Do you return smelly clothes? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you return smelly clothes?

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I'm very sensitive to smells and use unscented everything in my home. I was about to hang up a pair of my (unwashed by me) new jeans in my closet when I realized it REEKED of floral detergent. I tossed them into the wash and line-dried them in the sun. It didn't help at all, and made the rest of the load stink instead.

I don't think I would've bought this exact pair if I'd noticed in the store; I would've had them order a new pair. The risk there is that they might not fit exactly the same or have the same distressing or fading.

Will this stink disappear? Any ideas of what else I can try? Or, if you are as sensitive as I am to smells, do you just return an offending item right away?

I thought used returns to Nordstrom go to Nordstrom Rack? I'm surprised they sold these obviously washed jeans as new.

Shopping

24 replies

Latest reply was from Scarlet

Diana

Veteran

I would return it. If an item smells strongly of perfume (including strong detergent), smoke, or body odor I return it right away. I've learned my lesson the hard way. In fact, I just got a pair of culottes from ASOS that (in addition to being a horrible fit on me anyway) smelled super strongly of what was probably perfume but smelled like shower cleaner to me. I could not get that thing out of my house fast enough. Plus I swear I kept smelling it on myself all day after trying it on for 2 minutes.

There's also a specific dye smell on certain black denim that never goes away. To me, it kind of smells skunky. Also, some raw silk has a smell that never goes away, and which I really dislike.

And yes, I have a ridiculously sensitive sense of smell.

ETA: if you can't return, you could try soaking with either baking soda or vinegar (but not both together, or you'll get carbonation!).

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

If I really loved the pants I'd try the baking soda soak. It should do the trick if you put enough in there. I've had the same thing happen more than once.

BethL

(website)

Veteran

Hmm. That's awful, PG. You could definitely take them back. But first, since you have nothing to lose really, I'd try soaking them for awhile in the sink or a bucket with a 1/2 cup of baking soda added to the water. Stir them every so often, and then wash them in the machine with detergent again. See what happens then. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Joyce B

Veteran

I return anything smelly. I pay good money and I want good garments for my money.
As you see, I feel very strongly about this.

ironkurtin

Veteran

The short answer is yes, but also I've managed to make smells die over time. One trick is apparently to put them in a bag with coffee. (Obviously 'd use one of those packs so you don't get coffee grounds all over your pants!) Another idea is to get some of those odor-absorbing gels and put them in a ziplock together.

E

Veteran

I'd return, as I'm also ridiculously sensitive to smells & wouldn't want to risk it. Especially if it made all your other clothes smell that way. *shudder*

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Usually, yes. But occasionally I will try to see if airing the item gets rid of the odour. If it does, I keep.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I just tried to wear them for a bit but they made my hands smell because I rested my hands on my thighs while sitting! Headache now, blech. I ordered another pair and hopefully will like them just as much!

SandyG

Veteran

I like unscented everything because my skin breaks out easily. But I'm a clothes hound and have bought many new cotton and silk garments and leather shoes that smelled so bad upon delivery I despaired of ever wearing them. Endless airings, washings and deodorizing sprays did little to help the odors even when I was diligent.

One happy discovery rocked my world, via my lovable border collie and sick rescued pets, which then flowed over to my hobby/soft addiction, vintage clothing, where odors linger for ages. BioKleen makes a liquid live enzyme and lime culture that removes odors. I use it with the rinse and spin cycle and odor is removed in silk, cotton, jeans, and smelly dog towels. It's a staple in my laundry room and I never want to be without it.

crutcher

Veteran

I am very smell sensitive so I would return them in a heartbeat...New means that new with no smells...

Greyscale

Veteran

I'm also very sensitive to smells. The other day I wore a clean but used men's shirt from Crossroads and realized too late that it smelled faintly of men's cologne. I had a headache all day. So - if I bought something new that smelled, back it goes. I had to return a few leather jackets that I bought new, because the processing chemicals hadn't dispersed enough and I couldn't tell if they ever would.

