Smelly dressing gown .....

northern_star

I have a heavy towelling dressing gown that i've had for years. Recently my OH has taken to light-heartedly calling it the "smelly dressing gown" as he says it has a distinctive 'whiff' that it never had before. I can't detect it but then my sense of smell isn't brilliant . He says it smells like vaguely like when washing has been left damp :eek: and, even after several washes he claims he can still smell it. I was beginning to think he was winding me up :rolleyes: until a friend mentioned she was having to replace her towelling dressing gown as it had gone "stinky". Has anyone else had this happen? Or can anyone recommend something I could do to freshen it up? I really don't want to have to replace it as its got loads of wear left and we're trying to 'make-do-and-mend' generally.

Blackpool_Saver

If u mean the musty like smell i find a good wash and the fabric conditioner helps....

kayharcombe

Have you tried putting it on a hot wash, if theres some sort of musty smell to it, and add something like biotex to boost powder, and of course lots of fabric conditioner, would check if it is cotton and it its suitable for hot washing before, you wouldnt want it small enough to fit the cat!

before next time i wash it, i would hang it outside for a few hours to allow lots of fresh air to circulate, i open my doors and windows for an hour sometimes to keep air moving through the house, or if DP has been smoking inside.

Hope you can sort it out, its a shame when you have things that need replacing that you love, especially when cash is tight

Kay

Paulie'sGirl

Have you tried a boil wash (if its 100% cotton it should be fine)?

I had a stinky swimming towel scenario, I soaked it in cheap biological washing powder overnight, and then gave it a boil wash with a good biological (but I'm sure cheap would be just as effective).

A final few tricks would be vinegar in the rinse cycle and then a good blow outside (not a tumble dry or clothes horse)

Hope you have some joy!!!

PGxx

nesssie1702

Even if you wash it on a 60ºC wash then that should make a difference? Don't add too much fabric conditioner though, as that can make towelling feel slimey sometimes.

If you can, try and dry it outside like PG suggests

Hope you get it sweet smelling again!

Hawthorn

You could also add soda crystals. They are great for removing smells. Even works on my hubs socks LOL.

Kavanne

It could be old and nasty? Sorry, not sure how long 'years' is?!!

Primark are doing blokes towel dressing gowns for just under £13, sure they do similar for ladies, if you NEED a new one....

babyblooz

I have a favourite dressing gown, especially for winter cos its heavy towelling and sooo lovely and warm, but when I wash it it does take a long time to dry properly, so maybe it is a bit musty because it is difficult to dry properly.

I don't think it should be because the actual fabric is rotting or anything like that. Maybe it has got a bit sweaty under the arms , that sort of thing. Soaking it in a solution of soda crystals should do the trick. I get very attached to my old dressing gowns, and although they are not always fit for public viewing, they are lovely and snuggly, a bit like a security blanket.

I have two very nice posh ones, and they are lovely and fluffy, but still not as warm as my old reliable friendly one.

maypole

Have you been using fabric conditioner on it when washing it? I have heard that prolonged use of Fabric conditioner eventually makes things smell, some say like cats pee:eek:. Just a thought.

LameWolf

maypole wrote: »

Have you been using fabric conditioner on it when washing it? I have heard that prolonged use of Fabric conditioner eventually makes things smell, some say like cats pee:eek:. Just a thought.

That's interesting - I don't use fabric conditioner because it brings me up in a rash, and we don't seem to have this problem with either of our ancient towelling dressing gowns.

maypole

LameWolf wrote: »

That's interesting - I don't use fabric conditioner because it brings me up in a rash, and we don't seem to have this problem with either of our ancient towelling dressing gowns.

After I'd heard this, I stopped using it, I add a few drops of white vinegar in the final rinse now.