I must save this musty wool coat!

September 30, 2023 7:35 AM

Hi! I got a great, unworn wool/polyester blend peacoat from Poshmark, in a gorgeous plum color! Yay! But... while it is unworn, it has clearly been stored in a storage unit or basement or something, and it smells very musty. Not moldy, and there are no stains or anything -- just a noticeable smell. The nearest dry cleaner to me is out of my way -- any at-home tips for de-0stinking it? Preferably without leaving it strongly scented with perfumes or anything?
posted by maryellenreads to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (17 answers total)

The best first step would probably be to hang it up outside for awhile, preferably in the sun.
posted by mai at 7:37 AM on September 30, 2023 [10 favorites]

Hang outside. Use Febreeze. I store wool with cedar blocks to discourage moths, and the smell is pleasant and goes away quickly.

Some people spray with vodka; the alcohol kills any mildew and leaves no scent; haven't tried this.
posted by theora55 at 7:46 AM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]

Hang outside to air out. Hopefully if you have sunshine and warmth left, the sun and temp will kill the moldy smell. Second choice is to spray with cheapest vodka you can find. It will dissipate without leaving a scent. Third choice, if you are feeling brave, gently dunk your coat in cool water and detergent of choice and hang dry in a very dry place, aiming a fan if needed.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 8:07 AM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]

Oh yes I'm also here to vote for the miracle of direct sunlight.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:12 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

Maybe try the dry cleaning pads you can use in your dryer? I have used them to defunk my dry clean only clothes pretty successfully but it’s been a few years since a wool coat.
posted by Tandem Affinity at 9:15 AM on September 30, 2023

If you go the direct sunlight route then turn it inside out, at least part of the time, so the color doesn't fade.
posted by trig at 9:18 AM on September 30, 2023 [4 favorites]

In addition to the suggestions above, stuff newspaper (or kraft paper if you're worried about the newspaper ink) into the sleeves. Or you can air the coat out inside out.
posted by jraz at 9:20 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

Yay wool coat - score!

If you have lavender and like it, stuff a few bundles or branches in the sleeves when you're hanging it out in the sun. I don't find the smell sticks around but seems to be helpful, and at least holds the sleeves open for air flow.

Beat the shit out of it with a stick (think rug beater) to get it to exhale all it's dust and most benefit from sunlight and breeze.

Freeze it for several days if you have room.

If all else fails, febreze (like you, I loathe it's fake smell). I've had mixed luck. Then hang it outside for a LOT longer!
posted by esoteric things at 9:55 AM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]

I would take a cue from the many burlesque dancers I've known, who often can't wash their costumes in any conventional way. Put vodka in a spray bottle and lightly spray your coat down, then leave in sunlight. It doesn't leave any smell (unlike Febreze, which I personally cannot abide) and eliminates smells.
posted by Molasses808 at 12:03 PM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

A garment steamer is nice thing to freshen up musty clothes.
posted by hortense at 1:42 PM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]

You can also try putting it in a sealed container (like a large Rubbermaid tub) with coffee beans. I have successfully de-stinkified absolutely horrendously smelly soccer shoes by filling them with coffee beans and letting them sit for a few days. The coffee smell didn’t cover up the stink; it actually got rid of it to the point where I was able to put my nose right in the shoe to make certain.

(Beans instead of grounds, just because it’s tidier. Though you could try filling nylon stockings with dry coffee grounds to contain the mess, then sealing the coat in with a number of filled nylon stockings.)
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:25 PM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]

My son bought some sort of surplus Russian military uniform from the '80s which was a bit musty. The thing that helped the most was enclosing it in a large tupperware type storage container with an ozone generator. I can't remember the details, but I think I ran the generator for 5min and then shut it off, left the garment in the sealed container overnight. It's not perfect now, but it made a big, big difference. Good luck!
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 2:49 PM on September 30, 2023

I like Febreze's "scent-free fabric spray." I'm somewhat sensitive to scented things and do okay with this one. Nthing "spray with vodka" as a method to stop growing things, too.
posted by girlstyle at 3:36 PM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

The polyester will hold on to the smell more than the wool. Is the lining 100% polyester? If so definitely hang it in the sun inside out. Spraying with a white vinegar/water solution is another alternative to vodka.
posted by doift at 4:33 PM on September 30, 2023

I have been trying many ways to de-stink clothes from Poshmark/Mercari/etc over the past several years - I have tried everything mentioned here except for coffee beans!

Right now I am doing a thing where I buy these charcoal beanbag things and put 1-2 garments in a rubbermaid type box with them (after "charging" them in the sun per directions) and then try to forget they are there for a few weeks. It seems to be working, albeit slowly :-)
posted by 41swans at 5:20 PM on September 30, 2023

I also came in to mention scent-free febreeze! I found out about it on a podcast history of how the original formula was invented, was highly effective, but sold horribly because it smells like nothing and produces absence-of-smell. I have always been skeptical about febreeze actually de-stinking versus just leaving scent behind, but the fragrance free stuff absolutely works great.

(I can only ever find it online, I guess because of its aforementioned poor retail performance)
posted by heyforfour at 11:52 AM on October 1, 2023

I second inside out in sunlight and fresh air, and also coffee beans or grounds (I use spent espresso pucks) for deodorizing. Do the first if possible, then shut in a plastic bin with coffee. Replace coffee occasionally until the musty smell is gone.
posted by oneirodynia at 9:38 PM on October 2, 2023