How to get rid of stubborn smoke smells on your clothing with 3 household products

Whens summer draws to a close and winter hits, bringing with it cold weather, festivities and celebrations throughout Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

While these temperatures may bring beautiful bonfires, perfect for sitting round to spend an evening, these mean one thing – smoke, and the smell that sticks to everything.

So, we spoke to laundry experts and professional cleaners for their tips on how to do laundry to successfully snub the smell of smoke.

How to remove smoke smell from clothing

'Smoke is one of the most penetrating odors in the world,' says Ken Doty, COO at The Maids. 'No matter how hard you try, it's almost impossible to prevent your clothes being soiled. This is due to the carcinogenic residue of tar, ash and oil being incredibly sticky at the molecular level. They attach to the fabric in clothing, carpet, upholstery and rugs almost immediately.'

Here are several methods to combat the smoky smell with commonly found household cleaning products, and a step-by-step method for making your laundry smell better:

1. Use baking soda

There are so many things you can clean with baking soda, and smoke-smelling clothes is one of them.

'This is considered one of the best techniques to try as it's a natural absorbent through neutralizing components,' says Doty. 'You can either add one to two cups of baking soda to your wash as normal, or create a solution with water (using a ratio of one gallon of water to one cup of baking soda).

'Then, soak your clothing in the container for 30 minutes to an hour, and remove excess baking soda before washing as normal. You can leave the clothing in the solution if the smell still lingers after the allotted time,' as baking soda is a gentle, natural detergent that won't harm your clothing.

While there are a few things you should never clean with baking soda, it's generally safe for most types of fabric and clothing, and you can use baking soda in laundry, too.

2. Use distilled white vinegar

Did you know you can use white vinegar in laundry? Vinegar is another great, eco-friendly option to try, and there are plenty of other things you can clean with vinegar if you have any left, too.

'The acidic properties of white vinegar neutralizes odors and can be safely added to your regular wash,' says Doty. 'Simply add one cup into your washer, or you can create a cleaning solution with water to spray (in a spray bottle such as the bestselling Great Value All Purpose Plastic Spray Bottle available at Walmart) the clothing as a preemptive way to start your washing cycle. There is also the option of soaking your clothing in a vinegar and water based solution.'

To do this, mix a 4:1 ration of water to vinegar, and leave your garments to soak for 15-30 minutes to neutralize odors. We recommend the Happy Belly Distilled Vinegar available at Amazon, as it's diluted to a 5% acidity, which is strong enough to eliminate odors.

3. Use fabric softener

You probably know how to use fabric softener in laundry, but did you know it can be used to banish smoke smells?

'Fabric softeners can be a big boost to getting all types of odors out of clothes,' says Doty. 'Simply add the softeners alongside your regular detergent and let it soak for 20-30 minutes. Then rinse your clothes and air-dry to evaluate if they need another cycle.'

How to wash your clothes to remove smoke-smells in four simple steps

Salvador Villarreal, owner of VIP & Laundry, with over 25 years of experience removing tough odors like smoke, shares his expert approved method:

1. Pre-treat stains

'Pre-treat any visible smoke stains before washing using a commercial odor remover containing enzymes or hydrogen peroxide,' says Villareal.

We recommend the OxiClean Odor Blasters Versatile Home and Laundry Stain Remover Powder available at Walmart, as it's suitable to tackle both big and small stains and strong odors with ease. For best results, use as a pre-soak before washing, as Villareal suggests.

2. Wash on a hot setting

'Wash the clothing on the hottest setting possible using a heavy-duty detergent,' says Villareal. 'For stubborn smells, add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle and wash the clothing a second time. The high heat and agitation lift the smoke smell from fibers.'

There are some items you should never wash in hot water, including delicates, so always check care labels for which laundry symbols apply to your garment before washing.

3. Air-dry your clothing outdoors

'After washing, dry the clothing in the sun if possible,' says Villareal. 'The UV light naturally removes odors and brightens fabrics. For non-washable clothing, professional dry cleaning or steaming followed by airing out works best.'

Steam cleaning can be done at home, with a product such as the HiLIFE Steamer for Clothes available at Amazon, which is their #1 bestseller in garment steamers. Make sure you regularly clean your clothes steamer to maximize efficacy.

'It is best to leave the clothes hanging outside overnight, says Steven Ip, owner of Cleanzen Boston Cleaning Services. 'It is a big help,' when it comes to removing smoke smells.

4. Use odor eliminating sprays

'For remaining smoke smells between washes, use odor eliminating sprays with activated charcoal, baking soda or hydrogen peroxide,' says Villareal. 'I've had success with commercial products like Febreze Air Effects (available at Amazon) and Biokleen Bac-Out Natural Stain & Odor Eliminator (available at Walmart).

FAQs

How long does smoke smell last on clothes?

The length of time that smoke smells linger on clothing depends on how saturated with smoke they are, and how sensitive you are to the odor.

Hanging clothes out to air and remove smoke smells could take anywhere between two hours to two weeks, experts warn, so it's best to try a more active approach, particularly when dealing with cigarette odors.

'With an intensive multi-step approach and patience, even the most stubborn smoke smells can be eliminated from clothing and restored to freshness,' says Villareal. 'The key is not giving up after the first wash but continuing treatment until the odor has disappeared completely.'

If you're wondering if air purifiers can help with smoke, our dedicated guide delves into the topic with expert insight.