How to Remove Burnt Odors from Wool Garments

There are two reasons why wool items develop a “burned smell”: being washed in water that is too hot, or absorbing the odor of smoke from a campfire or smoking area. Acrylic is a common material for wool to be mixed with, but luckily, it can tolerate any cleaning methods that the wool can. Use one of the methods below to remove the smell. For a wool item that smells burned from a hot water wash, the washing method will be best.

You Will Need:

• Water
• White vinegar
• Sink or tub
• Towels

Steps to Remove the Smell:

1. Fill the sink or tub with cool or cold water.
2. Wash the sweater by hand as normal.
3. Rinse with plain water.
4. Combine one part vinegar with one part water.
5. Complete the final rinse using the vinegar and water mixture.
6. Gently squeeze the excess water out of the sweater.
7. Hang or lay the sweater flat on towels to dry.
8. Once dry, keep the sweater in an open area (do not put it in the closet just yet).
9. Let it air out for a few days to allow the vinegar smell to dissipate.

You Will Need:

• A deodorizer (choose one):
  • Baking soda
  • Plain charcoal briquettes
  • White vinegar
  • Coffee grounds
• A container (choose one):
  • A cooler
  • A box
  • A small cabinet

Steps to Remove the Odor:

1. Select a deodorizer from the list above and put it in a bowl. (If you decide to use coffee, be aware that although it will remove the smoke odor, it will leave a coffee odor in its place.)
2. Select a container from the list above or one similar.
3. Put the wool item in the container and spread it out as flat as possible.
4. Put the bowl of deodorizer in the container as well and close the container.
5. Leave the container shut for several hours or overnight.
6. Repeat the process as many times as needed to fully remove the smell. Use a fresh batch of deodorizer each time and rotate (flip over or turn inside-out) the wool item each time.

• Vinegar is a natural odor remover and is safe to use on almost every fabric type.
• Yes, your shirt will smell like vinegar after the Washing Away method, but don’t worry, it will go away in a few days.
• Since the vinegar smell may not be gone right away, make sure you complete this several days before you plan to wear the sweater.
• If you still can’t remove the odor, have the sweater professionally cleaned. They may have access to chemicals that will remove the smell.
• The vinegar rinse can be used after each washing to keep odors and smells away.