Yup, I rub fabric softener sheets really well, put inside the bag, then use hair dryer to warm them up a bit
. This works well for me.
How to get a smell out of a bag
- Thread starter valby
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
Yup, I rub fabric softener sheets really well, put inside the bag, then use hair dryer to warm them up a bit
. This works well for me.Okay, this is only my 4th post here but when I saw the question, I HAD to post.
I purchased a vintage purse that arrived smelling as if it sat in an old musty mildewed basement for YEARS. There was no visible mold. I would have returned it but I loved the bag so much that I was determined to find a way to rid the bag of the smell.
For months, I tried EVERYTHING:
coffee beans
dryer sheets
filling the bag with newspaper
febreeze
scented satchets
lysol
baking soda
Nothing worked. I read somewhere that sitting the bag in direct sunlight would rid the bag of the smell. So, on the first warm sunny day of spring, I sat the bag on my porch (inside of a big brown box so no one could see what was in it). I propped it open so that the sun could shine inside of the bag and left it there for about 8 hours.
When I got home, I brought the bag inside of the house and smelled it. The smell was GONE!!! So...yeah, I said all of that to say....DIRECT SUNLIGHT.Just make sure there isn't a chance of rain.
Wow, interesting. Thanks for sharing!
First I use white vinegar for cleansing. If smell is still there then I use banking soda to absorb bad odors.
That's a valid point with buying on eBay.. I guess the 'smell' of something isn't something you'll initially think about.. Well I wouldn't, at least anyway. Great tip!
I bought a bag from Japan and i can't describe the smell - maybe musty or moldy? I tried fresh air outside for a week with essential oils. Then i made packets with carbon charcoal and put it in an airtight bag for a week, but the smell was still strong when I opened the bag. I have it out in the fresh air again. I read that carbon charcoal worked for absorbing odors, but I didn't find a difference.
Thank you so much for sharing all of your experiences. I am really going to start asking more questions about the odor or smell of a bag before purchasing. This is really good to know, but I am sorry to hear that none of these things helped to get the smell out of your bag for you.
The charcoal didn't work for my bag. I made the mistake of tying it in a trash bag with the charcoal. It really just blocked the smell into it more. I would say airing a bag out helps more than tying it up with something to soak up the smell. Just didn't work...I think if I knew exactly what the smell was it might help.
The charcoal didn't work for my bag. I made the mistake of tying it in a trash bag with the charcoal. It really just blocked the smell into it more. I would say airing a bag out helps more than tying it up with something to soak up the smell. Just didn't work...I think if I knew exactly what the smell was it might help.
I had a horrible smelling Chanel bag that I used Zep smoke odor spray remover and, hold your breath, put in in my dryer on the stand and steam setting for the full 20 minute cycle and it literally steamed the smell totally out of the bag with absolutely zero damage to the bag, no structure loss, no leather damage. It's now prefect and let me tell you, this bag STUNK.
Baking soda works awesome but may take a week to remove say cigarette icky smell. Just get a baggy Tupperware plastic elastic cover and fill half way or less. Place in each pocket of bag and center compartment and make sure baggy and soda is exposed but sitting upright as not to spill. Then put in your dust bag tie and hand or put in a box and wait! If got the worst smells out of my bags multiple times w this method good luck
Try putting a few tablespoons of baking soda and a few drops of 100% pure essential oil (peppermint, lavender, lemon) into a cone coffee filter. Fold edges in and over, staple shut, and date. Each satchet should continue to freshen its surroundings for about 30 days. Add multiple satchets per bag depending on size.
If the lining is not anchored to the bottom of the bag, try to gently pull it so it hangs outside of the bag and spray a solution of 50% vinegar and 50% water onto the lining. Ensure the lining is damp, but not wet. Hang the bag upside down and allow the lining it to air dry outside until it is completely dry.
Hello! I've recently bought a Kate Spade second hand and it smells like something foul. I won't say it's cigarrettes because I don't think that's what it is, but it does smell like some kind of smoke and just funk. It's also very dirty. The girl described it as "very rarely used and very little wear" and refuses to give me a refund. So I'm stuck with it. I was reading that I could try Oxyclean. But it makes me nervous. Any ideas?
I second the vinegar. I had a vintage Coach (unlined so soakable) that had a strong cigarette smell and that smell is now completely gone thanks to a water/vinegar/dawn mixture. Of course with a lined bag i would recommend pulling the lining out and soaking that while squeezing it for total saturation, then wipe the leather down with this same mixture followed by a plain water rinse/wipe afterward. Vinegar is amazing.
Okay, this is only my 4th post here but when I saw the question, I HAD to post.
I purchased a vintage purse that arrived smelling as if it sat in an old musty mildewed basement for YEARS. There was no visible mold. I would have returned it but I loved the bag so much that I was determined to find a way to rid the bag of the smell.
For months, I tried EVERYTHING:
coffee beans
dryer sheets
filling the bag with newspaper
febreeze
scented satchets
lysol
baking soda
Nothing worked. I read somewhere that sitting the bag in direct sunlight would rid the bag of the smell. So, on the first warm sunny day of spring, I sat the bag on my porch (inside of a big brown box so no one could see what was in it). I propped it open so that the sun could shine inside of the bag and left it there for about 8 hours.
When I got home, I brought the bag inside of the house and smelled it. The smell was GONE!!! So...yeah, I said all of that to say....DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
Thank you for the tips!
@FrugalDiva: Thumbs Up for the tip for direct sunlight. It is the most natural way to kill germs and get rid of bad odour. The natural sun-kissed smell of fabric really recharges the life of your favourite luxury item.
Some Mould Removing agent like Fabreeze or Dicon maybe helpful before the bake - But the Sun is still the giver of life, including hand bags!
Lovely greetings from Singapore, folks.
Some Mould Removing agent like Fabreeze or Dicon maybe helpful before the bake - But the Sun is still the giver of life, including hand bags!
Lovely greetings from Singapore, folks.