My toddler's bathing suit was left wet in a plastic bag after swim class a few too many times. She's outgrown it and I wanted to pack it up for the baby. I've washed it twice now and hung dry and it still smells kind of yucky. Is there any hope for it or should I just call it done and toss it? I don't want to box it up and make everything smell bad! It's definitely my fault for forgetting it in the bag overnight several times.
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Can you rewash it and dry it outside in direct sunlight? I've found that that can really help with odors.
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@lamariniere: not in our condo, really. I could lay it in front of the window maybe. Or just hang on to it for a month until we move and have outdoor space, which may be what I do.
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Vinegar maybe?
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@Foodnerd81: we're also in an apartment with no outdoor space. I've totally just put things either right next to the window on a drying rack or even on the window sill for something like shoes.
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Mildewy smelling towels have been instantly revived by doing one wash with white vinegar, wash again with baking soda, then lastly in your normal detergent. It's 3 cycles but it works! Could maybe work for you!
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/a-simple-fix-for-smelly-towels.html
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@SweetiePie: I will try that- but just hand wash since it's just one thing.
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@Foodnerd81: yeah maybe you can handwash and just soak for a bit.
Or, it's also good to do that with your towels every once in a while regardless. It helps strip a lot of buildup that towels get (skin cells, detergent, etc). Since discovering it with my stinky towels, I do it every 6 months. So you could just do a load of towels and throw the suit in with it. Just a thought
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What about bit of color-safe bleach in very hot water in the machine? You can set for a small load so you don't waste water. I do this for washcloths/dish towels that get stinky, and it seems to work.
Failing that, maybe even douse it in Febreeze before washing it?
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We have a sanitize cycle on our washing machine that we use when our towels get stinky. I'd give that a try if you have that option.
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We do the vinegar/baking soda trick, too.
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Second the vinegar idea! I wash my towels in hot vinegar water every few months and it totally revives them.
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be careful with vinegar. It may destroy the bathing suit fabric. You need to get OxiClean with enzymes. That + borax + detergent. Soak in hot water until the water turns cool. Wash as normal. If you do this with towels, it will also strip it of all the gunk in towels.
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When we have musty/sour-smelling towels or clothes I do a hot wash with a full amount of detergent (I use Persil) and quite a bit of Oxiclean (close to a full scoop). It always does the trick.
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@aegie: well if I can't get the smell out I will throw the bathing suit out anyway (I bought it on the classifieds and my LO has been wearing it for over a year, so it's gotten plenty of wear!). So I'm not terribly concerned if the vinegar ruins it. But I have some regular oxiclean around anyway so I could try that first.
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I just put out in direct sunlight. Could you put it on the roof of your car at home or work or something?
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