Getting Smoke Smell Out of Kids' Belongings: Tips & Tricks

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Discussion Overview

This thread explores various methods participants have used to remove smoke odors from children's belongings, particularly stuffed animals and toys. Participants share personal experiences and suggestions for tackling the unpleasant smell of smoke that has transferred to items after visiting a smoking household.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions the challenge of removing smoke smell from non-washable stuffed animals and seeks advice.
  • Several participants suggest using Febreeze as a solution, with one noting its effectiveness on other odors.
  • Another participant shares their experience of using ammonia in a bowl to absorb odors from items placed in a bag.
  • One user recommends hanging items outside to air out, while another mentions using coffee grounds in a box with the stuffed animals.
  • One participant describes using crumpled newspaper in a sealed bag to eliminate odors over time.
  • Another participant suggests using dryer sheets in a bag to freshen items, noting their effectiveness in cars as well.
  • One participant shares their experience with Odorban for a heavily smoked recliner, emphasizing the need for multiple treatments.
  • Several users mention using charcoal or banana peels in bags as alternative methods for odor absorption.
  • One participant discusses using white vinegar in laundry to combat various odors, including smoke.
  • Another participant shares their experience washing Cabbage Patch dolls in a washing machine without issues.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of methods for addressing smoke odors, but there is no clear consensus on a single best approach. Many agree on the effectiveness of Febreeze and airing out items, while others share different techniques that have worked for them.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and methods based on their own situations, with some discussing the broader impact of smoke odors on their families and environments.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to parents or caregivers dealing with smoke odors on children's belongings, particularly those seeking alternative cleaning methods.

S
sillylittlechef
Messages
492
I need help. My children went to stay at my in laws and although they didn't smoke in the house while my children were there, their house reaks!!!! Now....my childrens clothes, coats, backpacks, toys everything stinks horribly. I can wash most things in the washer, but can anyone help me with how to get the smell out of stuffies that aren't machine washable. They have 2 extra large stuffies that are not machine washable. Also cabbage patch dolls? anyone know how to wash them? UGH!!!!!!
If they (my inlaws) want to stink--great, fine with me. but it's just so disgusting to smell it on a little kid. (sorry if I offend anyone, I don't intend to, I just personally dislike the smell of stale smoke)
 
Hanging things out on the clothesline overnight works good... I spray with Febreeze or something similar as well... that smell is a tough one... my mom used to use Ammonia in an old mayo lid... put the stuffies in a box or huge bag and carefully set the open lid or little bowl in the box or bag for several hours. I got the "old musty" smell out of a great antique cabinet doing that. Just some ideas... hope something works.
 
How about Febreeze? I've used that to get rid of the smell of vomit off my papasan cushion (can't really throw THAT in the washing machine!) Worked great! The other thing I like to do is to shake it out outside and leave it out in the sun for an afternoon. That helps to air out bad smells...
 
Yep.....Febreeze works great!!
 
I hear coffee grounds work well to take odors out, too. Maybe put the stuffies in a box with a little baggie of coffee? I'm all about hanging stuff outside, too. When I was in college in frigid North Dakota, I used to shut my clothes in my window to air them out after a night on the town! It didn't work quite as well as a clothesline, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do!
 
Put them in a plastic bag (seal it with a twixt) with crumpled up newspaper. Change the newspaper every few days till the smell is gone.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #7
wow! That was fast....
I think I will try fabreeze for now and atleast cover the smell....the whole room they are in stinks now.
I had thought of sticking them outside, but it's quite gloomy outside today.
Thanks for the fast response.
 
Put them in a plastic bag with a couple of Bounce dryer sheets. Let them set for about a week or two. That should get them smelling fresh.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #9
The newspaper thing sounds interresting
 
Fabreeze works wonderful to get the smell out
 
Downey dryer sheets are great. I would put the items in a bag with the dryer sheet. I put them in my car also. It is just a clean smell.:D
 
I usually spray the stuff with Febreeze and sit in the garage. Also, you can always wash stuffed animals (assuming that's what a "stuffy" is) by putting them in a pillowcase and tying it up and washing on delicate.

