Many people are sensitive to the smell of perfume. They will not want to smell like a perfume salesperson. If you have a lingering perfume smell on your clothes, and it bothers you, there is a way you can learn how to remove the smell of cologne using the guide below.
How to Get Rid of Cologne Smell
The good news is that you’ll need things you probably already have in your home. The removal process takes about 30 minutes. The whole process is really easy.
Items You Need
You will need the following items:
- Unscented laundry detergent
- Baking soda
- Distilled white vinegar
- Water
- Sealable container
- Outdoor clothesline’
- Soaking sink or basin
- Washing machine
Step 1: Air Out the Clothes
Start by hanging the scented clothes outside in the open air. If you do not have the option of using an outdoor hanging line, you can hang them in a big room, preferably filled with plenty of green leafy plants. The plants will help in absorbing the scent of the clothes.
You can also use an indoor fan to act as a provider of moving air. Usually, it takes about 8 hours for most scents to disappear when you use this step.
Step 2: Soak the Clothes
Use a sink filled with warm water or a washing machine to soak your clothes. Make sure you add one cup of baking soda. You need to fully submerge the scented clothes and let them soak overnight.
If the smell is too strong, you may need to soak the clothes for a day or two. Instead of soaking for a long time, try repeating the airing and soaking. You can use the quick wash cycle on your washing machine to speed up the process.
Step 3: Wash the Clothes
Use the same process you use to wash the clothes. Make sure you use unscented laundry detergent. You should do this whether you’ll wash the clothes using a washing machine or your hands.
Add one cup of distilled white vinegar when you are rinsing the clothes. If you are using a washing machine, add the vinegar to the rinse cycle. Do not start the rinse cycle immediately. Let the clothes soak for about an hour before you start the rinse cycle.
Vinegar will work on the scents remaining on the clothes during the hour. It will also cut through any remaining scents on the fibers. If you are not sure, you can rinse the clothes twice. Remember you will not add the vinegar in the second rinse cycle.
Step 4: Repeat the Drying and Airing Process of Clothes
Use a clothes rack or clothesline to dry out the freshly washed clothes if you want the best results. This should be done in an area with sunlight and fresh air. Sunlight helps in removing any residual odors. Keep in mind bright sunlight may end up shrinking your clothes or cause them to fade.
If you are handling dark garments, try hanging them outside in the shade. Using the lines to hang the clothes helps to properly air out the clothes. If you think you need to use a clothes dryer, go ahead.
Just remember to use a low temperature setting on the dryer. A good option may be the permanent press option. High temperatures are not good for the fibers of your clothes. Additionally, they may cause the remnants of the scent to be embedded more deeply in the fabric.
Step 5: Store the Clothes
To avoid any scents from getting on the clothes, you need to store them properly once they have dried. For example, never store clothes away with other clothes with a perfume scent when the seasons are about to change. Store the clothes in a clothes wardrobe with other clothes that do not have any scent.
Sometimes you may find you do not have the time to use the steps above. In such a case separate and store the clothes with a scent separately. You can use a plastic bag with a box of baking soda. The baking soda will absorb the scents on the clothes. You may find that the clothes do not have the scent when you store them this way for about one week.
How to Get Rid of Cologne Smell on Dry Clean Clothes
For dry clean clothes, you will need to air them out rather than washing them. Instead, use a fabric refresher to remove any lingering cologne smell on them. Just remember that some refreshers are scented while others are not.
Fabric refreshers can remove odors from clothes with great success. Take the clothes outside where there is a breeze. Spray the clothes lightly and separately using the instructions on the refresher’s label.
The cologne smell molecules can remain on the clothes until you take them to a dry cleaner. Make sure your dry cleaner understands the condition of the clothes when you take them to be cleaned.
Conclusion
Usually, a single pass using this process effectively removes irritants and smells from most clothes. If your clothes still have the smell, try doing a second pass following the steps above. Repeat as many times as possible, although two times should be sufficient.