Thrifting is an affordable way to shop sustainably. I thrift almost everything and owe thrifting for the reason I started my ethical fashion journey and this blog!
But sometimes the clothes we thrift can come with some smells. And they may not be bad smells, sometimes they’re just strong smells whether it be someone’s perfume or a scent of something they often did.
It’s really fun in my opinion to not know where our thrifted clothes came from or what the person who owned them before did. That being said, just because something has a strong smell doesn’t mean you shouldn’t thrift it. There are lots of ways to get smells out of clothing!
How to clean and deodorize thrifted clothes:
1. Add 1 cup of vinegar to your laundry load
Vinegar is a great deodorizer. Just pour one cup of it (for a large load, half for a smaller load) right into your machine along with your regular detergent and let it works its magic!
2. Sprinkle with baking soda
For tougher smells, try laying them flat and sprinkling them with baking soda. Let sit for an hour or two and then wash as usual.
3. Lay in the sun
Laying your clothes out in the sun can help to naturally bleach them and lift out stubborn stains!
4. Strip them in the tub
For really, really stubborn smells, strip them in the tub! Place your clothing in your bathtub (or a large plastic container if you don’t have a tub) and fill it with just enough hot water to cover them! Then mix in 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of washing soda, and 1 scoop of natural laundry detergent. I use laundry strips so alternatively, you can use one strip!
Mix it all together and let the clothes sit for a few hours. Then drain the tub and wash the clothing as normal!
Related reading:
These tips should help you clean and deodorize thrifted clothes! So no matter what, don’t let a smell or a stain keep you from purchasing an item! Chances are, you can save it. So why not try?
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