You are very brave to wash a 60 year old scarfWhen you clean an old scarf in water, you can add a little salt and a color catcher (on sale at Target). I wash all my scarves for a long time. The oldest scarf that I washed with water was 60 years old
Scarves Cleaning and Caring for Hermès Scarves
- Thread starter dianagrace
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Recently tried the freezer idea for 24 hours, with two older scarves that brought odors from their former homes. Freezing in separate bags seemed to lighten the smells but not eliminate. I bought a packet of “odor eliminator” sachets that were incredibly strong in themselves, leaving their own “residue” but the former fowl sniffs were gone. Now the two are separated in a drawer with lavender sachet to see what happens.
Washing and airing had worked for a while but enclosure in the drawer during summer had restarted and spread the odors to other silks as well. Everything else aired out, but the two problem children wouldn’t let go their odors.
I recently bought a couple Ferragamo silk twill scarves second-hand that arrived with heavy perfume smells. I hand-washed one and it's been hanging on a hanger to air out for about a month now. The perfume is a little less intense but not much. When I drape it around my neck it still smells as if I'm wearing someone else's perfume.
I'm considering hanging the other in the vicinity of a dish of baking soda and seeing if that works. I once bought a $10 cotton jacket at Target that came with a HORRIBLE factory stench. After trying all sorts of stuff that did not work, I finally laundered it twice with an entire box of baking soda dumped into the machine each time and that ultimately did the trick. So baking soda can be very effective at removing smells, although I'm loath to launder a silk scarf with a box of baking soda. But I'm going to try something and I'll keep you updated.
I'm considering hanging the other in the vicinity of a dish of baking soda and seeing if that works. I once bought a $10 cotton jacket at Target that came with a HORRIBLE factory stench. After trying all sorts of stuff that did not work, I finally laundered it twice with an entire box of baking soda dumped into the machine each time and that ultimately did the trick. So baking soda can be very effective at removing smells, although I'm loath to launder a silk scarf with a box of baking soda. But I'm going to try something and I'll keep you updated.
My mom once got a strong cigarette stench out of an outfit by hanging it in a closet with a dish of white vinegar mixed with cinnamon for a couple of days (you have to occasionally replenish the vinegar.) Maybe you could try that?
Hi everyone, do you wash your scarves after just one wear? Or do you wear it multiple times before washing?
Hahaha! Spelling error: Foul smells....though some fowl do smell foul.
I have the majority of the silks now in a larger drawer with a plastic container half full baking soda and small holes punched into its sides and top. Maybe keeping a lid on things, so to speak...I also just ordered Maitai’s lavender sachets to see if they be better than no-brand named ones previous.
Second thoughts: The two problem scarves—I have no problem trying the washing-in-baking soda option with these two, fortunately my least expensive investments.
Let us know how that goes! I don't have any smelly scarves but the MaiTai's sachets sound marvelous!
Have you tried vinegar? I've washed a few smellies with Dawn dish soap and a hefty splash of vinegar. I thought it worked pretty well but of course YMMV!
I don't wash after just one wear, honestly I only wash if I get something on it. I don't wear perfume or makeup on my neck so they stay fairly clean. I do hang them up after wearing to 'air' out though.
I would try this but in a smaller enclosure for a scarf, like a large plastic tub I typically use for dog food bag. I was thinking a wire free standing shelf above whatever odor reducer: vinegar/cinnamon, febreeze-sprayed paper towels, etc.
Smell removal , put scarf and a few UNSCENTED dryer sheets in a ziplock , come back a week later or two , smell should be gone
The dryer sheets work for all sorts of smell removal , I put them in an old walnut chest with smelly drawers
Saves getting scarf wet which then Requires ironing or steaming