How to Get Scent Out of Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

Your clothes smell like perfume that won’t wash out. Or they reek of smoke from a campfire or restaurant. Or they have a food smell that clings to the fabric. Scent in clothes is caused by oils and particles that bond with fabric fibers and don’t wash out with regular detergent. The smell clings to the fabric and can last for days or weeks. But with the right products and methods, you can get scent out of clothes. Here’s how.

Scent in clothes is caused by perfume oils, smoke particles, or food oils that bond with fabric fibers. Regular detergent alone may not remove these scents, especially in cold water. Removing scent requires breaking down the oils and particles with baking soda, vinegar, or oxygen bleach.

To get scent out of clothes, wash with enzyme detergent and baking soda in hot water, add vinegar to the rinse, use oxygen bleach for stubborn scents, and dry in fresh air. Don’t use fabric softener, don’t use cold water for strong scents, and don’t put scented clothes in the dryer until the scent is gone.

For Perfume and Cologne Scent

Step 1: Soak in Vinegar

Fill a tub with warm water and add 1 cup of white vinegar. Submerge the scented clothes and soak for 30 minutes. The vinegar breaks down the perfume oils.

Step 2: Wash with Baking Soda

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle and half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda in warm water.

Step 3: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Step 4: Dry in Fresh Air

Dry outside in fresh air if possible. Don’t dry in the dryer until the scent is gone.

Step 5: Repeat If Needed

If the scent remains, repeat the process.

For Smoke Smell

Step 1: Air Out

Hang the smoke-scented clothes outside in fresh air for several hours. Fresh air helps remove smoke particles.

Step 2: Soak in Baking Soda

Fill a tub with warm water and add 1 cup of baking soda. Soak for 1 hour.

Step 3: Wash with Vinegar

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle and 1 cup of white vinegar in warm water.

Step 4: Add Baking Soda to the Wash

Add half a cup of baking soda to the drum.

Step 5: Dry in Fresh Air

Dry outside in fresh air. Don’t dry in the dryer until the smoke smell is gone.

Step 6: For Stubborn Smoke, Use Oxygen Bleach

Add 1 scoop of oxygen bleach to the wash for heavy smoke smells.

For Food Smell

Step 1: Pre-Treat with Dish Soap

Apply Dawn Ultra Dish Soap to areas with food smell. The dish soap breaks down food oils.

Step 2: Wash with Enzyme Detergent and Baking Soda

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle and half a cup of baking soda in warm water.

Step 3: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Step 4: Dry Completely

For Musty and Mildew Scent

Step 1: Wash with Vinegar and Oxygen Bleach

Wash with 1 cup of white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle, and 1 scoop of oxygen bleach in hot water.

Step 2: Add Baking Soda

Add half a cup of baking soda to the drum.

Step 3: Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse to kill bacteria.

Step 4: Dry in the Sun

UV rays kill bacteria and remove odors.

Monthly: Clean the Machine

Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly.

Scent Types and Treatments

Scent Type	Cause	Best Treatment
Perfume	Perfume oils	Vinegar soak, baking soda wash
Smoke	Smoke particles	Air out, baking soda soak, vinegar wash
Food	Food oils	Dish soap pre-treat, enzyme detergent wash
Musty	Bacteria, mold	Vinegar, oxygen bleach, hot water
Mildew	Mold	Vinegar, oxygen bleach, sun dry
Pet	Oils, bacteria	Enzyme detergent, baking soda, Lysol

What Not to Do

Don’t use fabric softener. It coats fibers and traps scent.

Don’t use cold water for strong scents. Cold water doesn’t break down oils as well as warm or hot water.

Don’t put scented clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat can set the scent permanently. Air dry first and check.

Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue that traps scent.

Don’t wash scented clothes with fresh clothes. Scent can transfer.

Don’t use perfume to mask scent. It just adds more oils to the fabric.

FAQ

How do you get scent out of clothes? Wash with Tide Free and Gentle and half a cup of baking soda in warm water, add half a cup of vinegar to the rinse, and dry in fresh air. For stubborn scents, soak in vinegar before washing and add oxygen bleach to the wash.

Does vinegar remove scent from clothes? Yes. White vinegar breaks down oils and particles that cause scent. Add 1 cup to the wash or soak clothes in vinegar solution for 30 minutes before washing.

Does baking soda remove scent from clothes? Yes. Baking soda neutralizes odors. Add half a cup to the wash with your detergent. For strong scents, soak in baking soda solution for 1 hour before washing.

How do you get perfume smell out of clothes? Soak in warm water with 1 cup of white vinegar for 30 minutes, then wash with enzyme detergent and baking soda in warm water, add vinegar to the rinse, and dry in fresh air. Repeat if needed.

How do you get smoke smell out of clothes? Air out the clothes in fresh air for several hours, soak in baking soda solution for 1 hour, wash with enzyme detergent, vinegar, and baking soda in warm water, and dry outside in fresh air. For heavy smoke, add oxygen bleach.

References

1. Tide. “How to Remove Odor from Clothes.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Get Smells Out of Clothes.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Odor Removal Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Lysol. “Laundry Sanitizer Guide.” lysol.com.