The Most Effective Way to Get Smoke Smell Out of Clothes, According to Experts

published Sep 6, 2024
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If listening to Macklemore’s 2012 bop “Thrift Shop” suddenly gives you the urge to buy some resale clothes, you’re not alone. (Don’t judge me. I love your grandpa’s style.) Thrift stores have fabulous deals on amazing clothes, but you’ll have to put up with some inconveniences, like slightly worn-out fitting and occasional weird smells. One of the most common? Smoke smells

Fortunately, there’s a way to remove it from your clothing. Here’s how to get smoke smell out of clothes, so you can enjoy your thrift finds.

Why Is Smoke Smell on Clothing So Pungent?

According to Michael Rubino, founder of HomeCleanse, the smoke smell on clothing is so pungent and difficult to get rid of because the fabric is porous, and the smoke clings to it.

“Smoke contains small particles like soot, tar, chemicals, and oils,” he says. “Many of these particles are microscopic and will embed themselves into the pores of the clothing. This gives clothing a distinct odor, even long after being near smoke. The particles from the source are still present in the material.” 

The intensity of the smell varies based on the type of material, how humid it is, and what the temperature is. Expect more porous fabrics to smell more, and the stink to really come out on hot and humid days.

Credit: Apartment Therapy

How to Get Smoke Smells Out of Clothes

First, take a day or two to air out the clothes. Put it in the yard to hang on a clothesline or on a deck or balcony to hang from a drying rack. The air circulating the clothes can help dislodge the particles, and the UV rays will naturally break up some of the smell. Just don’t leave colors in the sun for too long, because sunlight can bleach them.

Next, Katie Dills, brand president of The Cleaning Authority, suggests soaking the clothes in a tub full of warm water with a cup of white vinegar, which will help break down the smoke particles. Danny Leung, founder of Detoorp, says to soak the clothes for an hour. You can even add a cup of baking soda into the mix for some extra scent-eliminating power.

After that, wash the clothes in the washer on a normal cycle with your regular detergent, Dills says. Then let them air-dry; heat from a dryer will cause any remaining smoke particles to set into the fabric. If the smell sticks around, repeat the process.

What If I Live in an Apartment?

Although airing out your smelly clothing outdoors on a deck or balcony or in a yard is the best option, living in an apartment or condo without outdoor space is not easy. In that case, Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids, suggests hanging clothes near an open window where the sun shines through. That’ll allow the fresh air to circulate the material and let the UV rays penetrate the smell.