Washable clothes that smell like smoke need a wash with baking soda or white vinegar, sometimes several, and no trip through the dryer until the smell is gone. Pieces you can’t wash go to a dry cleaner. After a house fire, photograph everything before you clean it, because your insurance may cover the cleaning.
Key Takeaways:
- Add one cup of white vinegar or one to two cups of baking soda to a regular wash.
- Repeat the wash if the smell lingers, and skip the dryer between washes.
- Leave fabric softener out until the smoke odor is completely gone.
- After a home fire, document the damage and call your insurer before you clean or throw anything away.
Why smoke smell sticks to clothes
A cleaning pro quoted in Homes & Gardens’ smoke smell guide explains that smoke leaves a sticky residue of tar, ash, and oil that attaches to fabric almost immediately. How long the smell lasts depends on how saturated the fabric is. A sweater worn by a campfire for an hour is a lighter job than a jacket worn in a smoker’s car for months.
How to get smoke smell out of clothes in the washing machine
For stubborn smoke odors, the University of Georgia Extension’s smoke and soot guide lays out a wash routine. Read the care label first, and leave out any product it warns against.
- Wash a small load so the fabrics have room to move.
- Use a liquid laundry detergent, or one made to remove odors.
- Add one cup of white vinegar or one to two cups of baking soda to the wash cycle, as Homes & Gardens suggests.
- Use hot water if the fabric can take it, or the warmest setting the care label allows.
- Sniff the clothes when the cycle ends. If they still smell, wash again. UGA says it can take three to five washes.
- Don’t machine dry between washes. If a piece has to dry, air dry it.
- Skip fabric softener and dryer sheets until the smoke odor is gone.
Once the smell is out, dry the clothes outdoors in the sun if you can. Homes & Gardens notes that UV light helps remove odors.
Soaks for a strong smell
When one wash barely touches the odor, soak the clothes before the next one. Homes & Gardens gives two ratios:
- One cup of baking soda per gallon of water, with a 30 minute to one hour soak.
- Four parts water to one part white vinegar, with a 15 to 30 minute soak.
Wash as usual after either soak, and test vinegar on a hidden spot of dark or delicate fabric before you start.
Airing out smoky clothes without washing
Maybe you’re searching for how to get campfire smell out of clothes before the drive home, or you need a jacket by tonight. These steps from Homes & Gardens buy you time:
- Hang the clothes outside in a sunny breeze, or overnight. Airing alone can take anywhere from two hours to two weeks, depending on how much smoke the fabric absorbed.
- Mist the fabric with a mix of vinegar and water from a spray bottle, then let it air dry.
- Use an odor eliminating spray made with activated charcoal, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide between washes.
- Steam the garment and then air it out, which Homes & Gardens lists for clothes that can’t be washed.
Clothes worn for months in a smoker’s home or car need more work. If you’re working out how to get cigarette smoke smell out of clothes like these, Homes & Gardens recommends a more active approach than airing. Go back to the wash and soak steps above.
Clothes you can’t wash at home
Anything labeled dry clean only belongs with a professional. The UGA guide points to dry cleaners that offer a deodorizing service, such as ozone treatment, so ask your cleaner what they use to remove smoke.
If you’re weighing which pieces can safely go in the washer, our guide to dry cleaning vs washing explains how each process treats fabric. For spots on a dry-clean-only piece, our post on stains in dry clean only clothing covers what’s safe to try at home.
Smoke smell after a house fire
Smoke from a fire in or near your home is a different situation. Standard homeowner and renter policies typically cover sudden, accidental smoke damage, including from a neighbor’s fire or a wildfire, according to the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Personal property coverage pays to clean, repair, or replace damaged belongings like clothing.
Its steps for a smoother claim:
- Take photos and videos before you clean anything, and note smoke odors, soot, and staining.
- Don’t throw anything away until an adjuster has inspected it.
- Contact your insurer as soon as it’s safe, and request a full smoke damage inspection.
- Ask the adjuster which items need cleaning and which need replacing.
- If odor or residue appears after the inspection, request a reinspection.
How OrangeBag can help
Machine-washable clothes can go in your OrangeBag wash and fold bag at $2.65 per pound, and they come back in 24 to 48 hours. Note the smoke smell in your order so the team knows what they’re working with.
Dry cleaning is priced by the piece: a sweater or blazer is $13.75, and a wool coat is $29.95. See how much dry cleaning costs for a wider look at pricing. Dry cleaning isn’t available in San Fernando Valley, Glendale, or Silver Lake right now. Check our Los Angeles laundry pickup page for the full service area.
Smoke smell FAQ
How many washes does it take to get smoke smell out of clothes?
It depends on how much smoke the fabric took in. Start with one wash and a cup of vinegar or baking soda, then check. For stubborn smoke odor, the UGA Extension says to repeat the wash three to five times, without drying in between. Leave out fabric softener until the smell is gone.
Will vinegar get smoke smell out of clothes?
White vinegar helps in many cases, as long as the care label allows it. Homes & Gardens suggests one cup in the washer, or a soak of four parts water to one part vinegar for 15 to 30 minutes. For a stubborn smell, add a cup of vinegar to the rinse and wash the clothes a second time.
Can dry cleaners get smoke smell out of clothes?
UGA lists a dry cleaner as an option for smoky clothes, and it’s the route for dry-clean-only pieces. Look for a cleaner that offers a deodorizing service such as ozone, and ask before you drop off. After a house fire, photograph the clothes and talk to your insurer first, since cleaning may be covered.
Ready to clear the air?
Bag up the smoky clothes with the rest of your laundry and leave them at the door. We’ll pick them up and bring them back washed and folded in 24 to 48 hours.
