It’s no secret that the smell of smoke is pervasive. It can leave behind a lingering, unpleasant odor and a heaviness in the air, stinking up furniture, entire rooms, and even your car. Where cannabis smoke can be particularly problematic is when it gets on your clothes, clinging to fabric and bringing a session from the night before into the light of day.
Getting smoke smell out of clothes is not a cut-and-dried task like cleaning up a spill. It’s hard to know exactly where to begin, what products and materials to use, and how to prevent the smell from coming back. Find out how to get smoke smell out of clothes and keep it from ruining your favorite garments.
Check the Type of Clothing You’re Wearing
There is so much information out there about what takes smoke out of clothes, and very little information about what kind of clothing is best to wear around smoke. But the clothing you choose may be the key to preemptively tackling cannabis odor.
Unfortunately, the answer to which fabrics lend themselves better to odor prevention and repelling odor-producing microbes isn’t always as simple as synthetic vs. natural fibers. In a study conducted by Ghent University, researchers found that certain fabrics on both sides of the spectrum repelled odor microbes while others didn’t.
For example, viscose, a semi-synthetic fabric used in dresses and lightweight shirts and jackets, proved to be very effective against the production of odor. Meanwhile, polyester — think the iconic, white suit from “Saturday Night Fever” — performed the worst in odor-wicking, worse even than wool and cotton.
While this information may not apply directly to the cannabis smoke issue, it may shed some light on which fabrics will be the most forgiving when exposed to the contents of your favorite strains. To get smoke out of clothes, opt for natural and semi-synthetic materials like cotton and viscose during your next session, and leave your best polyester suit for a different occasion.
Wash Your Clothes Immediately
Wash With Warm Water
The key to getting smoke out of clothes is to wash them quickly after they’ve been exposed. Put the garments in a laundry load with like colors and wash on a warm to hot setting. You will need to check your specific garment’s resiliency to temperature in the washer, but warm or hot water should kill any odor-producing microbes that may be contributing to your clothes’ malodor.
Add Vinegar to Your Cycle With Detergent
In addition to washing on a warm cycle, white vinegar is another highly effective option to take smoke out of clothes. Simply add ½ a cup of white distilled vinegar to your detergent of choice and wash your clothing. The acetic acid will neutralize the odor molecules in the washer, leaving you to follow up with an odor fighting solution once the clothing is dry.
Baking Soda Can Help Fight Odors Too
If you are still having trouble removing these hard to remove smoke odors, try baking soda! Baking soda, renowned for its odor-absorbing properties, can be added directly to the washing machine along with your regular detergent. This powerful alkaline substance not only neutralizes smoke smells but also helps to freshen up the fabric. Start off by adding about a sixth of a cup scoop to your load, and in no time your clothes should be back to smelling smoke odor free!
Dry Your Clothes With Scented Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets can be a handy and effective solution for tackling smoke odors in clothes. When placed in the dryer with the garments, these scented sheets release a pleasant fragrance that helps mask and neutralize unwanted smells. The heat from the dryer activates the scent, infusing the fabric with a fresh aroma while simultaneously combating the lingering smoke odor. The softening agents present in dryer sheets also contribute to reducing static and making clothes feel smoother. This simple yet effective method leaves your clothes smelling clean and revitalized, providing a quick and convenient solution to tackle smoke odors in a time-efficient manner.
Hang Dry in the Sun
If you still notice a smell after you take your clothes out of the dryer, you can try a few more methods to get smoke smell out of clothes as they finish drying. Remove your clothes from the dryer right before they’ve completely dried and lay or hang them in the sun.
UV rays have strong anti-odor properties that will combat the smell of smoke, plus any added breeze or wind will air out your clothing which is always recommended when things smell smokey.
Use a Natural Smoke Odor Eliminating Spray
Follow up this effort with a natural odor eliminating product designed to remove odors from cannabis smoke. Cannabolish Odor Removing Spray uses the power of plant essential oils to combat odors from cannabis. Lightly mist your clothing with Cannabolish and allow the formula to naturally absorb volatile molecules that cause smell.
For more tips where to use Cannabolish and to stay on top of cannabis industry news, check out our blog and sign up for the 421 Newsletter.
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