Everyone in my family smokes except for me and my mom, and it's AWFUL! My DH and I hate going over there, but what can you do...avoid the family...don't think so. We just always let the stuff hang out in the garage for a while!
 
We bought a used recliner. It REEKED of cigarette smoke. The initial smell was too much for Febreeze. We used Odorban, which we purchased at Sam's Club. It took three or four treatments (spray and let evaporate). We set it outside in the fresh air to do that. Just be sure to spray every nook and cranny.
 
Another treatment that works is charcoal. Do the same thing with the plastic bag, but use charcoal. A banana peel works also. If you stick a banana peel in the bag with the stuffies and leave it until the peel is hard and black the peel will obsorb the smell. If it is really bad I would use 2 or 3 peels.

Hope you find something that helps. I cannot stand the cigarette smell either. They are finally trying to make it illegal for people to light up right outside of the door of buildings. I cannot wait for that! I hate walking outside and into a cloud of smoke. You have to hold your breath and run the gauntlet! YUCK YUCK!! They need to invent masks or something for smokers to wear so that the only people that will stink and have to smell that nastiness is THEM!!

Major Pet Peeve: People who throw their lit butts out of the car window! I hate that!! Those things bounce back up and get caught in the grill of the car behind them. Then guess what everyone in that car has to smell for the next 100 miles?!
 
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Actually white vinegar in the load about 1/4-1/2 cup will take care of most odors. Especially urine (learned that as a trick while kids were potty training). I have used it to take out charcoal (grill smoke) among MANY, MANY other things...

If you get new clothes, it is also good to wash them in a little bit of vinegar the first time to set the colors so they don't bleed on other clothes in the future.
 
PamperedChef GURU said:
Put them in a plastic bag with a couple of Bounce dryer sheets. Let them set for about a week or two. That should get them smelling fresh.
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The kids or the stuffies??? LOL!!!!:D
 
I hate that too!!
Chef Kearns said:
Another treatment that works is charcoal. Do the same thing with the plastic bag, but use charcoal. A banana peel works also. If you stick a banana peel in the bag with the stuffies and leave it until the peel is hard and black the peel will obsorb the smell. If it is really bad I would use 2 or 3 peels.

Hope you find something that helps. I cannot stand the cigarette smell either. They are finally trying to make it illegal for people to light up right outside of the door of buildings. I cannot wait for that! I hate walking outside and into a cloud of smoke. You have to hold your breath and run the gauntlet! YUCK YUCK!! They need to invent masks or something for smokers to wear so that the only people that will stink and have to smell that nastiness is THEM!!

Major Pet Peeve: People who through their lit butts out of the car window! I hate that!! Those things bounce back up and get caught in the grill of the car behind them. Then guess what everyone in that car has to smell for the next 100 miles?!
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I hate the smell of cig smoke too. It's gross and makes me nauseous. I am pregnant and don't want to have to smell that. People light up anywhere with no thought to others around them. Second hand smoke is horrible and I am forced to smell it and inhale it as I walk by these people. I can only hold my breath so long while quickly walking by, without passing out!! LOL

We had a 45-55 minute wait at Olive Garden the weekend of Valentine's day and as my husband and I were waiting on the benches outside I had to ask a grandma to wait just a few minutes while I sat somewhere else before she lit it up. She was sitting right next to me on a bench and was about to light up but I said
"Oh excuse me but could you wait a few minutes while I go inside to sit down. I am pregnant and don't want to have to smell that. It's bad for me and my baby."
She said "Oh sorry sure go ahead." And waited for me and my husband to get inside. :p

Debbie :D
 
Ok, I guess I am a dork. What is a stuffie :confused:
 
I am thinking she means stuffed animals...

That's a cute name for them!
 
I wash my Cabbage Patch babies in the washer all the time and no problems. I don't dry them though, just let them air dry. Oust also works good too.
 
janetupnorth said:
Actually white vinegar in the load about 1/4-1/2 cup will take care of most odors. Especially urine (learned that as a trick while kids were potty training). I have used it to take out charcoal (grill smoke) among MANY, MANY other things...

