How to Get Stubborn Smells Out of Clothes

Okay, okay. We know you probably came here to learn how to get smells out of clothes, and now you’re wondering if you somehow ended up on a coffee lover’s blog… or if we’ve finally lost our marbles. We promise you neither of those are the case.

There’s a very logical link between coffee and how to get stubborn smells out of clothes, and it comes in the form of an unexpected but very effective hack. Curious yet? We sure were. Read on to find out how these two seemingly unrelated things are connected.

Stubborn Smells

We know we don’t need to tell you about those dreaded, lingering smells that never seem to come out of your clothing, no matter what you do. 

Maybe you had family over for a home cooked Italian dinner, and now your favorite sweater reeks of garlic. Maybe your best night-out ensemble now smells hopelessly like cigarettes because of the chain smoker at the end of the bar. Or maybe you hung your coat up in Grandma’s closet for a weekend, and now, every time you put it on, all you can smell is mothballs. 

So, you do what any logical person would do. You go home and run your stinky items through the washing machine and dryer. You take them out, ready to wear them, and realize… they still stink! How is it possible that your clothes STILL smell after washing? It’s frustrating, but you’re not alone; we’ve all been there. And we have an answer for how to get smells out of clothes that will change your smell-fighting strategy forever.

Gather Your Materials

Before you fight a stubborn smell, you need to gather your weapons because when clothes smell after washing, it's time to prepare for the fight. Get an airtight bag that you can seal. This can be as simple as a Ziplock bag, a plastic grocery bag you can tie shut, or even a reusable plastic or vinyl bag. Stay away from canvas or other fabric bags, as they are porous and will let air in and out. If you are treating more than one item, we recommend having a separate bag for each one.

Next, gather some ground coffee and something to scoop it with. (Go with the cheap stuff. You’re going to be cleaning clothes with this, not drinking it, so you don’t need a gourmet blend.)

Load the Bag

First, put several scoops of coffee into the plastic bag. You don’t have to measure it, and it doesn’t have to be too much – just enough to touch or cover most areas of your item. Once the coffee has been added, put your item into the bag and seal it. We recommend shaking the bag a bit or moving the coffee grounds around to touch as much of the garment as you can manage. Don’t rub it in, though, this can cause staining on the clothing. It’s okay if the whole thing isn’t covered.

Let it Sit

Leave the bag to sit for one to two days. That’s it. That’s the entire next step.