Gransnet forums

Chat

Charity shop clothes

(72 Posts)
Aepgirl Mon 19-Feb-18 13:24:12

Has anybody else noticed the strange smell (not a 'dirty' smell) that charity shop clothes have? I've discovered today - perhaps I'm a bit slow on the uptake - that it's the steaming machine that they 'iron' the clothes with. Is there any way of getting rid of the smell? Even washing seems to leave it behind a bit.

Marydoll Mon 19-Feb-18 13:48:32

If you have a tumble drier, could you do a gentle cycle with a scented tumble drier sheet?

Alexa Mon 19-Feb-18 14:13:07

I noticed the funny smell. I wondered if it 's insecticide.

Oopsadaisy12 Mon 19-Feb-18 14:19:36

The steamer should only have fresh water in it, although some shops put lavender oil in, maybe it’s the lingering scent of that? however, shops aren’t able to wash any of the clothes and sometimes you don’t notice the smell until you get home when the clothes are in a smaller space. But we try to weed out those that are smelly and rag them.
Furniture auctions are similar, I bought a wardrobe and got it home to find that it smelled awful, but in a large auction room it wasn’t noticeable.

Teetime Mon 19-Feb-18 14:30:48

I cannot cope with the smell in charity shops heaven knows what it is.

Alexa Mon 19-Feb-18 14:33:45

I bought a dress from ebay which the seller had doused in that scented deodorant spray that is advertised. Febreze I think it's called . I washed the dress in hot water and biological at least three times drying it outdoors before the smell was gone by which time I was sick and tired of the thing and it went to the charity shop.

Fennel Tue 20-Feb-18 10:57:51

It hasn't always been like that. I used to buy clothes for me and the children from a charity shop years ago and they smelled ok. The second hand clothes stall in the open air market doesn't smell like that.
I blame this modern obsession with hygeine, fear of infection, being sued etc

annodomini Tue 20-Feb-18 11:34:46

I bought a beautiful coat from Ebay which had obviously picked up cooking smells, though in every other respect it was pristine. I sprayed it with Febreze and it is now odourless.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Tue 20-Feb-18 11:42:54

I've never bought clothes from charity shops and would find this very off-putting.
Mentioning no names or places, there was (and may still be) a charity shop with second hand clothes, books, records, etc which I visited once - the reason being the awful stench of stale BO which really assaulted the senses. I retreated politely and got back out to the fresh air. My nose isn't very sensitive so it must have been bad.

Tessa101 Tue 20-Feb-18 11:46:26

I’m with teatime, I can’t cope with the smell in charity shops either. Some are worse than others.

sharonarnott Tue 20-Feb-18 11:48:24

They always smell musty to me

blueskies Tue 20-Feb-18 11:51:40

anyone else cheesed off with the pop up asking to "like" gransnet on facebook? It can't be deleted so there is no way to access other forums.

MesMopTop Tue 20-Feb-18 11:55:23

Add a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle and it gets rid of lots of odours. I use it when my work clothing has been piddled, pooped or puked on and when I wash the dogs bedding. Not a trace of nasty pongs once dried. Also good for freshening up carpets. Vinegar smell disappears when dry leaving odour free carpets.

Nelliemoser Tue 20-Feb-18 11:58:11

Well launder or dry clean what you can .
I would not put any masking perfume on any fabric they can be worse that the original.
I would choose a non perfumed smell nutralizer if such things exist.
I am very wary of perfumed products. I can be allergic to many of them and get a really streaming nose.

wot Tue 20-Feb-18 11:58:20

Blueskies, yes, its very irritating.

pamdixon Tue 20-Feb-18 12:06:05

I'm having that problem too, Blueskies...v annoying

Overthehills Tue 20-Feb-18 12:13:18

Yes Blueskies very annoying.angry
Thanks for the vinegar on pongy carpet tip Mesmoptop smile

Polremy Tue 20-Feb-18 12:14:12

I got that pop up too when I clicked on the top topic.
When I clicked on the bottom topic (this one) it didn't appear.
Going to work my way upwards and see what happens.

sarahellenwhitney Tue 20-Feb-18 12:17:48

Non wash items, but you have outside drying facilities, then weather permitting hang them on the line or a clothes airer for as long as possible.

Arry Tue 20-Feb-18 12:19:09

I,m with you there Polremy, I do not have any intention of joining facebook even if it means no Gransnet!!

Polremy Tue 20-Feb-18 12:19:38

Update on pop up:
Worked my way up through the topics. No popular until I got back to the top one and there it was again.

Polremy Tue 20-Feb-18 12:19:58

Pop up!!

colette13 Tue 20-Feb-18 12:22:05

BLUESKIES Same as -- and I'm not being forced to like anything on facebook -- not sure how I got in here because there wasn't a CROSS option for facebook like -- BUT REALLY THAT IS A BIT CHEEKY

colette13 Tue 20-Feb-18 12:23:21

ARRY -- Gransnet need to sort that -- it's wrong

Fearless Tue 20-Feb-18 12:26:23

Yes, the Facebook pop-up is very annoying.