Help! I can't get the smell out! Any ideas on this wool fabric?
I got fabric for $2 at an estate sale and I can't get the stink out. Anyone have experience washing it in the washer machine on the wool setting and drying it on zero heat in the dryer?
Gorgeous fabrics! What a pity they smell =( I'd run them through the washer on wool-setting, maybe with a detergent adopted for wool. Personally, I'd avoid the tumbler completly and just let the fabrics drip-dry, thhen maybe steam it before sewing to pre-treat it to heat and smooth out any wrinkles from hang-drying.
Or I'd hand it in to hte dry-cleaners, a bit depending on what type of garment you plan to make of it.
Oh that's so annoying! I really believe sun-drying it is the best thing to do with most smell! Good luck with it!
PS. What waist size are you? I have a pattern that's supposed to be 24.5" waist but from the waist band pattern, it seems to be under 24" so I'm not sure whether I should resize it or just give it away!
Lol, oh my, I haven't been that small since before I had kids. I'm a 27.5 now. It's not hard to resize waistlines, I can help if it's a pattern you really like. Try measuring the top of the skirt part instead of the waistband. I never get good results with the waistband. I do have several patterns though that have so much ease built into the waist that I find I can use a pattern with a 25.5 inch waist pattern and it often fits. There have been some exceptions to that rule (I.e. the Lucy dress) but its really easy to fix.
A friend had this same problem with wool yarn and solved it by soaking it in baking soda and water solution, then rinsing She'd previously tried a vinegar wash and that didn't help.
Sometimes hanging the item to air, especially in sun, will remove a not-terrible smell.
Gorgeous fabrics! What a pity they smell =( I'd run them through the washer on wool-setting, maybe with a detergent adopted for wool. Personally, I'd avoid the tumbler completly and just let the fabrics drip-dry, thhen maybe steam it before sewing to pre-treat it to heat and smooth out any wrinkles from hang-drying.
ReplyDeleteOr I'd hand it in to hte dry-cleaners, a bit depending on what type of garment you plan to make of it.
Oh that's so annoying! I really believe sun-drying it is the best thing to do with most smell! Good luck with it!
ReplyDeletePS. What waist size are you? I have a pattern that's supposed to be 24.5" waist but from the waist band pattern, it seems to be under 24" so I'm not sure whether I should resize it or just give it away!
Lol, oh my, I haven't been that small since before I had kids. I'm a 27.5 now. It's not hard to resize waistlines, I can help if it's a pattern you really like. Try measuring the top of the skirt part instead of the waistband. I never get good results with the waistband. I do have several patterns though that have so much ease built into the waist that I find I can use a pattern with a 25.5 inch waist pattern and it often fits. There have been some exceptions to that rule (I.e. the Lucy dress) but its really easy to fix.
DeleteA friend had this same problem with wool yarn and solved it by soaking it in baking soda and water solution, then rinsing She'd previously tried a vinegar wash and that didn't help.
ReplyDeleteSometimes hanging the item to air, especially in sun, will remove a not-terrible smell.