After a nice night out or a long day at work, sometimes we can get a little carried away with our chosen perfume for the occasion. So much, that we can smell our perfume on our clothes even days later. Fortunately, it is not an impossible task as long as you learn how to get perfume smell out of clothes and have the right tools and methods.
How to Get Perfume Smell Out of Clothes
There are four major methods for getting perfume smell out of clothes. You can try using vinegar, hanging your clothes outside, using castile soap, a combination of booster with laundry detergent, or even lemon juice. The following is detailed information you can use for each method of getting rid of perfume smell out of clothes.
Hanging Clothes Outside
This is the simplest method for removing perfume scent on clothes. All you need to do is hang the clothes outside. Make sure you use a location exposed to sunshine and wind. Sunlight and wind will naturally remove any lingering scents.
Using Vinegar
Vinegar is one of those things any household needs to have. Vinegar also works to get any perfume scent out of clothing. Vinegar is a great cleaner and a green option.
The following are simple steps you can use to get the perfume smell out of clothing using vinegar.
- Preparing the Clothes: All clothes you need to get rid of perfume should be dry. You need to dry any damp clothes or clothes with sweat before you start the washing process. Moisture will negatively affect the reaction vinegar does to get rid of perfume smell.
- Making the Cleaning Solution: Load the dry garments into your washing machine. You don’t have to separate perfume smelling clothes from the rest, you can wash them together. Instead of putting washing liquid, use vinegar. Approximately 250 millilitres of vinegar should be enough for a load.
- Washing Clothes: Start the normal washing cycle. Use the same washing procedures you use when you are washing your clothes normally. Vinegar will act like your normal detergent. In this case, it will also work by removing any scents from your clothes.
- Drying the Clothes: Put the load into the dryer and dry it as normal. If you do not have a dryer, hang the clothes outside where there are sun and wind. Make sure you do a spin cycle if your washing machine does not have a dryer. The spinning will remove most of the water and any lingering scents from the clothes.
Using Castile Soap
Castile soap, originally from the Mediterranean, has a fruit or vegetable base. Usually, this is hemp oil, olive oil, or coconut. Apart from being versatile, castile soap is also eco-friendly. For starters, you can use it to wash clothes or clean wounds.
If you plan on removing perfume from clothes, then castile soap is a great option. Use the following steps to learn how to remove perfume from clothes using castile soap.
- Preparing the Clothes: Just like washing with vinegar, you need to make sure your clothes are dry. Otherwise, the chemical reaction by castile soap will not be effective.
- Making the Cleaning Solution: Take note this process involves handwashing your clothes. In this case, you need to dilute the detergent before you use it. Ideally, you should add five drops of castile soap to one bucket of water. Use your hand to mix the water and soap.
- Washing the Clothes: Use your hands to wash the clothes the way you would normally hand wash clothes. Ideally, let the clothes soak for about an hour before you start washing them. The best results will be achieved if you pour the water after the first wash and repeat the process.
- Drying the Clothes: Dry the clothes on a clothesline where they are exposed to the sun. The rays of the sun combined with the heat will cause the castile soap to react. The reaction will ensure any stubborn perfume scents are gone. Let the clothes stay outside for a day (morning to morning) for them to dry completely.
Using a Booster and Laundry Detergent
If the methods above do not seem to work, you can try normally washing the clothes. The first one or two attempts will ensure the clothes are primed. This means using normal wash methods will finish up the process effectively. A booster will also help with the perfume removal process.
- Making the Cleaning Solution: Use your normal detergent to make a cleaning solution. Use the same process you use when washing clothes normally. Add the booster according to the specifications on the product’s package. If you do not have a booster, you can use baking soda.
- Washing the Clothes: Try to use warm water when washing clothes. Warm water ensures the detergent can use its full power. This means your chances of getting rid of perfume from clothes will increase.
- Hanging the Clothes: Hang the clothes outside in the sun. The sun’s rays combined with the heat will ensure you remove any and all odors and scents.
Using Lemon Juice
Another great and affordable way to remove perfume scent from clothes is by using lemon juice. The acidity in lemon juice is effective in removing any scent or odor from clothes. The clothes will be left fresh and clean after using this method.
- Making the Cleaning Solution: Mix a 1 part lemon juice and one part water solution in a spray bottle. This means you should have 200 milliliters of lemon juice and 200 milliliters of water. Mix thoroughly by shaking the spray bottle for about 5 seconds.
- Using the Cleaning Solution: Find the area of the clothes where there’s more concentration of perfume scent. Spray these areas using the lemon solution. You can also spray the entire cloth if you want it to get a fresh smell.
- Hanging the Clothes: Just like the above methods, hang the clothes outside in the sunlight. We recommend using lemon juice only for dark garments. Lighter garments might not react well with lemon juice.
Optionally, you can use a soft-bristled brush when you are applying the solution to the affected areas. A soft brush, such as an old toothbrush, will ensure the solution gets into the fabric. This means all scents will be removed quickly.
Conclusion
Getting perfume smell out of clothes is not a challenge. You can use any of the above-mentioned methods to rid your clothes of the smell of perfume. Each method is effective in the long run. The difference lies in the tools used, the method, and how fast each method works.