Okay - here's the situation.
My husband gave me a beautiful cashmere coat for christmas last year. Knock me over with a feather but he took the time and care to get me a vintage one and I love it! Last year i didn't wear it much. I did - but it was put it on, get to destination, hang it up at the host/hostess's house, and put it on to go home. Now, today i put it on for the second time this year. the first time was an in and out. Today i was weaing it for 4-5 hours continuously.
The problem is that there is wiff of mothball smell that gradually has driven me to a nauseous headache. (i can even sort of taste it in my mouth - thats how bad) My blazer and shirt i was wearing under it now smell like it. I don't know if people around me can really smell it or not. How embarrassing that would be "ihmm...that really smells old!"
Now that i have changed and have had some aspirin.....
We have talked about mothballs before, and as I recall some of the suggestions were 1) hang it outside 2) let it lay fallow like toxic waist for 50 years lol. 3) don't use them in the first place.
It has sat in a front hall closet with shoes and a handful of other coats for a year and hasn't been exposed to any mothballs (probably not since "back in the day" - whoever the original owner was.) so just letting it sit and take care of itself obviously hasn't work.
Other suggestions i have found on the internet:
* Soak with baking soda or white vinegar and baking soda together in water.
- Put the delicate fabric in a pillow case with a knot tied in it and put it in the washing machine or sink with baking soda
Problem: Its a cashmere coat and i am not going to risk getting it wet
* Hang clothes outdoors on a windy day for a few hours,
Five words. Heavily treed lot (leaves falling everywhere). Rain. Wildlife
I have hung things in our lanai/florida room thingie and it works sometimes but it then makes the chaise lounge reek. I did that last year actually with this coat, if i recall.
* Tumble in dryer (no heat)
I am scared - won't it make my other clothes smell for future loads? WIlling to try if someone promises it won't.
I have also heard of drycleaning it. I will not take it to my drycleaner though because there are a lot of working cowboys and farm hands in the area who take their jeans to be drycleaned at that cleaner. (they actually have a price list for dress shirts, work shirts, and i kid you not, cowboy shirts). And i am not talking about the type like D. Wayne Lucas who has creases and pleats ironed in. I worked at a horse stable before and i would never subject the public to my jeans! Anyway - they bottom line is that there is no seperate machine that just does pretty dresses or tuxes - it all goes in the same machines so everything comes out with a little bit of a funk to it
when washed with thrice worn jeans.
So i guess my options are somehow sealing it in with a box of baking soda? I may need 40 boxes. I am afraid to Febreze it in fear of it getting spots.
Anyone have any other ideas?
My husband gave me a beautiful cashmere coat for christmas last year. Knock me over with a feather but he took the time and care to get me a vintage one and I love it! Last year i didn't wear it much. I did - but it was put it on, get to destination, hang it up at the host/hostess's house, and put it on to go home. Now, today i put it on for the second time this year. the first time was an in and out. Today i was weaing it for 4-5 hours continuously.
The problem is that there is wiff of mothball smell that gradually has driven me to a nauseous headache. (i can even sort of taste it in my mouth - thats how bad) My blazer and shirt i was wearing under it now smell like it. I don't know if people around me can really smell it or not. How embarrassing that would be "ihmm...that really smells old!"
Now that i have changed and have had some aspirin.....
We have talked about mothballs before, and as I recall some of the suggestions were 1) hang it outside 2) let it lay fallow like toxic waist for 50 years lol. 3) don't use them in the first place.
It has sat in a front hall closet with shoes and a handful of other coats for a year and hasn't been exposed to any mothballs (probably not since "back in the day" - whoever the original owner was.) so just letting it sit and take care of itself obviously hasn't work.
Other suggestions i have found on the internet:
* Soak with baking soda or white vinegar and baking soda together in water.
- Put the delicate fabric in a pillow case with a knot tied in it and put it in the washing machine or sink with baking soda
Problem: Its a cashmere coat and i am not going to risk getting it wet
* Hang clothes outdoors on a windy day for a few hours,
Five words. Heavily treed lot (leaves falling everywhere). Rain. Wildlife
I have hung things in our lanai/florida room thingie and it works sometimes but it then makes the chaise lounge reek. I did that last year actually with this coat, if i recall.
* Tumble in dryer (no heat)
I am scared - won't it make my other clothes smell for future loads? WIlling to try if someone promises it won't.
I have also heard of drycleaning it. I will not take it to my drycleaner though because there are a lot of working cowboys and farm hands in the area who take their jeans to be drycleaned at that cleaner. (they actually have a price list for dress shirts, work shirts, and i kid you not, cowboy shirts). And i am not talking about the type like D. Wayne Lucas who has creases and pleats ironed in. I worked at a horse stable before and i would never subject the public to my jeans! Anyway - they bottom line is that there is no seperate machine that just does pretty dresses or tuxes - it all goes in the same machines so everything comes out with a little bit of a funk to it
when washed with thrice worn jeans.
So i guess my options are somehow sealing it in with a box of baking soda? I may need 40 boxes. I am afraid to Febreze it in fear of it getting spots.
Anyone have any other ideas?
