fully gone, because heat can lock it into the fibers. Wash the new-to-you pieces on their own at first, so any smell doesn't spread to the rest of your laundry.
5 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Liquid laundry detergentThe base for every wash, and the one to use on spots. (opens Amazon)
- Detergent formulated to remove odorsA good choice for smoke-smelling loads.
- Soft brushFor knocking loose visible mildew outdoors before it goes in the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Dry cleanerFor dry-clean-only items and for smoke odor that won't fade.
- Oxygen bleach (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
How to get secondhand smell out of clothes
Step 1 of 5
Read the care label first
Check the tag before anything else, since it sets how hot the water can go and whether chlorine is allowed. Dry-clean-only items skip the washer and go to a dry cleaner or a dry-cleaning agent.
If the tag is missing, treat the item as delicate: cool water, a mild liquid detergent, and no bleach.
Step 2 of 5
Air the items out first
Hang the items in a well-ventilated space before you wash anything. Airing can often remove odors on its own, so the smell may fade before you ever need the washer.
Tip. Hang them outside on a dry day if you can.
Step 3 of 5
Brush off mildew and treat spots
If the smell is musty or mildewy, brush off visible mildew outdoors, not inside. Work a liquid detergent into any spots, then launder in the hottest water the label recommends, using a bleach that is safe for the fabric.
Careful. Mildew weakens fibers, so brush gently and expect that badly mildewed fabric may not come back fully.
Step 4 of 5
Wash smoke-smelling items in small loads
Wash small loads with a liquid detergent or one formulated to remove odors, and repeat the wash 3 to 5 times. Check the smell after each wash, not just the first one.
Tip. Keep the same items together so you can compare the smell from wash to wash.
Careful. Skip fabric softener and keep the items out of the dryer until the odor is gone.
Step 5 of 5
Air out and wash mothball items
Mothball fumes can stick to fabric after storage, so air the items out and then wash them. If the smell lingers, air and wash again rather than reaching for anything stronger.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for secondhand smell
Look for a liquid laundry detergent labeled for odor removal, or an enzyme pretreater for spots. For whites that can take it, a powdered oxygen bleach is the product type to use for a stubborn mildew soak.
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.
A smell that keeps coming back needs the longer treatment.
If the smell lingers →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Secondhand Smell on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
The smell should fade a little after each wash, and a clean item should smell neutral to you before you call it done. If it still smells after the full set of washes, the odor is likely set into the fibers, and the set-in options are the next step.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
Whites and white shirts
White cotton and linen can take the hottest water the label allows, so they handle the washes above without any change. They're also the one fabric where a chlorine bleach soak makes sense for stubborn mildew.
Use that soak only on cotton or linen that is bleach-safe, and make it the last step once everything else is rinsed out. Oxygen bleach is another option for white fabric that can take it.
Colors and denim
Colored items and denim should get the coolest water that still does the job, because hot water can change the color or set a stain. Chlorine bleach belongs only on colorfast items that the care tag allows.
Test any remover on an inside seam first, since colors can shift even when the fabric is sturdy.
Silk, wool and delicates
Silk, wool and other delicates change the mildew steps the most. Skip the outdoor brushing, the bleach soak and any rubbing, since rubbing damages silk and agitation makes wool felt.
Hand wash in cool water with a mild liquid detergent, and don't wring the item out. Lay it flat to dry, away from heat, and let the smell fade over several washes.
Dry-clean-only items
Dry-clean-only items skip the washer and dryer entirely. Use a dry-cleaning agent or take them to a dry cleaner.
If a smoke smell is still there after airing, ask the dry cleaner about ozone deodorizing. Don't try a home wash on these items, since the fabric may not survive the water.
If the smell lingers
Old mildew that has set into the fiber needs more than a regular wash. A soak in 1/4 cup chlorine bleach and 3/4 cup water for 10 to 15 minutes works on cotton or linen that is bleach-safe. Powdered oxygen bleach with 3/4 cup water for the same 10 to 15 minutes is the option for fabric that can't take chlorine but can take an oxygen bleach, and rinse thoroughly after either one.
Dried-on mildew can leave a mark even after the smell is gone. The color left in old mildew spots is the shadow of pits in the fiber surface, so a wash may lighten it without fully lifting it.
After the washes and any soak, the smell may be much lighter but not completely gone, especially on badly mildewed or smoke-soaked fabric. For persistent smoke odor, a dry cleaner that offers ozone deodorizing is the realistic next step.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on secondhand smell?
Most home remedies for odors aren't worth reaching for on secondhand items. Most of these are popular for odors, but a liquid detergent wash at the temperature the label allows is what the job needs.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use chlorine bleach on wool, silk or spandex
Chlorine bleach is off limits for these fibers, and for mohair and leather too. The same goes for any item that isn't colorfast, so check the care tag before you reach for it.
Don't use bleach at full strength
Always dilute chlorine bleach first. Undiluted bleach can weaken fabric so it tears or wears out sooner, and a soak that runs too long can leave yellow stains that won't come out.
Don't mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or vinegar
Never combine chlorine bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other cleaners. If you use more than one remover, rinse the item thoroughly between them.
Don't rub spots with bar soap
Soap sets many stains, so it can make a spot harder to remove. Use a liquid detergent on any spots instead, and keep bar soap out of the wash entirely.
When to call a professional
If the smell survives several washes, or the item is dry-clean only or valuable, a dry cleaner is the next step. Ask specifically for ozone deodorizing if the problem is smoke. Badly mildewed fabric can be beyond repair, so a professional's assessment is worth it before you spend more time on it.
Questions
How do you clean thrifted clothes?
Start by airing them out and reading the care label. Then wash them in a liquid detergent in the water temperature the label allows, and check the smell after each wash. Dry-clean-only items go to a dry cleaner instead.
Should you wash clothes from the thrift store before wearing them?
Yes, it's worth washing them before you wear them, since secondhand items can carry mildew, smoke or mothball smells from storage. Air them out first, then wash them at the temperature the tag allows. A fresh wash also tells you whether the smell is gone.
How do I get secondhand smoke smell out of clothes?
Use a detergent formulated to remove odors on small loads, and keep going until the smell is gone. Check the smell each time. If it still lingers, a dry cleaner that offers ozone deodorizing is the next option.
Can you use bleach on thrifted white clothes?
Only on white cotton or linen that the label allows, and only as a diluted soak for stubborn mildew. It goes last, after everything else is rinsed out.
What if the thrifted item is dry-clean only?
Don't wash it at home. Take it to a dry cleaner or use a dry-cleaning agent, and ask for ozone deodorizing if the smell is smoke.
How do you get the mothball smell out of clothes?
Air the items out first, then wash them, since mothball fumes can stick to fabric after storage. If the smell lingers, air and wash again.
How do you clean thrift-store wicker baskets?
Wicker isn't fabric, so clothes-style washing doesn't apply to it. Air the basket out first, and check any care instructions from the seller or maker before you use water on it.
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.