Cleaning synthetics

“I have some cheap synthetic clothes that really stink the way only cheap synthetic clothes can. Does any one have any suggestions for washing them in such a way as to make them presentable again? Needless to say, I would prefer not to have to toss them cause I can't really replace them at this point.”

“Depend-ing on the garnments-- try washing them in vinegar & cool water.”

“heh... I'll try that. I always do wash in cold water anyway but without the vinegar. Looking at the web last night it said warm or hot water. I tried that this morning. But my hopes are not real high. These are old clothes that I use for hiking and casual wear. They still have some wear to them if I can just de-stinkify them.”

“Man, washing in hot is the only way to get the stank out. The only reason manufacturers tell you not to is that it can leach out the color.”

“Red vinegarette is better. The sugars act as a starch.”

“The sun works.”

“Try orange juice. Synthetics don't wash well because they are so hydrophobic that they don't soak and the soap can't get to them. More expensive synthetics have anti-fungal treaments (some with a thread of pure silver woven in) and they work well.

Don't be afraid to soak them in orange juice and then - without wringing - pop them in the washer.

Good luck.

Doug”

“Use vinegar and cold water wash. Then either hang dry or tumble dry with no heat. Using hot water and heat only "bakes" the funk into the fabric. If you "bake in" the funk, you will notice that the clothes start to smell triggered by your body heat long before you start to work up a good sweat.

That's the theory anyway...

I learned all this the hard way.”

“I can't get my wife to understand the point of soaking my nasty clothes in orange juice. that one just ain't gonna happen. She views orange juice as a beverage and not a pre-soak. Not afraid of the orange juice as much as I am of my wife if I tried it.”

“Too bad - it will get the funky smell out of your dishwasher too.”

“Look, most people don't realize the wonders of WD-40. It's like a miracle item. Soak some clothing in WD-40 for about 45 minutes (or 40, if you want to be artsy about it). - Then wash your soiled clothing as you normally would.

Your soaked clothes' old smells will be GONE! They would be much cleaner. Trust me, I was a skeptic at first, but WD-40 works. It just does.

good luck


last edited: 12/12/07 11:42:37 AM”

“I'm a fan of the white vinegar trick. I think I've also dumped a fair amoutn of baking soda in my wash before too.

I've decided synthetics suck to be honest, and I prefer wool when practical to wear...

My nylon hiking pants are staying however, I'll just keep using the vinegar...which reminds me I stil haven't washed off the six inches of mud my pants were covered with from the last trip I went on....hmmmm”

“baking soda and vinegar in the wash? they, like, react... a little red food coloring and you could make a volcano!”

“You could always throw them in the campfire, then buy new (cheap) ones....”

“Whadda ya do with a dirty synthesizer?”

“give a dirty synthesizer a good clean moog at leat twice a week.”

“Try washing the body that goes in the clothes a little more often. That just may be the culprit.”

“Remember to UNPLUG the synthesizer first, I should think.

Exactly Nimble. Remember what Redd Foxx always said.... (probably best left UNsaid).”

“vinegar”