Thread: other options for getting smells out of costumes?

I recently bought a costume on the swap meet and it REEKED of smoke. Even my smoker friends told me they wouldn't wear it like that.
I have tried everything I can think of, even Ozium spray and the horrible odor comes back.
Vodka spray, hanging outside, hanging in the garage, hanging close to a room freshener...anything else?
The bra is ok after Ozium, but the lycra skirt is horrible.
Thanks.

I've had some similar experiences buying used stuff here. The only thing that has worked for me is actually gently hand washing the costume in a mild detergent (like Woolite) and then air drying. I also store my costumes in a plastic tote with a dryer sheet to keep them smelling nice.

Ditto what shahla said.

I have heard of putting the costume in a plastic bag with a baking soda filled sock.

Tritto what they said.
I've used clear baby shampoo on some of my stuff.

but be forwarned - the bath water can turn a nasty color when you're hand washing... but that's just the bad stuff coming out!

I would definitely wash the skirt. You may have a few rhinestone problems (moisture may make them turn dark) but they're easily replaced. Replacing rhinestones beats having a smelly costume you can't wear!

I wash all my costumes ( Bellas, Pharaonics, no name, whatever!) about every 2 months.

I give them a 5 to 10 min bath with just a table spoon of Woolite and laid them down flat to dry. At the same time I gently hand wash the probleme areas (hems, lining...)

They come out smelling great and look even more sparkly then before!

If you don't want to go the washing route get a plastic sealable box container and a bag of kitty litter. Fill the box halfway with kitty litter and put the costume on top. Let it sit for a week or 2. I know it sounds strange but it works.

i've had an ebay purchase show up like this...DISGUSTING

it went in the tub for 2, 15 minute baths. i combined detergent and some baking soda, let it soak and then gently washed. i would gently rub the fabric by hand section by section (time consuming but is the best way to prevent snags or too much wear) and used a super soft toothbrush on some of the sequins/stones that were cruddy.

make sure you don't use too much baking soda and that you rinse the costume well. you don't want white residue all over it ;)

also, do not pick up the costume while it's wet unless you pick the whole thing up - you don't want it to stretch or cause snagging.

It sounds like a bath is the best thing, but I've had good luck with Fabreeze and drying it in the sun. It revived a old smelling vintage leather coat.

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

If you don't want to go the washing route get a plastic sealable box container and a bag of kitty litter. Fill the box halfway with kitty litter and put the costume on top. Let it sit for a week or 2. I know it sounds strange but it works.

I second the kitty litter! This works great.

If that fails, give it a bath - try searching bhuz - there are many old threads on bhuz about washing your costumes. I like to wash my costumes using washing powder rather than woolite.

Seconding (thirding?) both the kitty litter and the bath. But don't rub the fabric unless there's a spot you need to get out -- squeeze instead. It's much less damaging.

After you rinse the costume, roll it towels and squeeze to get as much of the water out as quickly as possible, then dry flat. If it comes out as fresh and sparkly as they usually do, you might find yourself giving all your costumes baths! It's a pain, but I really like the results.

I'm so glad I found this post!
I have one that reeks of cheap vanilla perfume! Not mine, of course...
I was wondering how to get rid of the smell.
Thanks....

I also need help with a costume odor. I received a costume that reeked of cat urine. The bra only. And it was new. I have soaked it in woolite and airdried 5 times. Also sprayed w the enzyme cat odor spray. Still smells. I am so sad. Any ideas?

Originally Posted by OMullaney

I also need help with a costume odor. I received a costume that reeked of cat urine. The bra only. And it was new. I have soaked it in woolite and airdried 5 times. Also sprayed w the enzyme cat odor spray. Still smells. I am so sad. Any ideas?

I have the same problem with a new costume.... cat urine/fishy kind of smell

Sadly it is actually cat urine. The dancer I bought it from had a cat. He was in the costume photo! LMAO
BTW This was an Ebay purchase from overseas

That is so sad.

Have you tried the cat litter suggestion above? Seems appropriate. ..l;,

There are also charcoal packets that absorb odors that you could place in the container with the litter and the costume. (You reactivate the charcoal by putting it in the sun every 6 months or something like that.)

Originally Posted by OMullaney

Sadly it is actually cat urine. The dancer I bought it from had a cat. He was in the costume photo! LMAO
BTW This was an Ebay purchase from overseas

Originally Posted by OMullaney

I also need help with a costume odor. I received a costume that reeked of cat urine. The bra only. And it was new. I have soaked it in woolite and airdried 5 times. Also sprayed w the enzyme cat odor spray. Still smells. I am so sad. Any ideas?

I am grateful that I have never needed to remove cat urine smell from a costume. However, having lived with cats for nearly half of my life, I have a lot of experience in cleaning up floors, rugs, etc. so I'll share what I do for that. I use a product called "Nature's Miracle". It's an enzyme formulated to break down the chemicals that cause the urine smell, and it works. Pet supply stores should have it.

If I had a costume that smelled of cat urine, I would use a tissue to daub a bit of Nature's Miracle on an inconspicuous section of the costume to test whether it damages the fabric, the color, or the decoration. If the test were to prove successful, I would then soak the costume piece in a bowl of the stuff and let it sit there 5-10 minutes. Then I would rinse the costume with clear water, and then dry it.

Okay, I'm getting kind of confused here...
When y'all are talking about soaking the costumes in the soapy water, do you mean the whole costume? Beads and all?
I am asking because I have one that I need to clean and I am afraid to completely wet it. I was just going to spot clean the areas that were dirty.
Will the soap fade the colors on sequins?

Yes, the whole costume. Beads should be able to withstand a 10 min bath. As another member pointed out, rhinestones can be an issue. I have also had some metal pieces rust on a costume because I did not dry properly. I hung it in shower stall to dry but the humidity caused rusting.

[QUOTE=kiyaana;387293] Have you tried the cat litter suggestion above? Seems appropriate. ..l;,

Kayeena, you're quick witted! That is FUNNY.

Hi,
Full submerssion is soapy water is the best remedy for keeping the costumes fresh.
The quality costumes will withstand the washing without the sequins getting dull, or beads losing color. However, be aware that the cheaper materials will fade. Cheap bugles are not colored, they have colored lining which will darken or break apart in washing the bead will be come clear. It's the same with the sequins. I had a costume years ago, when I took the bra off I had purple dots in a straight line around my back, meaning just my sweat made the color run.

For the rhinestones, when replacing, paint the back of each stone with clear nailpolish before stitching on the costume. They will keep their shine for years. After dancing 13 years in the 95 degree heat of the Dubai desert I have a lot of experience with this! Also the rusting hooks which my costumes got from the humidity. They just have to be replaced periodically.
And lastly, I always wrapped my used costume in a cotton pillow case after the show to take up the sweat until I got home and could hang the costume out.

Originally Posted by marta

For the rhinestones, when replacing, paint the back of each stone with clear nailpolish before stitching on the costume. They will keep their shine for years.

Thanks for the tips Marta. When you say paint the back of the rhinestone, do you mean the back foiled part? The shine stays because the foil doesn't get scratched?

yes, paint the complete bottom. Then any wetness doesn't get to the foil.

Actually, if you have cheap stones, painting the top of the stone with clear polish makes them look brighter and helps protect against scratches.

Thanks again for the tips!

thanks, everyone.
Now I have to muster up the courage to wash the costume...

What about rhinestones, water does not bother them? I have a rhinestone necklace (really old) that needs some kind of cleaning. Not sure.