If you get new clothes, it is also good to wash them in a little bit of vinegar the first time to set the colors so they don't bleed on other clothes in the future.
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vinegar will get rid of the smell of smoke, you can even just put a bowl in a room and it will get rid of the smell in the room.
 
chefkristin said:
The kids or the stuffies??? LOL!!!!:D
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I have visions of adorable little munchkins sitting in their own great big bags, surrounded by dryer sheets.

Just remember: plastic bags are not toys and should be kept out of the hands of children.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #23
I'm sorry--- Stuffies are my kids stuffed animals...sometimes, I forget to translate from baby talk!!!!
Thanks for all the great advice. I am going to throw the cabbage patch kids in pillowcases into the wash on delicate, and the stuffies are already sprayed with fabreeze and in bags with dryer sheets. I didn't have any charcoal or banana peels. SO, hoping for the best. Thanks everyone again.
 
bbauman07 said:
vinegar will get rid of the smell of smoke, you can even just put a bowl in a room and it will get rid of the smell in the room.
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Didn't know about that in a room too...wow...no smoke in my house, but I'll remember that!

I just keep the BIGGEST bottle available by my washer! :)
 
You can also sprinkle them with baking soda. I saw it on HGTV and it is supposd to actually "clean" them.
 
Chef Kearn said:
They are finally trying to make it illegal for people to light up right outside of the door of buildings. I cannot wait for that! I hate walking outside and into a cloud of smoke.
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They just made it so people can not smoke in restuarants here. Let me tell ya we had a very limited # of places we could go to.

What do you guys do when you go to a hostesses house when they smoke?? I have been doing this for 2 yrs now and I have yet to run into that problem.
 
You know what Jennie, I have only had that happen once. Usually if people smoke they don't smoke in their homes. Isn't that the weirdest thing?! I see them step out onto the patio and light up there. Like they know it stinks and they don't want their stuff stinking. I'm like just quit then!!

The one house where the lady smoked in her home was really really bad. She had 2 dogs and 3 cats. It smelled like she hadn't opened a wiindow in several decades! I walked down the hallway to the bathroom and had to step over feces. It was really gross. I know she is an extreme case. Her house would've smelled whether or not she smoked. That just added a layer of nauseum to the muck. I hurried up quickly and did that show. I didn't want to put my bags down on the floor or anything.
 
I have some stories...

I did one show and while I was in the kitchen prepping the food a mouse ran across the back of the counter! I screamed!! Most of the guests had already arrived and they all said, "What happened? Are you all right?" I tried to maintain or regain my composure. But you know what? I DID THE SHOW!!!

What's worse? That mouse climbed into my rolling showcase bag and made a home at my house for a few weeks until it died on the poison we left out!!! GROSS!!
 
Chef Kearns said:
I have some stories...

I did one show and while I was in the kitchen prepping the food a mouse ran across the back of the counter! I screamed!! Most of the guests had already arrived and they all said, "What happened? Are you all right?" I tried to maintain or regain my composure. But you know what? I DID THE SHOW!!!

What's worse? That mouse climbed into my rolling showcase bag and made a home at my house for a few weeks until it died on the poison we left out!!! GROSS!!
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I would have just died if I brought a mouse home. I have been pretty lucky not to have to go into a home that looks like that.
 
This is what it says on the very bottom of my Host packet cover sheet (the fine print, so to speak):

I am highly allergic to cigarette smoke. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your attention to this matter. If you or your guests must smoke while I am in your home, please let me know so I can make other arrangements.

I can be in a bar/restaurant and the smoke won't get to me but something about being "on" (performing) brings on a migrane.

Since I've put this on my flyers, I have not run into the situation. I don't even remember that it is there. . .and no one has mentioned it in a long time. I did have a host last week take my coat out from under her MIL's coat, she mentioned that the MIL was a heavy smoker and her coat would make mine reek. Later I realized that she must have read the fine print.
 
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