Need advice on getting out cigarette odor..

[motorman4life]

I bought 2 UK mockers on eBay and they were a good deal as well as being in like-new condition. The problem is, they smell like an ashtray! I have washed them 3 times, used Febreze odor remover and hung them out in the sun to dry. I can still smell the cigarette odor. Maybe I'm overly sensitive to the smell, but I've never had this problem before!

Any help would be appreciated.

[Dreadbelly]

I bought 2 UK mockers on eBay and they were a good deal as well as being in like-new condition. The problem is, they smell like an ashtray! I have washed them 3 times, used Febreze odor remover and hung them out in the sun to dry. I can still smell the cigarette odor. Maybe I'm overly sensitive to the smell, but I've never had this problem before!

Any help would be appreciated.

Ok. Get a big five gallon bucket. Get a bottle of Real Lemon Lemon Juice. (Any brand will work, just get the big bottle) And buy enough vinegar to fill the five gallon bucket. Get a whole box of baking soda.

Stuff one kilt in bucket. Add lemon juice. Add vinegar. Add whole box of baking soda. Let the bucket fizz and bubble and let the kilt soak for a long time. Poke it with a broom handle or something once in a while. Wash kilt. Should smell clean.

If that fails... Get something called Odor Ban. It's expensive, and it can usually be found at Sam's Club or any industrial cleaning supply. I have seen it on occasion at Home Depo, but they charge a lot for it. If this wont do it, nothing will.

[Big Paul]

You could try Nature Miracle. It's made for cleaning up after animal oops's. It works real well for getting out stains in clothes and deodorizing!

[Rufus]

Surprisingly, I've found that the Oust deodorizing spray gets rid of smoke smell much better than Febreeze. Febreeze just seems to cover the odor for a little while, but the Oust actually breaks down the smelly molecules and eliminates the odor. I've used it on my PV and traditional kilts without any problems. It's a cheap option, and you can always still use it around the house if it doesn't work on the kilts.

[jjoseph]

As the oldest child in a brood of ten..... soaking stuff in borax (from diapers to dad's "wreaks of cigar" shirts does wonders): warm pail of water, cup of borax from the local grocer's, soak your wet item overnight, then launder normally w/ some clorox II and detergent. Does wonders and is pretty gentle on cloth.

The lemon, vineagar, soda solution works too, but it weakens material and is more likely to yellow synthetics (as will bleach).

If the material is dark (navy, black, black watch), you may see a bit of fading from borax (no more than you'd see from 10 washings), but if you've already laundered several times, and the wreak is still there, it's worth it.

[Blu (Ontario)]

If it were me.... I'd take them to the dry cleaners, explain the problem to them, let them work on it 'till the problem is solved.

When in doubt.... deligate!

[kiltedpride]

I'd buy a decent kilt in the first place and then you might not have this problem. But try using a steamer - that often does the trick.

[Shay]

kiltedpride, that's rather harsh- I hope you're expressing your opinion about a style of kilt and not slagging on someone for not being able to afford something costing hundreds of dollars brand new.

An old trick from bookselling- put the offending object in a clean bag or box with non-dust non-scent kitty litter for a couple days, changing the litter every once in a while. It sounds silly, but we saved many an old tome this way from cigar smoke, pet scent, and once, skunk smell.

[kiltedpride]

kiltedpride, that's rather harsh- I hope you're expressing your opinion about a style of kilt and not slagging on someone for not being able to afford something costing hundreds of dollars brand new.

Indeed - good quality kilts have a open weave that breathes. It is dangerous to buy cheap in kilting terms. I have 12 kilts and one of my ealry ones is still going strong after 25 years - it must have cost circa £300 by todays prices but after 25years wear what a bargain ! You wont get that wear out of the pretend kilts let alone a pair of trousers. {But I accept that I'd rarther see a guy in any old kilt than no kilt at all - at least he might eventually see the light and decide to buy a proper kilt. I bought a cheap kilt as a starter and it was a complete waist of money, but that is another story}

[Riverkilt]

Ummm Chief...no way Utilikilts are cheap. I own three UK Mockers and wear them to work in an office setting. Yes, I own traditional hand sewn tartans too.

Mark just had a question about smoke removal, no need for questioning his choice of purchase. That's about as individual as it gets.

We try to make nice, most of the time, on this board...of course I'm quite sure Mark can take very good care of himself.

Ron