How To Get Perfume Smell Out Of Clothes

It is very common for people to start using perfumes and colognes. However, some of them are strong enough that they smell up your entire house.

When you come home from a date or party at night, the last thing you want is to be greeted by a room full of perfume smells. This can be pretty annoying, especially when it comes to contact with your clothes and hair, making you feel uncomfortable all day long.

So, how do you remove excessive perfume odors? This article tells you how.

What You'll Need

Distilled white vinegar
Washing machine
Unscented heavy-duty laundry detergent
Baking soda
Water
Sealable container
Soaking basin
Clothesline

Wash Your Clothes

The first thing you need to do is wash your clothes. Make sure you use a detergent that doesn't have any fragrance or odor. You can make your own laundry detergent for this. Wash the clothes using only distilled white vinegar in place of fabric softener. After washing, dry them outdoors or in a well-ventilated area if it's sunny outside because sunlight will help remove scents.

If you're washing delicate clothes, then use your hands together with castile soap or unscented heavy-duty laundry detergent to wash those clothes. Pour 3-5 drops of castile soap into your smelly spot, and then rub the clothes in a delicate motion with your hands.

After that, soak them overnight in unscented vinegar and then wash as usual with warm water. If it's raining outside, you may dry your clothes indoors by hanging them on a clothesline.

However, make sure to leave the smelly clothes at least 10 feet away from fresh laundry or anything that's been washed with perfumed shampoo and fabric softener. Also, make sure to spread the smelly items around, so they have plenty of room to dry.

Use Laundry Booster to Wash Away Stubborn Smell

A laundry booster is a washing additive that can help you get rid of the stubborn odor. A laundry booster effectively removes the excessive perfume smell because it helps clean your clothes with its powerful formula but doesn't leave any additional scent behind on them.

With laundry booster, you can use store-bought brands or organic homemade soaps like baking soda, borax, and white vinegar. Just add them to your laundry as you normally would. This is the best option when you've other methods, but your garment still smells of excessive perfume.

Before using it on delicate clothing, ensure you read the label and choose the right one. You can also use baking soda. Baking soda is a common ingredient used in many home remedies to get rid of excessive odors from clothes. All you have to do is create a thick paste with some water and apply it to your garment. Allow it to dry completely before washing as usual.

Air Dry the Smelly Clothes

Air drying clothes is a good way to get rid of excessive perfume smell from laundry. This method helps airflow better in your washer and dryer as well as the clothes themselves, so it's a win-win situation.

If you don't have the time to air dry them, at least make sure they are completely dry before putting them in your closet or storage space. Excess moisture will encourage mold and mildew growth, which means more odors will develop faster.

Air Dry the Smelly Clothes — Image caption: https://www.croppmetcalfe.com/

Hang Your Clothes Outside

If your clothes contain powerful perfume, try to leave them to sit outside overnight to get rid of the smells. The fresh air will not only deodorize them, but it will also kill any bacteria and mold that has developed on them, giving you a safe environment to store your clothes in! The only drawback is that you can't control the weather, so there will be times when your laundry isn't dry yet. The night wind and the sunlight will wash away any lingering perfume odors on your laundry.

Mask Out the Smell with Scented Laundry Detergent

Even though it may not get rid of the smell entirely, using a scented laundry detergent will mask the perfumed scent just enough to provide you with comfort. You need to use a high-quality

The product has been formulated for strong odors. This natural detergent is specially designed for people who have pets and babies in their homes, so they know what it takes to clean tough stains.

You can use scented detergents such as lavender and tropical blend in your washing machine. If you only have the budget to buy one laundry detergent, choose a scented detergent instead of an unscented product since the perfume will mask the odors in your laundry. Don't forget to clean your washer afterward.

The scent will wear off when it dries, so they recommend using scented products for humid months and during the winter when people are inside with the windows closed. This is when they have their most difficult time getting rid of strong odors.

Clean Particular Areas with a Paste of Baking Soda and Water

A paste made of baking soda and water is highly effective in removing stains and offers a pleasant scent. Just sprinkle some baking soda on the stain and use a damp cloth to rub it gently. If you find that the smell is still too strong for your liking, add a few drops of lavender essential oil before rubbing the area with your cloth.

Alternatively, you can put your fabric in a plastic bag then pour half a cup of baking soda. Shake it well, then remove your fabric, and you should find that the smell is much more bearable. Baking soda and water are household items that can help you get rid of the perfume smell within no time.

Scrub the Smelly Spot with Diluted Lemon Juice

If you have a dress that smells of excess perfume, sprinkles the spot with some lemon juice and use a toothbrush to scrub it gently. You should find that the smell is much more bearable after only a few seconds. Use a spray bottle to mix lemon juice and water, then apply it in your light clothing.

Scrub the areas using a soft bristle brush, and then hang your garment outside to dry. Check if the smell is gone, and then rinse with lemon juice and water if it isn't. Repeat the process but use a clean toothbrush for this round to not transfer any odors back on your clothes.

Place Your Item Inside a Bag with Coffee Beans

Coffee grounds are great at absorbing odors of all types. They've also worked well for people learning how to get rid of paint smell . You can place them inside your clothing to absorb the perfume smell and then ventilate it for a few minutes. The scent might be

slightly altered, but it will be much more tolerable than before when you take the garment out again. Make sure you place your garment inside a large brown bag and pour one cup of coffee beans inside. Tie the bag tightly and let it sit in the bag overnight before removing it and allowing it to air dry.

Removing Perfume Smells from Dry Clean Only Clothes

If you've followed the care label for your garment and dry cleaned it only to find that later on, you want to wear it but can't stand the heavy perfume smell, there are a few things you might be able to do.

Take the item outside to get some fresh air. If possible, place the garment in direct sunlight for a few hours so it can air dry. Once you remove it from wherever you've taken it to try and air out the smell, put cedar chips inside of an old sock and tie it with a knot. Grab some baking soda and let it do the magic. Baking soda helps a lot in reducing excessive odor.

If you have a wardrobe and want it to smell fresh, sprinkle baking soda along the bottom and let it settle for 24 to 48 hours. Baking soda will absorb the odors naturally. But if you're in a hurry, sprinkle some baking soda in your plastic bag, then throw your clothes in the bag and allow it to sit for ten minutes. Brush the solution off then you're good to go.

Remove the Overpowering Odor by Using Diluted Vodka

At some point, you may not need to dilute, especially if it's the cheap vodka. All you have to do is pour it into the spray bottle, then spray down your stinky areas. But first, check in the inconspicuous areas so that it doesn't affect the color of your garment. Allow it to air dry, then enjoy smell-free cloth.

FAQs on How to Remove Excessive Perfume Odors

How do you remove the smell of too much perfume?

Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and dab it onto your underarm area. Allow the alcohol to sit for a couple of minutes, then thoroughly wipe it with a wet cloth. This will instantly reduce the fragrance.

How do you get rid of strong perfume odors on clothes?

Spray the stained area with a glass cleaner. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe down with a wet towel. Make sure that you don't let the blower dry up your garment, or else the scent might be worse than before.

Can Febreze remove the perfume smell?

This fabric refresher comes in both scented and unscented options, but the latter is best for removing perfume odors. The scent should be fine enough to cover any remaining smell of the

perfume. If you still notice that someone's clothes or body have a lingering trace of too much fragrance, then they should consider using unscented deodorant and shampoo.

Final Thought on How to Remove Excessive Perfume Odors

As you know, perfumes are great for making you smell beautiful, but too much of it can be bad for your health and those with you. The best solution to removing the perfume odors is through natural methods such as vinegar, baking soda, or Febreze, plus other deodorizing sprays.