What Is the Fastest Way to Get Rid of Smoke Smell on Clothes?

No matter what form of smoke has decided to linger on for a bit too long, there is a way to eradicate the problem! The advice across all of these methods is to act fast so as not to allow smells to remain for too long. The more time they have to attach deeper to the fibres, the more difficult the task.

Dry Cleaning

The best method for removing smoke smells is dry cleaning. This is sure to be great news for many people as the dry cleaning industry is worth £1.5 billion! Thanks to the professional cleaning fluids and thorough cleansing that clothes go through, smells are treated at the core of the problem, within the item’s fibres.

As the name would suggest, dry-cleaning offers a waterless form of washing that instead uses different chemicals and combined reactions to remove stains and freshen up fabrics. As well as using industrial-strength products, the process uses large-scale machinery that must be operated at a precise temperature and speed to achieve the best results. The finishing processes are also crucial within this form of cleaning, as one of the benefits is having a longer-lasting finish to your household and clothing fabrics. The mix of heat and products creates a successful way of removing smoke smells.

Dry-cleaned clothes also last longer, with stronger resilience to smells and dirt. While they are not protected completely, they will keep a fresher odour for more time.

If you select this option, you will need to find a professional as we don’t recommend that dry-cleaning is carried out at home. While it could be tempting as some people think that dry cleaning at home is cheaper, it is impossible to achieve the same results.

If you want to know more about how dry cleaning works, click here.

Regular Washing

You can also use at-home washing equipment to treat smoke-filled clothing. Although this is less effective than dry-cleaning, it should still provide good results.

If you choose this method, you should use a strong laundry detergent and baking soda to treat the items. This will boost the performance of the cleaning solution and encourage a deeper wash. You should also use a high temperature but check the maximum your clothing can take before including everything on a high wash.

For clothing that is proving pesky to freshen up, you should try using a vinegar rinse and/or lemon juice. Both have natural properties known for freshening and restoring the condition of clothing.

Deodorising Products

Another method is the use of deodorisation solutions.

This will only have the desired results if clothing has not been subjected to smoke for a prolonged period. It will also only mask the smell, not remove it entirely, so it can be looked at as a short time fix. These forms of cleaning products come in many forms, with laundry scent boosters and sprays being two of the best sellers in the UK.

Why Does Smoke Stick To Clothing?

We encounter many undesirable smells every day, so why does smoke linger? The answer is that smoke has dirt-filled molecules, which retain their nasty odour once attached to items.

Cigarette smoke is the strongest of the smells, with 6.6 million UK smokers, one of the most common issues we tackle. Along with the dirt molecules and the far-reaching area of this smoke, it also contains nicotine which leaves a sticky residue.

When it comes to bonfires or cooking smoke, you can likely remove the aroma with one wash. However, with cigarette and cigar smells, you might need to tackle the problem a few times.

This is why certain clothing retains smells more than others. The scent will be more intense for fabrics such as wool or cotton with large open fibres as there is more room for particles to attach. Items like silks or satins will be harder to penetrate as their make-up is more robust.

Unfortunately, though, no clothing is resilient towards smoke smells!

How Can I Remove Smoke Smells From Clothing That Cannot Be Washed?

If you have come across the do not wash label, fear not, as your items can still be treated.

More often than not, all of these products can be dry-cleaned, which is the easiest solution. This is made even more possible for everyone thanks to our laundry app for dry cleaning, which means you can arrange for items to be treated without leaving the home.

Other methods for treating clothing that is not washable include using charcoal treatments, steam, odour-eliminating sprays, and baking soda. With each of these, you should act cautiously, as there is no saying how your clothing will be affected. This is why we always recommend gently dry cleaning or at least professional advice.

Top Tips for Reducing Smell of Smoke on Clothing