removing perfume from clothes? - Environmental Disorders Message Board

rheanna · 12-15-2004, 10:05 AM

Not sure if this is the right thread, but lots of folks in this group seem to have problems with perfume, so maybe someone can give me some tips. I have managed to get my home *almost* perfume free (occasional use of store-bought shampoos when I don't have time to make my own). But EVERYONE else I come into contact with wears perfume, or at least washes their clothes in perfumed detergent AND uses perfumed fabric softener. Folks who visit hang their coats up with ours and sit in our chairs. I can send them out onto the balcony to smoke, but the perfume is an integral part of almost everyone in the industrialized world, and I am not ready to become a hermit (yet!). And when I visit the homes of others or even ride in their cars, you can imagine the stink on my clothes when I get home.

My question is, just HOW do you get the perfume out of the clothes??? Cigarette smoke is easy to wash out (important here in Germany where the anti-smoking lobby is still fighting an uphill battle). But clothes that have been hung outside for DAYS still stink when I bring them in, and I'm running out of clothes to wear! I've heard that putting a bit of vinegar in the wash water helps, but I tried that and the clothes still stank.

Any tips? Thanks, Rheanna

ny01 · 12-16-2004, 10:55 PM

I wish I could help you, but I just wash the clothes several time to do the job. I use Tide Free on hot water. I am currently struggling with some idiot who spilled cologne in my apartment elevator. I don't even know where to begin.

Best of luck!!

rheanna · 12-17-2004, 12:25 AM

Thanks, NY01, for letting me know that I'm not alone in having to deal with this. That must be awful knowing that you have to deal with this everytime you enter or leave your apartment via the elevator. Sometimes I think I'm the only person in the world who doesn't like perfume. Sometimes I'm hit in the face by the smell of someone walking past me on the street -- the smell of fabric softener and anti-static thingies for the dryer is enough to bowl me over. I posted the question again in the allergies section, after noting that it got LOTS more visitors that the environmental health section, and a couple of folks there suggested washing clothes with baking soda. See that post for a longer discussion. --Rheanna

mudhound · 12-19-2004, 06:27 AM

How about washing them. LOL Well truly, what about vinger. It seem to take away other smells. Just add a bit to the wash cycle and see what heppens.

rattlesnake21 · 02-12-2005, 11:52 PM

washing really is the only way. I would certainly not recommend Tide Free for someone with MCS though, as Tide Free is STILL a chemical mix even if the fragrance isnt as strong.

I had to start using organic detergent, get rid of all the clothes that had previously been washed with chemical detergent, and buy a new washer/dryer that has never had chemical detergent in it.

I still find myself washing my clothes many times from being exposed to crap. I generally end up washing things 2-5 times to get something out. You should see my winter coat. Extremely frayed from all the times i've had to wash it repeatedly.

If you truely have MCS and your washing machine has had regular detergent in it before, you'll pretty much need a new washer. To my knowledge, there's no way to make a contaminated washer/dryer safe. I accidentally put some sheets in my washer/dryer a long while back. These were Old sheets washed probably once or twice in regular, but not smelly, detergent, and just washing them once in my W/D contaminated it. Took about a month to get my washer safe, and my dryer is still contaminated.
But I am VERY sensitive to detergent and odors. You may not be as sensitive. Either way, if you have MCS, wether you can tell the chemicals are on your clothes are not, I would avoid the use of ALL chemicals. You don't want to be getting any worse.