Why Do Thrifted Clothes Have That Smell?
Why do thrifted clothes have that smell? What causes it, and what should you do about it? We’ll cover what you need to know in this article.
Recently bought some thrifted clothes, and you took one sniff before wondering… why do thrifted clothes have that smell? You know that smell – we all do! It’s a combination of aromas, and not all of them are pleasant, and it definitely doesn’t smell like yours.
Well, there’s a reason for that. In fact, there are a couple of reasons for why your thrifted clothes have that funny smell that is universally recognisable, and we’re going to explore that today (and also run over what you can do to get rid of it). So, if that sounds interesting to you, bookmark this page so you can turn back to it in your time of need.
Here at Love2Laundry, we offer laundry, ironing, dry cleaning services and more. We not only help you with all your laundry needs, but we help you learn tips and tricks to make your laundry life easier than ever.
Do All Thrifted Clothes Smell?
You can expect any and all thrifted clothes to have that unusual smell, and it’s normal for that to be the case. Unless your local charity or second-hand shop has gone above and beyond to deep clean all of their clothing, then the clothes will smell like their old home.
Why Do Thrifted Clothes Have That Smell?
The most common odours to get trapped in second-hand clothes include perfume, fabric softener, scent beads, laundry detergents, and, of course, body odour. We all smell different, so our scents will be all other the clothes we’ve worn – yours included if you were to donate them.
Depending on where the clothes have been, they could also have a mould or mildew smell, too, or even mothballs. You never know how long something has been sitting in someone’s attic or shed before they finally had the chance to donate the clothes. Wherever they’ve been, they are going to smell like that place.
It’s Completely Normal
It’s important to remember that the clothes you buy, whether they’re from a second-hand shop or straight off the shelf at Next, will smell unfamiliar. After all, if fabric has never come into contact with you or your house, how could it smell like you and your life? It’s normal, and it can take some time for these garments to really feel like yours and get rid of that smell.
Ways to Get Rid of That Smell
If you want to get rid of the thirst store smell fast, there are a few things that you can try to achieve this. However, it’s worth pointing out that some smells are a lot more difficult to remove from fabrics than others, and you might need to dry a variety of methods to get rid of the smell.
We’ll talk about two simple options that you can try below, but there are other methods you can try, such as:
- Vinegar baths
- Baking soda
- Let them air out in the sun
Wash Your Clothes As Usual (Following the Care Instructions)
As soon as you get home, you are going to want to start the process of making your thrifted clothes your own. A good starting point would be to wash them using all of your regular detergents and fabric softeners, but only do this if you aren’t going to do any pre-treatments.
Make sure you look for stains that need to be treated, or frayed or otherwise damaged parts that would benefit from gentle washing or even repair. We would recommend doing one step before you even wash, though – we talk about this just a few sections down.
Steaming is the Best Option
One of the most effective ways to eliminate unwanted odours from almost any kind of clothing is through steaming. This is a term used to describe an alternative method of ironing that works wonders, and is effective in killing bacteria and getting rid of odour in no time.
You will never run out of ways to use a steamer, from uses inside the house to your car, this is one piece of equipment that can be used almost anywhere. Just remember that some steamers need to be used vertically to prevent the water from leaking out of the tank.
We Always Recommend Doing This First…
We’ve mentioned in other articles that freezing your second-hand clothing is a good practice to follow, whether they are small or not. Doing this will kill off the bacteria and anything else that might be hiding in the garment, like insect eggs (this is very unlikely, but you never know).
Place your thrifted clothing in a bag and stick it in the freezer for three to four days. When you take it out, the bacteria will be dead. Unfortunately, this does mean that this method won’t work very well for other kinds of smells (e.g. food or oil), so you will need to try one of the other methods for that, like vinegar, baking soda, or in extreme bases, fabric-safe bleach baths.
Once you take the clothing out of the freezer, then you can start washing it and going through the above options (or the other solutions we listed if you prefer).
Book a Service With Love2Laundry
At Love2Laundry, we offer easy online commercial and personal services to help you take a load off in your busy life. Our app is perfect for anyone who wants to get their laundry back within 24 hours. From personal to commercial, our pricing can’t be beaten – especially with our membership and student discounts!
Love2Laundry’s signature laundry service is a lifesaver for our users, whether it is for personal or commercial use. All you need to do is call – no dropping off and no added headaches.
You can easily book a service with us by following these four simple steps:
- Hop on our website or app and plate an order. You will be asked to put in your postcode to find the nearest Love2Laundry, and also include a time and date for when you would like us to come and collect your items
- We will arrive at the designated time and date and pick up your items
- We tend to your items in accordance with the service you have selected, including dry cleaning, washing, drying, ironing, and so on
- We come back and return your items to you. We always aim to complete our orders and hand them back to you within 24 hours, but your order will always be with you before 48 hours are up.
With how easy it is to book a service with Love2Laundry, it’s hard not to be convinced that we’re worth it. We don’t disrupt your day, and our goals are the same as yours: get the laundry done and delivered back to you in no time.
Let Love2Laundry Help You
At Love2Laundry, we offer more than just laundry services for hotels and Airbnbs. We also offer removal services and can pick up broken laundry machines. We take pride in our sustainability, and can help you get your preloved clothes smelling brand-new if you don’t feel up to the task.
So, why do thrifted clothes have that smell? The collection of perfume, deodorants, body odour, mothballs, and anything else will all contribute to that ‘thrift store’ clothes smell. Remember that to other people, your clothes will smell weird, too, so it’s completely normal, and please wash all thrifted clothes before wearing them!
If you think pick-up laundry services would be a good fit for you, why not give us a call to learn more through the phone number or email address below?
Phone
0203 600 0296
info@love2laundry.com
