Guy Fawkes Night is tonight (November 5), and people will gather across the UK in parks, fields and gardens to enjoy colourful fireworks and feel the warmth from bonfires. But the smell of the evening can last on your clothes for a long time.
Bonfire Night, whilst entertaining can leave your clothes stinking of smoke and regular washing may not always be enough to get rid of these peaty odours.
Fortunately, a cleaning specialist has some advice on how to ensure your clothes come out ‘better than ever’.
Katy Roberts, a washing machine expert at AO.com has provided some top tips to tackling smokey clothes. She said the best way to begin is by pre-treating your clothing with baking soda before putting them into the washing machine.
She explained: “Douse the lot with baking soda as this agent is excellent at absorbing odours like smoke. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda directly onto your clothes and pay special attention to areas that absorb the most smoke, like armpits or sleeves.”
If you do not have the time to do this she adds: “Place your clothes into a plastic bag with baking soda and shake this about as the motion will help the mix work its way into the fabric. Leave this for around half an hour then pop your clothes into your washing machine.”
Once the clothes are in the washing machine you need to use the right settings Katy recommends to use a hot water cycle as it breaks down the oils on the clothing from the smoke particles. As well as remembering to check the care labels on your clothes, only selecting the hottest cycle your fabric can handle.
“You can also get ahead by using an extended wash cycle as this will help your washing machine penetrate through the fabric and remove the smoke odour. The extra time you give your clothes can work wonders and will reduce the chance you’ll need to run back-to-back washes.” Katy says.
The issue with Bonfire Night being in November is that its too late in the year to leave your clothes outside to dry after they’ve been in the washing machine. Katy explains that fresh air and sunlight naturally ‘eliminate odours’ and ‘enhance’ the freshness of your clothes.
Instead she recommends using the tumble dryer, with a dryer ball ‘with a few drops of essential oils’ inside to get your clothes ‘an extra kick of freshness’.
If this doesn’t work then Katy suggests: “If your clothes still stink of smoke after the initial wash, try soaking them in water along with baking soda and leave them overnight. The extra soak in baking soda will allow the agent to get stuck into the fabric and tackle even the most stubborn of smells.”
Additionally Katy reminds Brits to remove their clothes from the washing machine as soon as the wash is complete.
“Leaving your clothes there allows moisture and lingering odours, like smoke, to set in quickly. Be mindful to remove your clothes as soon as the cycle’s complete to avoid this from happening.”
Washing machine expert Katy also advises people to not use lot of detergent to wash their smokey clothes as excess detergent not only wastes money but “clings to smoke particles and ends up making them smell worse”.
She therefore recommends: “Stick to the recommended amount on the labels and remove this worry.”
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