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Funky smells...

Maya

Veteran

OK, yesterday's YLF convention was AMAZING in every possible way, but there was one little thing that was bugging me all throughout the day...

I noticed this smell that seemed to be following me around. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, and it wasn't terribly overwhelming although it did grow a little stronger by the end of the day. I think I have narrowed the source down to my scarf because well, my scarf was near my face all day and when I stuck my nose in it today, I was not impressed. I can't even guess what it is, but it's not exactly pleasant. I did drop it while making a mad dash to get a cab from Penn station, which makes me a little nauseous now when I think of the possibilities.

Anyway, the scarf is a black and gray ombre pashmina that my mom got from India. She just brought back 4 scarves in cream, pink, yellow, and turquoise...so I guess it isn't a tragedy if I let this one go. But I wanted to check first: How can I try and wash it? Should I bring it to a cleaner?

General

16 replies

Latest reply was from shana

taylor

Veteran

Raw silk can have a funky odor to it. Do you know the fabric content?

Nicole

Veteran

I find most things can be handwashed in cold water with mild detergent (like shampoo or even a few squirts of liquid hand soap). Of course hange to dry, and you may need to use a warm iron with a towel between iron and scarf.

OR....you could try steaming it clean--do you have a travel steamer?

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Maya

Veteran

Taylor, I believe it's either cashmere or cashmere and silk. It never smelled like this before.

I do not have a steamer, Nicole. Hand-washing will have to do. If it doesn't survive my attempt at washing, it won't be an absolute tragedy, but I don't want to let it go without giving it a shot. It's not even that it's dirty. I tried looking for stains that might give me a clue as to what caused this, but it looks fine. It really is a yucky smell though. I feel the need to wash my hands every time I touch it now. I was hoping a quick tumble dry without any heat and a sheet of Bounce would do the trick, but the more I sniff it, the more I feel that it's probably best to get out whatever nasties are causing it in the first place.

Nicole

Veteran

Well if you don't think it's dirty, yuou could try fabreezing the smell away. Try fabreeze AND hang it outside to air out then another dose of fabreeze.

shana

Veteran

It's funny - when first started reading your post, it reminded me of a book I read years ago called Smell:

http://www.amazon.com/Smell-Ra.....038;sr=1-9

about a girl who has this keen sense of smell...

Anyway, what about trying Dryel or some other type of home dry cleaning kit? It may work better than bounce and might be safer than washing. I have many of these scarves from India and after one washing disaster, I usually dry clean (but only if I really have to).

Maya

Veteran

I do have a dry cleaning kit Shana, though it's some sort of cheap Dryel knockoff. I'm just always mystified as to how dry cleaning kits actually clean. I always got the sense that they just freshen things up. Maybe it's just because I'm using the cheap version. I guess I'll do that first and see if it works, and use water as a last resort.

taylor

Veteran

Hmm... a mystery smell. The fabric content is not likely the source since only Raw silk has that distinct smell.

Did you store it in a place where moisture could have gotten to it?

I would just have it dry cleaned to remove all traces and to keep it in perfect comdition as well. But only if you think it is worth it. Coming from India those items are not easy to replace . I vote dry clean.

Anonymous

I read a review of the Dryell product a year or so ago in the paper and the result was that it doesn't really clean the garment, just freshens up the smell of it, just like you thought.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Wow, I have no idea what a dry-cleaning kit is. I don't know if we can get them here in Aus! Do you guys just buy them at the supermarket?

I was going to just suggest spraying perfume on it or hanging it outside in the fresh air to air it out and see if the smell goes away!!

shiny

Veteran

For some odd reason this reminded me of that research study that showed that women think sweaty men smell good when they are in the most fertile part of their cycle, but in their least infertile part, they think the same sweaty men smell awful.

Maybe just wait a few weeks?

bella

(website)

Veteran

In my experience, cashmere, like other types of wool, smells funny when it is wet. Since there are no visible stains to explain the odor, perhaps it just got wet and didn't properly dry. You said you dropped it, right? I agree with Nicole, handwashing with mild soap (a yummy smelling shampoo should do the trick!) and flat drying works for many clothing items.

Inge

(website)

I was thinking the same thing as Bella, Maya. Maybe it's just the smell of wet cashmere?

If airing it out doesn't work, I second trying handwashing with mild soap.

I found this on http://www.thepashminastore.com - which seems to confirm the advice you already got:

"One of the wonderful things about your pashmina accessory, cashmere baby blanket or throw is that it can last for years and years - if you take proper care of it. It will even get softer and more luxurious with each wash!

In general, dry cleaning is the preferred method of washing for pashmina and cashmere care. However, you can hand wash occassionally if you are careful and follow a few guidelines that are listed below. We do suggest washing it before first use to make sure the natural vegetable dyes do not bleed.

To wash by hand, first use very cold water. You may add a little soft detergent such as baby shampoo or Woolite if you wish but please be certain the detergent is completely dissolved first. Then wash very gently by hand while being very careful with the hand-tied tassels if you are washing a pashmina accessory.

After washing, please do not wring dry. Simply lay it flat to dry. Once dry, you may warm iron but it is best to put a piece of paper or cloth between the iron and the fabric."

Nicole

Veteran

I busted out in laughter at Shiny's idea to 'wait a few weeks'...bwhahahahaha

Maya

Veteran

Shiny, I read that article and found it completely gross. Was this the one where men didn't shower for 3 days and stuffed cotton balls in their armpits for a panel of women to smell? Maybe I am just some kind of amoeba, but I don't think there is any point during the month at which such an activity would appeal to me.

Thanks for the info Inge. I think I'll just take it to the cleaners. This is going to sound really disgusting, but it actually smells a bit like public bathroom. You can see why I'm after a thorough cleaning now.

shiny

Veteran

Maya, you'd be surprised! My DH bike-commutes so every day he comes home drenched in sweat. I have noticed that about half the month, I don't notice it and don't mind at all if he gives me a sweaty hug when he arrives home. But the other half, I am crinkling up my nose!

So I do think there's some truth to the study, and I do have to wonder if women's sense of smell - in general - is more acute during certain parts of their cycle. I know I was ultra-sensitive to odors when I was pregnant, to the point (during my first pregnancy) of throwing up anytime I got near our tap water. We found out a year after we moved that our tap water was toxic - the place we lived in was declared a superfund site.

You don't have to answer this (TMI!) but if you're not on the Pill and you're in the post-ovulation part of your cycle, you could simply be ultra-sensitive to smells you may otherwise not notice at all (and likely no one else notices either). I know I tend to be. (Apparently the Pill interferes with all this).

Incidentally I'm also ultra-sensitive to dry cleaning odors too - which is why I rarely take anything to the dry cleaners! Except that I happen to live very close to one, which sucks.

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shana

Veteran

Dry-cleaning sounds like the best idea. Dryel or home dry cleaning kits definitely do not clean - but they can freshen up odors considerably better than bounce or even Febreeze. I use it to freshen up some items between dry cleaning runs. Dryel actually does come with some kind of solvent cleaner (not soap based) that you are supposed to apply to any stains before sticking in the dryer. I like the sunshine idea - too bad it's winter...

I remember the whole being sensitive to smells while I was pregnant. All of a sudden you wake up with smell super powers - like I could smell things from across the house. My husband had to move his entire toilette (deodorant, hair spray etc) from our master bathroom because even a hint of the smell would make me retch.