TOP 10 ways to get rid of secondhand smells at home
Second-hand stores are popular not only among low-income people, but also among wealthy citizens, as well as representatives of the bohemian crowd. The articles offered are divided into 3 categories according to the degree of wear and, accordingly, the prices. Here they buy, among other things, brand new clothes and shoes that are not suitable for someone in size or for some other reason. Chemical smell is the main characteristic by which such things are recognized. How to get rid of the second-hand smell at home?
Causes
In Europe, the United States and Canada, there are strict rules for the disposal of waste from the public. In order not to have a "headache" with used clothes and shoes (or pay as garbage, or hand them over to thrift stores), they are handed over free of charge at used collection points.
Before being sent to consumers, things undergo chemical treatment that destroys mites, molds, pathogenic microorganisms. The wholesale buyer is issued a remediation certificate, confirming that the opportunity is safe for future owners.
Basic methods
Items purchased from second-hand stores have a lingering, unpleasant chemical smell. There are several ways to neutralize it, depending on the material, the purpose of the purchase.
Ammonia
Clothes, except for the top, can be removed from the "aroma" by soaking them in an ammonia solution. The exposure time, the water temperature depends on the type of fabric:
- 60-70 degrees, 30 minutes - for cotton;
- 45-50 degrees, 20 minutes - natural silk;
- 45 degrees, 40 minutes - wool (70-100%);
- 45 degrees, 60 minutes - mixed fabrics.
5 liters of water will require 20-100 milliliters of ammonia (the denser the tissue, the higher the concentration). Then things should be washed and dried in the fresh air. If the smell has not disappeared, the procedure can be repeated, adding ammonia during washing.
flavored salt
Clothes that have retained a chemical smell after washing are placed in an airtight bag in which flavored salt is poured. The exposure time is from one to two days to a week. The tighter the bag is sealed and the more aromatic the salt, the shorter the odor neutralization period.
natural soap
The main components of solid natural soap are sodium lye and vegetable oil. If you wash things with natural soap, the chemical impregnation will be washed from the fibers of the fabrics with an alkali.
vinegar solution
Acetic acid has a pungent, lingering odor that can overpower an unpleasant odor. Clothes are soaked in warm water with vinegar for an hour and a half (for 5 liters of 150 milliliters). Then, slightly wrung out, dried in the fresh air. The vinegar smell is interrupted by washing the dried items in an air-conditioned washing machine.
Essential oils
If after washing the smell of chemical treatment persists, then a cloth soaked in essential oil (citrus, pine, rose) can be put in the closet with your belongings.
No-Wash Odor Elimination
In second-hand stores they buy not only second-hand, but also new things. You can get rid of the smell of sanitation without washing.
Aeration
It is often enough to put the thing on the balcony and leave it for a few days so that the unpleasant smell disappears. To achieve the effect, intensive air circulation is required. It is best to ventilate in dry, hot and windy weather.
Coffee beans
Coffee beans have the same strong aroma as ground coffee. The second-hand smell will disappear if you put a cotton bag with the fruit of the coffee tree in the closet with clothes. Clothes should rest on a shelf or hang on a hanger for several days behind tightly closed doors.
medicinal herbs
By analogy with coffee beans, they exude the scent of aromatic plants, for example, lavender, pharmacy chamomile. Dried plants are placed in natural fabric bags and placed next to second-hand items (in a closet, a suitcase, an airtight bag). The main condition is close contact with aromatic herbs for 7-10 days.
Steam ironing
You can remove an unpleasant odor by ironing the item with an iron and a steam generator. This method is suitable for items made of dense natural fabric that does not deform at a temperature of 100 degrees. High humidity and temperature destroy the chemical molecules that have been used on second-hand items.
Frozen
Freezing things is the opposite of steaming.Physical nature has a similar picture. Under the influence of low temperatures, the moisture in the fibers evaporates along with the chemicals dissolved in them. To remove it, it is better to freeze things in the open air so that the fumes do not settle on things as frost. Freezing time is 1-2 days.
Household chemicals
It is not always possible to remove the lingering chemical smell from things. In this case, you can buy household chemicals designed to eliminate odors. The use of drugs is in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Selected cases
Leather, fur and shoes are treated with formaldehyde and methyl bromide, just like other used items.
To remove an unpleasant smell, use the same methods as for clothes, except for washing, ironing.
Leather
Leather products have their own special smell, which needs to be restored by neutralizing the smell of formaldehyde. The fabric liner absorbs disinfectant more strongly than the skin. The processing of the products depends on the type of leather, which is of the following types:
- Natural;
- microfiber;
- leatherette;
- eco-leather.
The most gentle methods of eliminating odors are applied to genuine leather products, especially from husky, yuft, chevro. The surface of the jacket/coat/handbag is wiped with a towel soaked in soapy water, then washed with clean water. On the sewing side, the lining of outerwear is treated with foam from the detergent applied to the sponge. Then gently remove the foam with a sponge, wetting it in clean water. The jacket and coat are hung in a shaded place in a draft. The front side of the products is dried, then they are turned over and stored until completely dry.Women's handbags are cleaned in the same way.
Artificial leather is more resistant to moisture. Leatherette and eco-leather products can be moistened abundantly with water and detergent and rinsed under running water. Dries the same way and consistency as natural leather garments.
Liquid ammonia is added to a soap solution for light leather goods in a 6:1 ratio. Dark skin can be brushed with coffee grounds. With porridge on a cotton swab, wipe the entire front side, rinse with clean water, wipe dry.
Fur
Faux fur jackets and coats are easy to wash, do not shrink. The washing temperature should correspond to that specified by the manufacturer. It is more difficult to remove the unpleasant odor from products with natural fur. Fur does not like water. An aqueous solution should be used, focusing on the type of fur coating. For example, light colored fur may turn yellow if cleaned with soapy water.
To scent short-haired fur, you can use a towel soaked in a solution of vinegar (1 tablespoon per 200 milliliters). Arctic fox, llama and fox fur products will lose their unpleasant odor after freezing. If you use a freezer, keep in mind that you will need to dry your fur coat/hat thoroughly in a ventilated room, away from heating appliances.
Shoes
Shoes with textile uppers are washed in the same way as clothes and dried in shape. Leather shoes are treated with a solution of soap and ammonia on the outside and inside. Remove traces of foam with a damp cloth. Dried by shaping.The use of shoe polish or aromatic perfumes completes the odor neutralization procedure.