Getting Ash and Smokey Smells Out of Clothes

by Marissa Zumbo, September 2020

Occasionally, you may want to put your nose to your favorite flannel and smell that roaring bonfire you had with your friends…but boy does that smell stick around. And there’s a lot less pleasant reasons your clothes may smell of ash too.

Here in California—and across the country—we’ve been devastated by some terrible wildfires. People still see ash and feel the effects on their bodies from dozens of miles away.

So how do we get ash and smoky smells out of clothes?

High Friction Wash

High quality, front-loading washing machines use gravity as its main source of friction, which is more efficient, and will "shake" your clothes out, removing odors better than traditional top load machines.

White Vinegar Winner

White vinegar is very versatile. It’s non-toxic, cheap and adds a heap of odor fighting power to your load. In addition to detergent, just add one cup of white vinegar to your wash.

Baking Soda Back-Up

Baking soda also helps take care of smoky odors. If you don’t want to use white vinegar, baking soda is a great option. Add your detergent to the load and then wait a few minutes before adding the baking soda.

FOLLOW THESE STEPS FOR SMOKY SMELLING, MACHINE WASHABLE CLOTHES:

  • Spray clothes with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. Repeat this step if the clothes are extra smoky.

  • Don’t let them Dry! Immediately put the clothes into a high quality, high-spin washing machine (like those found at Big Waves Laundromat).

  • Time for the wash. Add detergent as usual.

  • If you want to boost odor fighting power even more, include about 1 cup of baking soda for every full load.

  • Using hot water (or as hot as your particular clothes allow) will also help open up clothing fibers and fight smells.

  • Now on to the dryer. Choose your normal settings.

  • Feel free to add dryer sheets, as they also help to deodorize unwanted smells.

  • For hang-dry items, try to place them in an area with high air circulation.

  • If clothes smell a little like vinegar, don’t panic! That will fade. Repeat this whole process if necessary.

*Always pay attention to clothing labels before washing

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Sources Cited for Article:

https://speedqueen.com/how-to-remove-campfire-scents/

https://rainbowintl.com/blog/how-to-get-smoke-damage-out-of-clothes