How do I get the smell of cigarettes out of my jacket?

Question

I just got a letterman jacket, but my parents smoke in the house, so it smells like smoke after one day. I asked my mom to clean it, but she doesn't think it smells like anything other than wool. It's dry clean only, and she's taking it to the cleaners today, but by tomorrow, it's just going to smell like smoke again. Is there anything I can do to stop it from smelling permanently? Thanks for any suggestions at all, I've been looking forward to getting this jacket for as long as I can remember.

Answer 1

First of all, congratulations on your letterman jacket. You sound like my son with the smoke problem, he's in college now and everytime he comes home he says his clothes smell like smoke, too. Smokers don't smell it because we smoke. The best way to keep it smelling fresh is to keep it in the plastic from the dry cleaners and hang a dryer sheet (like Arm & Hammer, they don't smell perfumey) in with your jacket. Ask your mom also to get some cedar closet blocks (you can get them at places like Bed, Bath and Beyond or Linens & Things) and put them in your closet so the rest of your clothes don't smell like smoke.

Answer 2

Taking it to the dry cleaners is going to get awful darn costly! ESPECIALLY if it's going to be re-exposed to the smoke again. First, I'd like to recommend that you not where it around them---not while they're smoking. Take it off before entering the house.....Can you leave it in your car...safely?

Secondly, Have a plastic storage bag hanging in the coat closet & your closet and make use of it. Do they smoke throughout the entire house? Or just designated areas? You're in trouble if it's the whole house..... If it's just certain areas, avoid those areas and make sure those doors get closed so the smoke/smell doesn't travel.

Ummmm, you didn't say what it was made out of. Is it leather? Cotton? Wool? (yes?)... Have you considered Febreeze or a similar product? One person suggested putting it into a dryer for a short time.... IF you do that, I'd add a fragranced softener sheet and I'd limit the amount of time it's in there! You don't want to shrink the jacket or damage it. You can also store it in a closed bag (or container) with the same softener sheet and the odor will transfer to the jacket (Visit a store and find one you like the smell of....)

There are smokers in my house and my DD stores most of her clothing in a plastic tub in order to protect them from the odors. I suggest you do the same.... Ditto for you clothes.... Many girls are turned off by that nasty smell----so protect your love life as well as your jacket! lol...

Lastly, sometimes when people who've been smoking for many years don't even know how bad it makes things smell around them & their belongings. My house got so bad this past year that I had to wash all my walls in order to get rid of the smell.

Suggest to them that it might be time to start thinking about quitting their smoking habits. Just a suggestion now! Just give them something to think about. I say this because the jacket was something very important to you and you worked hard for it and the experience shouldn't have been ruined because mom and dad have some old stinky habits. I'm sorry you've had to go through that. It's a good thing that it's just an odor problem....

GOOD LUCK & wear it with lots of pride! Brenda

Answer 3

Follow these steps and the smell will surely go. 1. Hang the coat in the bathroom overnight, open the window so air can flow in (i think it should be cold wherever you are. Close the bathroom door so the air only circulates in the bathroom. 2. Get a bottle of Febreez and spray it all over the coat. Leave for 30 minutes. Come back and spray inside and outside the coat. Leave till the next day 3. Since you left the coat overnight you should notice the reduction of smell. Spray Febreeze on the coat one more time. Leave for 15 minutes. You need to have Brut Body spray (the real thing which comes in a green can you can get it from most beauty stores). It is real cheap and costs about 4.99. Spray it all over it. 4. Notice that it smells like a new coat and has a real sexy smell. Even the strongest nose will not be able to perceive any odor of smoke from your coat.

Answer 4

To get the smell out of your coat, you should hang it outside. That's the best way. I don't think a spray would be good because if I remember correctly, letterman jacket have leather sleeves and some sprays might make funny spots on the coat. The other thing you can do is to keep it in your bedroom when you don't wear it and keep your bedroom door closed at all times to keep to smoke out. A friend of mine does this and it helps a lot. Your parents aren't going to realize that your clothes smell like smoke because they are used to the smell. I think hanging it outside is the best way to get the odor out. Even if it is cold out, the smell will still come out. Congratulations on getting your coat by the way.

Answer 5

Have you ever heard of Dryel? It's available at the grocery store. It is supposed to be a home dry-cleaning product. Personally, I don't think it does a very good job of getting garments CLEAN. However, it does a GREAT job of removing odors from clothes. I use it all the time to freshen up something I've worn that is basically still clean but it stinks because I wore it where there were smokers. Just put the jacket in the big bag that comes in the kit, add one dry-cleaning pad, and tumble in the dryer for 1/2 hr. or so. Presto. It WORKS. Try it. Good luck!

Answer 6

Try this -- hang it in a closet away from the smokers with the door closed (like your bedroom). On the hanger, place dryer sheets, like Bounce. Also, put an odor aborber in the closet too (check Walmart). That should take care of the problem on a daily basis.

As someone who lived with smokers all my life, I now tell you the next out of experience ... do not bring the jacket out until you are really on your way to the door. I know, Mom will want to talk or tell you something ... try hard as you can to make it a brief conversation.

Congrats on lettering! Good luck with everything --

Answer 7

Take it to the Dry cleaners, they should be able to get the smell out. You can't get rid of the smell permanetly unless someone stops smoking in the house. You can however before you go to school or out, spray it with a neutrilizer air spray out side. You can purchase it at any grocery store. I had the same problem when I was a teenager.

Answer 8

Try hanging it in a room where no one smoke in. Also, if weather permits, hang it outside to air out or if that is not possible, spray febreeze on it every day to get the smoke smell out of it. Just make sure you don't spray it on the leather part of the jacket cuz it may ruin the leather.

Answer 9

I used to teach country western dancing in clubs and everything smelled like smoke when I got home. I'd hang my coat and whatever else outside on a hanger until the fresh air and breeze got rid of the smell.

Answer 10

sometimes it helps to put it in the dryer for a few minutes, and then hang it outside - the air circulating through the fibres reduces the smell. don't leave it in there though, esp. as it's dry clean only :)