Cigarette smoke in fabric

If it's really bad, I would return it. I have returned smoky (new) baby clothes from ebay before. They were meant for a gift, and I couldn't give them like that. I never buy fabric now from anyone who doesn't say 'smokefree' in the listing, and when I review a seller, I make sure to say that the fabric was smoke-free. Anyway, I have had very nice people send me smoky fabric in the past, and I am now convinced that I can get the smell out. But, it takes washing. What I do is take the squares and put them in a bowl of water with a small amount of liquid detergent and soak them. Whenever I think of it, I change the water and add more soap (for the soap, I just take the empty detergent cap and fill it with water, so it gets a trace amount of soap). Sometimes I change it for days on end, but eventually, the smell disappears, then I just hang the little squares around to dry, and they're good as new. It's a lot of work for small squares, though! I've tried squirting fabreze in the water, or putting in a dryer sheet to soak in the water, but I don't think they really made a difference as much as the constant soaking/changing water.

Are the 4 inch squares novelty squares, like i-spy style? If so, let me know if you need any more. I'm making an I-spy quilt right now with that same size and have plenty left over.

-Lynn

Reply to
quilter
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You've gotten lots of suggestions, and that's great; I can use a couple of those myself.

Being a smoker, but not inconsiderate, I have no wish to offend or cause an allergic reaction to anyone. I always wash a quilt 2x with the Febreze

**laundry** product before sending it off to the recipient. So far, no problems!

Getting rid of the cat hair is a little trickier. Luckily, no one to whom I have given a quilt is allergic to cats.....so far.

Reply to
Carolyn McCarty

Have you proportionately reduced the amount of Biz to fit the amount of water in your front loader? I used some borax in mine the other day and had to reduce the amount used from the 1 cup listed on the box to about 1/4 cup. Borax doesn't cause bubbles like Biz, so you might have to reduce to even less. Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra

I'm intrigued by all the different cleaning agents you put in your washing machines.

Over here, where 90%+ of washing machines are front loaders, I just use the appropriate detergent for the wash - either whites, coloureds or wool/silk, a liquid fabric conditioner (which I prefer to sheets in the tumbler) and if there is a bad stain on anything (if anyone has spilled coffee over themselves or something similar) I use a measure of Vanish.

I have never heard of putting bleach in the washer - my whites detergent gets 'whites whiter than white' and what are Biz and Borax for?

I suppose we can still get bubbly detergents for top loaders, but haven't noticed them for ages. A lot of our detergents now come in the form of liquids, or tablets or dissolvable sachets that you put straight in the drum.

I can remember stories from when front loaders first appeared and people had kitchens filled with bubbles because they had used their old products in their new machines!

Reply to
Sally Swindells

This post made me laugh--to think how I worried about not getting all the cat hair off the scraps I sent! I have five cats, PLUS I'm on the board of directors for our county humane society. I always have a cloud of cat hair following me around, like Pigpen on Charlie Brown. I'm very self-conscious about this, because after I quit my job, my replacement started having severe allergy attacks. She finally asked if the person before her (me) who sat in the upholstered desk chair had cats. They had to completely get rid of that chair. Even though there was no visible hair on it, obviously I had dander on my clothing which transferred to the chair. I love my cats. I love everybody's cats & dogs, but I was so embarrassed.

Sherry

Reply to
Sherry

Howdy!

BIZ :

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It's the only thing I use besides detergent (usually Purex).

BIZ is good for soaking fabrics & quilt tops, esp. older ones that often have discolorations, like the browning from old starch. And it's so versatile:

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Cheers! R/Sandy-- w/ a top-loader washer, so couldn't answer Taria about hers

Reply to
Sandy Ellison

Don't feel embarassed!

Feel sorry for the person who has an allergy that will prevent them from ever experiencing the simply joy of having a cat rub against them or curl up in the lap and purr gently.

Reply to
CATS

indeed! I love cats and even used to have them but now I'm allergic to them (latent allergy triggered by pregnancy) I really, really miss that special kind of love cats give and dogs for that matter too.

we have as of 2 weeks ago got pets in our house for the first time since my allergies hit.. we have a tank full of "gold" fish - 5 and all different kinds too! sadly fish can't be hugged :-(

Reply to
Jessamy

I used to use bleach in my washer every week - it was the only way to make my ex's chefs whites *stay* white. believe me I tried *every* brand in the shops before resorting to bleach as I **hate** bleach. even vanish can't contend with Italian cuisine stains when rubbed in well and then left on for a week *right* next to the very hot dishwasher (which sets stains amazingly well)

Reply to
Jessamy

Tomato based stains, which I image some of your 'Italian' stains were come out in the sun. Yes really. I didn't believe it when I read it either. I washed as normal then dried in the sun and the stains came out. The article I read was on a lace maker and she was refering to curries that she grew up on in India.

Dee in Oz

reply.www.geocities.com/jessamy_thompsonhttp://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jessamy_thompson/my_photos> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Reply to
Dee in Oz

WOW!! amazing! I didn't know that! I'll tell my ex (I refuse to wash his clothes - he's old enough to do his own LOL)

Reply to
Jessamy

I didn't really think *you* needed to know about washing chefs whites anymore...LOL

Dee > WOW!! amazing! I didn't know that! I'll tell my ex (I refuse to wash his

reply.www.geocities.com/jessamy_thompsonhttp://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jessamy_thompson/my_photos> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Tomato based stains, which I image some of your 'Italian' stains were> come out in the sun.> Yes really. I didn't believe it when I read it either. I washed as> normal then dried in the sun and> the stains came out. The article I read was on a lace maker and she> was refering to curries that she grew up on in India.>

Reply to
Dee in Oz

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