How to Remove Excessive Fragrance Odors from Clothes

Co-authored by Susan Stocker

Last Updated: April 13, 2022

If your clothes smell a little too strongly of perfume, detergent, or another fragrance, you can easily get rid of the scent with some products you probably already have in your house! Neutralizing that smell is as easy as making a simple solution, with ingredients like baking soda, lemon juice, or coffee grounds, and then applying it to the garments before washing them in the machine. There are also ways to prevent fragrances from overpowering your clothes, like better drying techniques and quick fixes for when you're in a hurry and washing is not an option.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Washing Your Clothing

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1
Add 1 c (240 mL) of vinegar to your wash cycle to eliminate odors. Use the vinegar in place of your laundry detergent to absorb unpleasant odors. Vinegar is an effective natural deodorizer.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Susan Stocker
Professional Cleaner

Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.} Pour it directly onto your clothes after you put them in the washer, and rinse them 1-3 times until the smell is gone.^{[2]
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Research source}^{[3]
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Expert Source

Rani Gorgis
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 7 April 2021.}
- For best results, use white distilled vinegar. Apple cider vinegar may stain clothes.
- You can use either hot or cold water. Both work well when washing with vinegar.
- It may take several washes for the smell to disappear.
2
Wash your delicate clothing by hand using Castile soap. Simply pour 3-5 drops of the Castile soap onto the smelly area, and rinse it out with warm water. If you’d like, you can gently scrub the spot with a soft-bristled brush, though this is not required.
- This is a great idea for bras or undershirts that may still smell like perfume.
- If you want to conserve water, wash your clothing in the shower.
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3
Use laundry booster to wash your clothes to get rid of stubborn smells. Laundry booster is a washing additive that helps remove bacteria and smells from clothing. You can use either store bought brands or organic homemade soaps, such as Borax or baking soda. This is a great idea if you have tried other methods and your clothes still smell like residual perfume. If you use laundry booster in your wash, it can get rid of the stubborn perfume odor.^{[4]
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- If using a store bought variety, mix ¹⁄₂ c (120 mL) with your detergent, and wash your clothes in warm water.
- Read the list of suggested fabric on your laundry booster before you use it to wash delicate clothing. Most can be used on delicates, cottons, polyester, and wool.
- Do not use laundry booster to wash your leather clothing.
4
Try using a scented laundry detergent to mask the smell. While this may not remove the smell, it may make the perfume smell less noticeable. Use a scented detergent like lavender or a tropical blend to mask the smell. Check the garment tag of your individual items to determine the best water temperature and amount of detergent.^{[5]
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- If you are washing a small load of laundry, use half of a cap full of detergent.
- Many detergents are scented with plant-based aromas that work well to cover up the smell.
- If you are sensitive to chemicals, this may not be the best suggestion for you.^{[6]
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  Susan Stocker
  Professional Cleaner
  
  Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
- If an item is hand-wash only, do not put it in the washing machine. Instead, wash your garment by hand using 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 mL) of scented detergent.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Household Items

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1
Hang your clothing outside for several hours to air it out. Fresh air is a great way to get rid of smells trapped in your clothes. Pick a breezy spot outside in bright sunlight, and hang your clothing from a clothing line if possible. Leave your garment outside for 12 or more hours for best results.
- If you don’t have a clothing line, drape your garment over an outdoor banister. You can also place it on a hanger and hang it from a deck or fence.
- In addition, if you place your clothing near leafy, green plants, they may help absorb some of the chemicals.
2
Apply a paste of baking soda and water to clean particular spots. Baking soda works well to remove smells from particular spots on your clothing. Mix about 2 tbsp (29.6 g) of baking soda with a few drops of water until you have a smooth paste. Apply the paste to any smelly spot using a spoon, and let the baking soda dry completely for about 5 minutes. Then, remove away the baking soda with a stiff brush.^{[7]
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- Alternatively, put your garment in a plastic garbage bag, and pour in half a cup (118.3 g) of baking soda. Then, shake the bag thoroughly and let the garment sit for 10 minutes. Take your garment out of the bag and shake off any baking soda.
3
Scrub the smelly spot with diluted lemon juice if cleaning light clothing. Mix equal parts of lemon juice and water in a spray bottle, and apply it to your clothing. Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the areas, and hang your garment to dry. Then, check the smell. If the smell is gone, rinse out the lemon juice.
- If the garment still smells like perfume, try applying more lemon juice.
- Avoid this method if your clothing is brightly colored. The lemon juice may lighten the overall color of your garment.
4
Place the item inside a bag with coffee to remove the overall smell. Coffee grounds are known to absorb unpleasant odors. To use, place your garment inside of a large brown paper bag, and pour in about 1 cup (236.6 g) of ground up coffee beans. Let the garment sit in the bag overnight. Then, take it out of the bag and shake off the ground.
- Your clothing may smell perfume-free after you take it out of the bag.
5
Spray diluted vodka on your clothing to remove the overpowering odor. Use a bottle of inexpensive, high-proof vodka. Pour the vodka into a spray bottle so it is about two thirds of the way full, and fill up the rest with water from your faucet. Then, spray the mixture liberally over any smelly spot. Let the vodka sit on your garment for 5-10 minutes, then rinse it with cool water.
- Vodka may effectively kill bacteria and remove the perfume smell.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Nothing seems to be working to get the smell out. What else can I do?

Rani Gorgis
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
Rani Gorgis is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Owner of Park Blvd Laundry & Dry Cleaners in San Diego, California. With several years of experience in the laundry and cleaning industry, Rani specializes in dry cleaning, wash-n-fold, shirt laundry, and servicing smoke-damaged clothes. He holds a BS in Accounting and a CPA certification.

Rani Gorgis

Laundry & Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

You can submerge clothes in a pre-soak of warm water and baking soda overnight for stubborn odors. Then, wash them using unscented laundry detergent the following day.

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Does washing soda remove odors?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

Washing soda, or sodium carbonate, is great for breaking up set-in stains and dirt. It can also help get rid of stubborn odors. While it’s not exactly the same thing as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), both of these compounds can be effective odor busters.

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How do you get the smell of Downy out of clothes?

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Try running them through the wash with a scent-free detergent and half a cup of baking soda. It may also help to soak them in water mixed with a little lemon juice or vinegar before putting them in the wash.

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Things You’ll Need

Washing Your Clothing

Castile soap
Water
Washing machine
Laundry detergent
Laundry booster
Vinegar

Using Household Items

Fresh air
Baking soda
Water
Lemon juice
Coffee grounds
Brown paper bag
Vodka
Spray bottle
Soft-bristled brush

Tips

Synthetic materials tend to hold onto perfume smells more than natural fibers like cotton or wool.

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Warnings

If your item is dry-clean only, it is best to take it to a professional cleaner. That way, you do not damage your garment.

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