Clothes from Goodwill, Savers, what is that smell? - Page 3

[NettleTea]

I might be wrong, but I think that there's two different smells being discussed in this thread. One is the musty, dirty, "old clothes" type smell. And the other is the strong, chemical,  "air freshener" (barfy) smell that is HELL to remove from clothes and other items. I've experienced both and I'll take the musty smell any day over the chemical smell.

[DaughterOfKali]

My mom shops at Savers and told me about the smell.  That's nasty that they spray them with disinfectant!  We have severe asthma/allergies so we can't buy second hand clothes from places like that.  Yucky.

[hildare]

i don't know what the value place is but i frequent the goodwill. 

to me, it smells like some sort of laundry detergent.  i honestly think that at the goodwill they wash the clothes first.  how could there not be dirty stuff?  or do they throw it out. 

whatever it is, it doesn't smell like the nonscented laundry stuff we use, and it usually overpowers our eco friendly unscented stuff for the first couple of washings but it comes out eventually...

i was so curious i tried to call them to ask but they transferred me to voice-mail-land. 

[consumeraj]

I, too, have noticed the chemical/perfume smell from ALL of the Goodwill stores in the pacific northwest area.  It does not respond to normal washing, in fact I've washed clothes up to 6 times with little effect.  Other stores - such as the local Orthopedic Thrift shop - do NOT have that smell. I have asked the local manager at Goodwill if she sprays anything on them, and she denies this.  So, I'm just starting my research.  I suspect it's an anti-bug treatment, but we really need to find out.  I don't want to be wearing toxic chemicals just to save a buck!

[pek64]

Our local thrift store clothes have a cedar smell, but it washes right out. I wouldn't wear anything if the smell didn't wash out. I would recommend looking for smaller, local thrift shops.

[4evermom]

Originally Posted by consumeraj 

I, too, have noticed the chemical/perfume smell from ALL of the Goodwill stores in the pacific northwest area.  It does not respond to normal washing, in fact I've washed clothes up to 6 times with little effect.  Other stores - such as the local Orthopedic Thrift shop - do NOT have that smell. I have asked the local manager at Goodwill if she sprays anything on them, and she denies this.  So, I'm just starting my research.  I suspect it's an anti-bug treatment, but we really need to find out.  I don't want to be wearing toxic chemicals just to save a buck!

Try doing the first wash with a bunch of vinegar (a couple cups). Then do a second wash with a bunch of baking soda (another couple cups). I've always been able to get smells out with enough baking soda. I think the first wash with vinegar helps strip waxy residue and build up from things like drier sheets. Then the second wash with baking soda can really get into all the fibers of the fabric.

I think the chain thrift stores are required to disinfect everything. I've heard the guy at Salvation Army tell people they can't buy something because it hasn't been disinfected yet (when the customer sees something in the sorting area). There aren't any washers so I bet it's a lysol type spray. I've seen people at St Vincent De Paul's spraying furniture with a squirt bottle, probably an alcohol mixture.

You might get better info from Goodwill if you ask how they disinfect donated clothes rather than asking what toxic chemicals they spray;-) Then, they will be more likely to want to reassure you that the clothes are clean and disinfected and not just hung up in whatever state they have been donated in. Whereas if they think you are worried about chemicals, they might want to reassure you that they didn't spray anything on them. The truth might be another type of non-spray treatment.

[loveandgarbage]

Wow, so this is why my eyes get itchy if I'm at a thrift store!

[4evermom]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

Wow, so this is why my eyes get itchy if I'm at a thrift store!

Bummer! I get headaches from all the off gassing or whatever in stores filled with new products.

[consumeraj]

Thanks, that's a good approach....I tend to come in swinging, ha....but also, I have a concern for people who are spraying this stuff.  Large corporations have ways of ignoring the health of the workers, but I'm hoping Goodwill is not one of those companies.  I have filled my house and closet with their philanthropy.  

I used about a half gallon of white vinegar on an entire load and that got most of the smell.  Will try the baking soda next time.
 

[Poddi]

Ours tend to smell like nothing, or dryer sheets.  I hate the dryer sheets smell and wash them a few times first.  Most thrift stores here are relatively new, though so they don't have musty smell yet.  We usually go to one that's just opened last year.  I don't think they washed them all, though, just deodorized.  Because sometimes after I wash a garment, it tend to smell a bit stale.  I think that means I washed the deodorizing stuff off so the original smell came out.  But another wash or two would take care of that.

[kt~mommy]

i think its mothballs and "old" smell... i never have trouble getting the smell out with the first wash. i usually wash my thrift purchases in warmer water than i normally would use, and my powdered detergent does the rest... maybe a drier sheet would also help?