On average, people use 50% more perfume today compared to several years ago. With this in view, we can say it has become much more common to use perfume daily at different times and for different purposes.
It is not the use of perfume in itself that’s a concern, but the amount we use; using more perfume on clothes keeps the smell lasting for much longer and, maybe, even choking others around us. When this is the case, you would need to get it out of your clothes, and this is where the work comes.
10 Ways to Get Perfume Smell Out of Clothes
When heavy perfume smell mixes with our sweat, it can sometimes be unbearable, and when we wash the clothes, later on, the sweat will easily come off, on the other hand, strong perfume won’t just wear off. This leaves us having to find methods to remove the perfume smell from our clothes.
It’s not impossible, nor is it complex in any way; the solution to smell on your clothing is quite simple. Let’s go through 10 ways to get perfume smell out of clothes.
1. Use laundry detergent
If you wash your clothes as soon as you take them off, then you lower the probability of the smell of perfume lingering on it. In a situation where you mistakenly dropped a bottle of perfume on your clothing and it spilt or used a lot of it on yourself unaware of its strength, then this method is best.
Keeping in mind that some perfumes are oil-based, it’s advisable to use a soft detergent to wash. But, don’t use a fabric conditioner, as it could worsen the issue. When you take off your clothes after wearing oil-based perfume, you should wash them as soon as possible to remove those smells.
2. Use Baking soda
Baking soda is extremely effective in the elimination or prevention of any type of odour. So, adding some baking soda to your regular wash is a good idea to get the perfume smell out of clothes.
All you have to do is add just about a teaspoon of baking soda to your laundry soap or detergent and wash normally. Before you do this, however, ensure that the clothes you want to wash are strong fabrics, else, delicate fabrics can be adversely affected by the use of baking soda.
3. Use Enzyme Cleaner
Enzyme cleaners dissolve the properties that cause smells, making them very efficient products that can be used to get odours out of clothes.
These cleaners are biodegradable, they are not toxic and therefore are safe to use on your clothes. However, it is wise to check it on one part of the fabric first before you use it due to the different types of fabrics which may react differently to this chemical. Here’s a guide to follow:
Step 1: Lay the smelly clothes on a paper towel to protect the surface you will lay them on.
Step 2: Mix some enzyme cleaners with water to form a solution and spray some of the solutions on the stain. Then, massage it into the clothes.
Step 3: Allow the baking soda to sit for some minutes then gently brush it away. Repeat the process until the smell disappears.
4. Use Fabric Fresheners
Fabric fresheners are typically made to be used on clothing for the removal of unwanted smells from fabrics. So, using a fabric fresher to get perfume smells out of clothes is a good idea.
You can go to the store to purchase Downy Unstopables or Febreze, which are both effective in odour removal. Always make sure you try it on a specific area of your clothes to see its effect before your progress.
5. Sun Dry
One of the first things you should do whenever you return from a busy day is to hang your clothes outside. This is because the sun naturally disinfects clothes, removing sweat and smells. Just leave your clothes outside on the clothing line and after a while, the odour gradually vanishes with the help of the air and sun.
If you’re wary of using chemicals on your clothes, then this option is preferable. At the same time, leaving your clothing in the sun for too long can discolour it, so know the kind of fabric you have. You can decide that instead of sunning it, just air it.
6. Use White Vinegar
Another option to choose, in case you don’t want to use chemical products on your clothes is white vinegar. White vinegar naturally cleanses and disinfects thereby removing the smell of perfume on your clothes.
All you have to do is soak the fabric in white vinegar, and after two to four hours, depending on the strength of the perfume smell, wash it and dry it.
The odour of white vinegar goes as the clothes dry along with the smell of perfume.
Note: Not all clothing can withstand the strength of white vinegar, so test the solution on a part of the clothing first before knowing what to do next.
7. Use Ammonia
Ammonia is an effective chemical cleaning agent in getting odour off of clothes. It’s worth noting however that it can wear out and damage some texture clothing. So, be cautious of what you use it on.
To use it, add about 128 grams of ammonia to your laundry detergent and wash as usual using your washing machine. When you’re through, spread it outside to dry.
8. Use Lemon Juice
Being a natural fabric softener, lemon juice is one of the ways to get the perfume smell out of clothes without the fear of damage to the fabric.
Also, lemon juice can naturally get perfume smell out of clothes as an alternative to chemical use for the same purpose.
Mix lemon juice with your laundry detergent and put it into your washing machine. Do the regular wash and dry your clothing.
9. Use Coffee Grounds
Spread the clothing on a clean flat surface and scatter some fresh coffee grounds over it, particularly on the areas where the perfume odour is coming from.
Leave the sprinkled coffee grounds on the clothing for about 2 – 3 hours, and after that raise and shake it off. Alternatively, you can use a vacuum cleaner to suck it away. When this is done, the smell of perfume on your clothing should be gone.
Coffee grounds are good odour absorbents, and so are natural alternatives to chemical odour removers. When you’re done shaking off or vacuuming the coffee grounds, wash the clothing are usual to remove potential coffee ground stains on your fabric
10. Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic liquid that is found in many households; it can be used to get rid of any smell. Here is a step by step guide on how to use hydrogen peroxide to get rid of the perfume smell below:
Step 1: Mix hydrogen peroxide and dish soap in small, but equal parts to form a solution. Spray some of the solutions on the clothes and massage them into the clothes.
Step 2: Allow it to sit for about 15 minutes then turn the cloth inside out and repeat the process until you’re sure that the smell is completely removed before drying.
How To Get Rid Of Perfume Smell After Washing And Drying
If you have tried all the methods and you still haven’t been able to get rid of the perfume smell, using activated charcoal should be your best bet because it has an absorbent odour; it is quite effective when enclosed with clothes that you want to get the smell out of.
To use this method, put some charcoal in a plastic bag with the affected clothes and seal the bag. After about two or three hours, remove the clothes from the bag, the smell should’ve dissipated. This is a chemical-free process of removing smells. The use of activated charcoal is safe on all types of clothes and has no adverse effects, hence it is seen as one of the best ways to get the perfume out of clothes.
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