IK, thanks for the coffee idea. I have a few really great consignment finds that smell like perfume. I should try that.

shiny

Veteran

I am so glad it's not just me. This drives me nuts too. I did return that AT leather jacket, even though it fit me perfectly. Could not stand the odor.

*sobs*

Deb

Veteran

I nearly always shop in store and always ask the shop assistant if they have a nice new one out the back, so I don't have to buy an item that has been tried on by who knows how many people. Usually I have luck. If I have to buy the shop one, I will always wash the item before I wear it. I'm particular about checking items before I purchase. So far I haven't had any unfresh items sent to me with online purchases, but if I found myself in your situation, I would be DEMANDING a replacement....good luck with this issue and be a militant consumer.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

No worries with returning, it's from Nordstrom.

Nebraskim

Veteran

Diana, yes that hideous black dye smell has caused me to thrift several items. It really has a rank staying power. A friend I know who is a textiles scientist told me that smell comes from dye stabilizers that are needed for black dyes. Without the stabilizers, the dye will fade. I now give all black clothing a sniff test in the store. This dye smell is particularly common in black denims.

daisy5

I'd return it. Most recently, I returned a skirt to Gap when this funky smell didn't come out after I washed it. I told them about the smell and they took it back no problem.

jennifer

Veteran

Working in fashion retail for the past eight years ,I've smelled some interesting clothes. Seems like there's at least one batch of something a year that will smell of something.
One year hot pink screen print tank = hair perm. (Those didn't sell well)
Another year a batch lot of tees in one color smelled of fruity pebbles cereal. Last year( ? ) there was a white short sleeved blouse that came with a wide belt and it had a wonderful freshness to it that I ended up buying one . Smell was in between a Vetiver cologne and bleach. I wish I could find a scent that matched it. Occasionally new shipment arrives with a bit of a cologne or perfume smell. Fortunately , I don't have any problem with that. How the boxes themselves smell sometimes....?....well let me say that I wonder if somewhere they put cow piles into the cardboard maker.

jennifer

Veteran

Oh and I second the use enzyme cleaner in the wash. We have pets ( and they make messes!) . We get Folex from the Lowes or Home Depot . I'll also use about a half a cup of Borax in a smelly load.
I salvaged a pair of jeans and some black rayon soft pants ( from the wrath of kitty cat)by soaking them in about a cup or so of each in a bucket of water for two days, and then washing.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I do use Borax in all my loads, but that didn't help this time. I think I found the offending detergent, though! I was at Lowe's and smelled the same smell in the air... It MUST be strong if I can smell it through the bottle! It was Tide with Febreze in a purple-flowery bottle.

Yuck, mixing two horribly smelling things (Tide, Febreze) into one product! That is not the smell of fresh, clean clothing.

N-Marie

Veteran

I recently bought a few dresses online from Nordstrom's and one had quite obviously been worn for a significant amount of time and then returned - it smelled of deodorant and perfume, and there was even a small tear in the hem (it was a ball gown). Yikes, back it went, with a note as to why on the return receipt!

tricia w.

(website)

I'm chemically sensitive, nothing in my home can be fragranced. I've started shopping online because the smell of dyes in clothing stores kill me. I've returned many items because of strong odors that wouldn't come out no matter what I tried. I've bought thrifted items that smell of fabric softener or detergent and even after multiple soakings in vinegar, washing and drying in the sun, the fragrance remains, because it's designed to chemically bond with fabric. Hopefully if enough people start returning smelly stuff, the manufactures will get the message.

Staysfit

Veteran

I would if it ever happened to me with clothing. I once purchased a memory foam pillow. Big mistake! It smelled so strongly of some chemical it made my eyes burn and it filled the entire house for days, even after I returned the thing.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Drives me nuts, I've returned to stuff to ModCloth for "smells" - especially when it's obvious that the garment has also been worn by someone multiple times.

Quality control issue, I say.

Scarlet

Veteran

Vinegar is good at removing smells from clothing. Try soaking in vinegar and wash again?