this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2025
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What's the best way to get a smell out of curtains? (piefed.blahaj.zone)
submitted 2 months ago by LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone to c/womensstuff@piefed.blahaj.zone
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Hey all! My housemate has moved out, she's not western so her standards of hygiene were different.

Her curtains and bedding smells awful. Her bedding is going to a local cat sanctuary, I washed them on a 2 hour 60 degree wash with double detergent and they still smell.

Her curtains are washable polycotton, how can I get the smell out of them?

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[–] knightly@pawb.social 23 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Try using white vinegar, baking soda, enzyme-based detergents, or laundry sanitizer.

Something like https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Labs-Concentrated-Efficiency-Biodegradable/dp/B09MSP7M5Y/ ought to help.

[–] klemptor@startrek.website 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Seconding this. I've had good success adding white vinegar to a hot wash for all sorts of smelly things, like dog bedding or stanky gym clothes.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Good tip! How much vinegar would you add?

[–] dkppunk@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I use white vinegar for the towels and items my bunnies have accidents on. It works great. I typically use about a half cup.

Just a tip: use a load that is only vinegar and no detergent. The detergents will neutralize the vinegars.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 months ago

Ooooh good tip thanks

[–] klemptor@startrek.website 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I eyeball it, probably a generous cup (roughly 250mL) per load, maybe more?

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Excellent thanks Klem

[–] sploosh@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You can get 30% acetic acid at hardware stores, which is just white vinegar concentrated 6x. It's cheaper per mole of acetic acid, so get some to use for cleaning and save the food-grade 5% for cooking.

[–] TheBloodFarts@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Would this not destroy the curtains? I'd be reluctant to put that high a concentration of acid on fabric

[–] sploosh@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Typically one would dilute the acid a bit first, but I don't think that aceitc acid can do much damage to typical fibers quickly enough to be an issue. I use it at about 12% and I have no cause to think it's hurting my clothes, sheets or curtains.

[–] TheBloodFarts@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago

Interesting, I'll have to keep an eye out for the concentrated stuff

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 months ago

Washed them twice with white vinegar today it worked a treat! Thanks so much