Freshening slightly musty NWT clothing without removing tags and washing

[CathMac]

I am in the process of Consigning, Craigslisting and Yard Saling a whole bunch of toddler clothes that were already tagged and inventoried but --sadly-- left in a damp basement.

I really didn't think too much about it when the dehumidifier broke because we don't have a real water problem, I had no idea that minor dampness could cause evan a faint smell.

And it really is pretty faint on most of the items, you almost have to bury your nose in it to be certain it's there.

I don't want them to smell like I'm trying to mask something. I tried experimenting with a quick trip in the dryer. It seemed to intensify the smell at first then it dissipated but I'm not sure I trust my nose anymore.

I did pick up Febreze and Lysol Neutra Air. The latter would seem to offer some hope of actually killing anything that might be causing the odor, except that there is only a trace amount of "active" ingredient. I almost wonder if I'd do better spritzing a used dryer sheet with Lysol spray in the "Crisp Linen" scent, except that DH has a migraine type reaction to regular Lysol spray.

Am I fighting a losing battle. Should I just cut the tags, wash the items and call it a very long day?

TIA,
~Cath

[JudiAU]

I think you are unlikely to sell musty selling clothes and the only way I know of to refresh them is to wash them, sometimes more than once. Musty smells or worse, mildew can be fairly difficult to get out of clothes, which is why I never, ever purchase anything with the slightest wiff of it.

[HeatherAtHome]

I would not spray them. If it's faint, how about hanging them outside on a clothesline if you have one? Otherwise, I say wash them.

[SubliminalDarkness]

I'd try hanging them outside in the sunlight for a while.

But, really, I think you may need to wash them.

[HappyMommy2]

Did you buy it? Or are you trying to sell it?

If you want to sell it, do not wash it! It makes more $$$ if it is NWT.

I would let it air out in the sun for a few hours, and then ... Let the buyer wash it. Everyone who buys used clothes washes them first. (I often wash new clothes first too.)

[Mulvah]

I would hang them on a drying rack (or clothesline) outside and go from there.

[CathMac]

Thanks for all the replies.

Unfortunately, the weather and time and space constraints were against me.

I don't have an outside clothesline; and it was overcast with the threat of rain. So I wound up donating everything.

On the plus side, it looks like I sold about $250.00 worth of stuff and netted about $150.00 (my 60%).

I'm consigning what's left at a similar event for this Saturday.

On the minus side, it looks like anything I make will go to a repairing my dehumidifier or buying a new one. Unfortunately according to Consumer Reports they aren't as reliable as they used to be so I may be better off repairing even though it's about 8 years old.

~Cath