Mildew smell
Got some eBay jeans with a mildew smell. Any tips for getting it out? I've seen vinegar suggested, as well as sunshine, which is not available right now. Might try washing in hot water, just this once.
10 Replies
Hot water and jeans can be a volatile combo so be careful
I’d try vinegar first
vinegar is perfect for odors & softening fabric, def recommend
I'd try just washing on cold as a first pass. Your detergent will likely get the job done. Vinegar if that doesn't work
I've read that baking soda can help too. But yeah, I have the same problem : having to wait til summer to hang dry outside to really kill the smelly molds
If the other methods don't work you can also freeze the clothes to kill mildew
I wouldn't start with that, though
Still smells after 3 washes, 1 with vinegar.
Might try something more aggressive, might not.
They are PRL jeans that cost me $40, so not some priceless artifact.
I think I may be over raw denim
Use your bathtub or large plastic tub and ad a small amount of laundry detergent, oxiclean and borax then fill with cold water. Let the jeans soak for an hour agitating every once in a while
I'm trying a soak in vinegar
I'll try oxyclean next if this doesn't work
Hopefully the vinegar and oxiclean worked, but for a next level up I used this stuff called Revivex Odor Eliminator on a musty Barbour and it helped a lot. Not 100% but the smell isn't overwhelming anymore.
It's a little pricey but now I have it around. Used it on a pair of Dickies that wreaked of cigarettes and motor oil and it knocked it out (after oxiclean, vinegar, and borax all failed)
It's tolerable after soaking in vinegar for a couple of hours and washing with the hottest setting
I'm wearing them now