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Q&A
By Gena Bloemendaal
I inherited a large fabric collection that has been stored since the '70s. No matter how much I wash it, I can't get out the musty smell. Any suggestions?
Helen H.,
e-mail
A musty odor is a tell-tale sign that the fabric contains mildew or mold spores. The fabric was likely stored in a location that had restricted air movement (trunk, box or cabinet) and was subjected to heat and humidity. Airing out fabric in the sun will help freshen it, but won't necessarily remove the musty odor.
Try laundering the fabric on a cycle suited for the fabric type. Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. It's known to remove odors, and will be diluted enough that your fabric won't smell like vinegar when washed.
Another remedy is to dilute two teaspoons of tea tree oil (available at a natural foods/organic grocery store) with two cups of water. Then hang the fabric or spread it out flat, and spritz the fabric with the solution. Test a small fabric area for colorfastness. Tea tree oil is known to kill germs, fungus and bacteria. The only drawback is that it has a distinct smell. However, you're diluting the oil, so the smell won't be as strong as its concentrated form.
Quilters often work with vintage textiles and use different products to clean or freshen fabric. Try handwashing smaller fabric pieces with Orvis quilt soap. Hang larger pieces over a clothes-drying rack or outside and spray with Quiltfresh, which claims to remove odors from fabric. Mountain Mist Ensure is another product designed for textile care and preservation. Follow the manufacturer's directions for any of the suggested products. It's always a good idea to test a product on a fabric sample to see how the fabric reacts.
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