how do you get the smell of mothballs out of clothes?

Question

we are washing cloths that have been stored with mathballs in the trunk and cant seem to get the smell out, please help

Answer 1

I would take the clothes outside and airing them out. I think if you put 1 cup of clolox, or 1 cup of vinegar into detergent in the wash cycle at the beginning, it might work.

Answer 2

Try a little vinegar and lots of fabric softener to disguise the moth ball smell, but the air outside might help a lot, If you can hang them outside in the sun and fresh air for a few hours and then wash it might help. There is also Febreeze too. good luck.

Answer 3

airing them out overnite is the best possible way. however, if you're short on time, then put them in the clothes dryer on the lowest heat setting for several minutes. the smell disappears. if you want the softener smell instead, then throw in a softener sheet. works like a charm.

Answer 4

Tide with Febreeze...it will really help with the smell. Make sure to use dryer sheets when drying as well. If nothing works, take it to a local dry cleaner and explain the problem.

Answer 5

If it won't come out with detergent and fabric softener, you might have to wash in vinegar (gets out virtually all odors), and then rewash in detergent.

You could try using baking soda, but vinegar is much stronger.

Answer 6

the easy way is use lestoil then hang outside then rewash with tide with fabreez and use downy mountain fresh but do not tumble dry untill the 3rd wash .

Answer 7

try rewashing them with lots of ammonia for darks, bleach for whites and fabric softener. make sure you use a lot