Removing the New Smell from Clothes

Giving (and receiving!) new clothing is a favorite holiday activity, but the “new” smell that comes along with new clothes often signals the presence of toxic chemicals.

Find out the simple solution for getting rid of both the smell and the chemicals, right here:

Unless the clothes are 100 percent organic, wash new clothes or bedding first before wearing or putting on the bed. That “new” smell is a potent mixture of chemicals such as formaldehyde and urea resins, and they should be removed. The chemicals are used to “finish” fabric for a range of purposes including stain resistance, mercerizing, keeping them from wrinkling, and even sometimes for disinfecting. Most contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which, like formaldehyde, are often sensitizers and suspected carcinogens.

The formula I give here is what I use to successfully remove this new smell from clothing. It will also work for low-level chemical contamination from normal household substances such as perfume.

Place the clothes in the washing machine with enough water to cover. Sprinkle one small-sized box of baking soda (or 1 cup) into the washing machine. Soak the clothes overnight. When convenient during the soaking, agitate the machine for a few minutes. Launder as usual. Repeat the method until the clothes don’t smell anymore.

Some imported clothes are now impregnated with long-lasting disinfectants; you can identify these clothes by the smell alone. It is very hard to remove it, and the method depicted above doesn’t work. The best thing is to not buy the clothes; I’ve started asking catalog companies if their clothes are disinfected.

Read more: Home, Household Hints

By Annie B. Bond

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

ii q.

12:06PM PDT on May 19, 2012

send a green star

Robert O.

5:51PM PDT on May 17, 2012

Thanks Annie.

John B.

7:10PM PDT on May 16, 2012

Brenda T.

1:49AM PDT on Jun 4, 2011

Try steaming them.

John S.

4:12PM PDT on Jun 2, 2011

Thanks, never noticed it before.

Jane G.

12:06PM PDT on May 30, 2011

thank you! i just bought some black stretch denim trousers and they have that sulfur smell. i can't believe i didn't notice it in the store! but they are from winners and made in china...

KS G.

12:29AM PST on Mar 1, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Mari '.

4:43AM PDT on Sep 20, 2010

This doesn't bother me and I rarely get new clothes unless I need them.

Eileen N.

3:53PM PDT on Sep 19, 2010

Geeze, I feel really left out. None of my clothes smell "new." I'd better wander into a store and sniff what you all are talking about.

Donna D.

10:26AM PDT on Sep 19, 2010

Wow! Thanks soooo much. I have several pair of slacks made from poly-cotton blends that give me rashes. I love the slacks but not the rashes. Will give this a try today.