[Dimples16]

I bought lap stamped Floral Frangance stmaped lap quilt that you embroider.(not a kit) It smelled like smoke so I washed it and it smells ok. There are several skeins of embroidery floss (that the person bought separately.) They smell like smoke Every thing is brand. There are 41 skeins still with the bands on. Is there a way to get the smoke smell out of them? I did not find out that it smelled like smoke till I came home and opened it.

 

[StitchDesigner]

You'll need sewing pins and a big, thick towel for this. Also, a basin and dish soap (the kind to hand wash dishes).

Take each skein, one at a time, remove the bands. Pin them to the towel. Take that skein and that skein only and gently squish it in a warm, soapy solution. Drape it over one hand and run cool water over it until all soap is gone.

Lay it on the towel next to the bands. If you have done it correctly, the skein should still look like a skein. Do the next skein the same way. ALWAYS position the skeins the same way relative to the bands.

Change the soapy water if you think you need to. Do lightest colors first. Let them lay and dry for a couple of days. You should be able to slip the bands back on them when dry.

 

[e.ridenh]

(((((((( I wonder if you couldn't rinse them (the DMC embroider floss skeins) as is........

With the label removed (?), pin the skein together or clamp it with a clothes pin, using detergent then place on a towel to dry and near a heat source? Lay a towel on top, too and something heavier to squish more water out that wouldn't have come out when you slightly wrung them out?

Otherwise, use them as is and wash the final product to remove all smoke and any dust, finger residue, etc., that accumulates as a WIP.

Donna Rae
~~~~~~~~

I bought lap stamped Floral Frangance stmaped lap quilt that you embroider.(not a kit) It smelled like smoke so I washed it and it smells ok. There are several skeins of embroidery floss (that the person bought separately.) They smell like smoke Every thing is brand. There are 41 skeins still with the bands on. Is there a way to get the smoke smell out of them? I did not find out that it smelled like smoke till I came home and opened it.

 

[courier770]

Try just spraying them with fabric freshener and laying them on a towel to dry.

 

[Dimples16]

Thanks everyone for your helpful hints.

 

[glassgoddess]

I have had very good results with smoky clothing and yarn but just puting it outside. I acquired yarn with a strong mildew odor and would have pitched it, but the color was gorgeous. I set it on my porch where it wouldn't get wet. The winter winds blew threw it and I checked every day by the nose test. Took about a week on this very strong smell, but was no work at all. My friend smokes and sometimes gives me shoes, and this works too. Fresh air and Mother Nature!

 

[Jessica-Jean]

If you have a sunless place outdoors or in a garage, just hang them there for as long as it takes for the smell to go. I've done this with fabric bags and plastic mugs. Effortless and free.

 

[Shamrock]

I would try Febreeze first and let them air dry.

 

[Mare]

I would try Febreeze first and let them air dry.

Febreeze works great on yarn, so I'm going to 2nd this one!

 

[yona]

I had the same problems when purchasing items off of ebay including books & what I did was lay them outside on a tray or hanging on a hanger in a shady spot, not in direct sunlight & 'rotated' them every day & the cigarette/smoke smell did go away, even from the books. Yona

 

[wadeallie]

My inlaws smoked and after many, many laundry washings of my kid's jackets after an evening of visiting, we FINALLY tripped on to Febreze and I am now a firm believer! That works great for killing cigarette smokey smell.

 

[StitchDesigner]

Be gentle with the Fabreeze. I design intricate Counted Cross-Stitch. You are introducing chemicals to dyes. You have no idea how it will affect the colors. You could end up with polka-dot thread. Try it on one skein 1st. You can easily replace one skein of floss if you must.

 

[cjcb2]

I would put it into a large plastic bag with....charcole that is contained in a net bag and seal the bag for a week or so....see if that does the trick.... ")

 

[Dimples16]

Thank You'

 

[courier770]

I used the term "Fabric Freshener" because I tripped across a little something just before the Holidays...Dollar General store have their own brand of Fabric Freshener that is so much like Fabreeze they had to put a notice on the bottle that is ISN'T Fabreeze..and it's about half the price!

I do a LOT of felting and cannot stand the smell that some yarns emit when they are wet...sort of like an old wet sheep, to as my felting item dry's I give it a quick shot of Fabric Freshener (aka generic Fabreeze).

 

[LCGIRL]

I've tried charcoal that you buy in a fish store. I can't remember the exact charcoal but they would know. I bought fabric one time and it smelled like smoke and I wrapped it in cheesecloth and put it in a brown bag with charcoal pieces and after a couple of days the smell was completely gone.

I've used this same charcoal in shoes and sneakers when they get out of control. LOL

 

[LCGIRL]

sorry I do remember it is called activated charcoal and you can get it in a pet store (usually)

 

[courier770]

Good idea LCGirl...you can get activated charcoal at most drug stores too..it's pretty cheap.

 

[k9trainer]

A few years back, my apartment caught on fire, I lost a puppy and 3/4s of my possesions. Mainly due to smoke. I found that the sun and fresh air worked miracles on a lot of my clothing, the only thing that it would not work on was wool. The wool may have smelled fresh but the minute it got wet or damp, the smell came back and I couldn't stand the memory of the loss of my Zoey. Everything else is replaceable but not that sweet, sweet baby.

Jean

 

[LCGIRL]

Oh I didn't know you could get it in drugstores. Good thing to know.