HELP!!!! Black jeans smell!!!

**mom23boyz** · 09-21-2009, 11:41 AM

My sons got black jeans for school and they have this HORRIBLE smell that I can not figure out how to get rid of!!!

Levi starts with the smell but it washes away after the first wash. These jeans have been washed several times and the smell is still there!

Any idea how to get rid of this terrible smell??

**Greebo** · 09-21-2009, 11:44 AM

Hmm. Sounds like they are fire retardant jeans. I had to have those when I was in the Navy - course we called them Dungarees. The stink eventually went away but only after they'd been washed about 2 dozen times.

**2ndGenGranola** · 09-21-2009, 01:02 PM

Wash in soap rather than detergent. Then hold your nose and give it a good ironing. For some reason the iron always helps my clothes with the "factory stink".

**Grainlady** · 09-21-2009, 01:13 PM

I have black dishtowels that smell just like what you described, so I think it's the dye, not chemical fire retardants. I've had the same problem with black or dark navy yarn.

I thought I should do a soak in Borax and water to see if that would help, so that's my suggestion....

**frugalwarrior** · 09-21-2009, 03:24 PM

Do you think a little vinegar in the wash would set the dye in pants. Vinegar absorbs. What fabric is it?

**zakity** · 09-21-2009, 07:06 PM

I was thinking vinegar also. Either that or baking soda.

**lisaflex** · 09-21-2009, 07:49 PM

i vote for baking soda and detergent and regular softener.

then use vinegar if that doesnt work

**Libby** · 09-26-2009, 08:48 AM

Powders for dark clothing items is a huge no no for me. I don't know why but every time I've tried to use powdered detergent on a load of darks...somehow the powder manages to 'cling' to the fabric and its hard to wash out. It was almost as if I had a powder stain (bleach stain) Since then I have switched to liquid detergent.

If you do go the baking soda route - I'd suggest that you dilute a high amount in a mug of hot water and dissolve really well before adding to wash water so you don't go through what I have in the past.

Have you tried washing with more then your usual amount of laundry detergent? And then use a downey ball full of vinegar in the rinse plus stopping the rinse cycle and pouring in a lot of vinegar and letting it sit for a bit then let it continue on?

Good luck, let us know what did the trick.

**patticakes** · 09-29-2009, 07:28 PM

I would also soak them in oxy-clean for a while before putting them in the wash with more oxy-clean, detergent and a vinegar rinse.

This is the path I use for hidden rags & dog bedding.

**mamamia** · 09-30-2009, 12:54 AM

I'd go for a vinegar soak, then hang them out to dry. Remember too that the sun breaks down odors naturally. Hope you find the right thing. Sounds frustrating!

Theresa