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If you buy used clothes, do you expect them to smell clean as well as be clean?

31 replies

amck5700 · 30/11/2012 11:36

I have been selling a lot of my sons' used clothes/jackets. They are all washed before sending but due to my husbands allegies, we don't use fabric softener and have unscented washing powder - hence the laundry smells of nothing unless i can get it out to dry, then it smells of "outside".

However, every used item i buy always smells strongly of fabric softner or washing powder - my nose is probably hyper sensitive to it though. It just got me wondering if people think my items aren't washed.

I have always had positive feedback, but have quite a few items where I have no feedback at all. I wondered whether i should incuded a note in the listing or in with the item to explain or whether that makes it sound like I am making up an excuse to cover up the fact the they weren't washed (which they were) iyswim.

OP posts:
dizzyday07 · 30/11/2012 12:33

I must be your twin! I too have a super-sensitive nose so everything has to be fragrance free. I can smell other people's laundry products through the bags/wrapping - and sometimes I have to wash what I have bought immediately as its started my nose and eyes streaming

I always state in my listings that any used clothes has been washed in non-bio wash powder and fragrance free conditioner. Nobody so far has complained that they didn't smell "washed"

stargirl1701 · 30/11/2012 12:38

I'm the same. I've bought quite a lot of baby clothes from eBay and the laundry soap smells soooo strong to me. It would be interesting to know the reverse.

BertieBotts · 30/11/2012 12:42

I buy used clothes, sometimes they smell of washing powder etc, sometimes of nothing other than the person's "house smell". Either is fine to me. I love it when they smell really strongly of washing stuff though, except one particular scent which reminds me of a child at primary school whose house I always felt really uneasy at - I have to rewash those Blush

As long as they don't smell of smoke or old socks you're probably fine, although I did buy a sling when DS was tiny which had obviously been washed and packed while still damp - it smelt all musty, that wasn't great, but did wash out. I did mention it to the seller and she said she wanted it to smell nice so she must have washed it specially! I felt bad but wasn't really complaining, just letting her know as she obviously hadn't realised.

2blessed2bstressed · 30/11/2012 12:44

I think that apart from anything else, your nose becomes used to your own washing powder or liquid, and conditioner smell, and that's partly why other people's seem to smell more strongly. I know when I go to my friends house I can always smell her washing if the airer's out...but I can't smell it at home, although my sister always remarks on it when she comes to stay!
Regarding used clothes, I think I'd always wash them myself anyway even if they did smell clean - but I'm prepared to accept I'm a bit weird about stuff like that!

amck5700 · 30/11/2012 12:46

dizzy - It's not me that has the allergy but becasue we have used unscented products for so long, i actually find my self wheezing and sneezing when I have to go down the cleaning products aisle.

I also have to wash the items when they are bought but have to wash them seperately as I can't risk my OHs stuff being "contaminated" in you see what I mean. He can't use fabric softener or liquid washing stuff even if unscented. He can use solid bars of unscented soap but cannot use simple shower gel.

It's a bit of a pain to say the least!

OP posts:
Beanbagz · 30/11/2012 12:46

I'm another one who has washing that smells of nothing (using Ecover).

DH buys quite a lot of his clothes on Ebay and the first thing i do is put them in the washing machine becase they smell so strongly of washing powder.

I'd just put in your listing that you use unperfumed soap powder/fabric conditioner.

amck5700 · 30/11/2012 12:51

Sounds like all is okay then - it just occurred to me as I was packing a couple of things today when the postman arrived with an item I had bought and it smelled so strongly of fabric conditioner - i just wouldn't like people to think the items were sent dirty regardless of whether they then got washed or not.

A lot of the recent sales have been waterproofs and ski wear so you really don't want to be washing it that often anyway as it will lose it's waterproofness - especially if you use fabric softener.

Another quick question - if your items have velcro - do you de-fluff the velcro before you send? i.e. when the hook side gets bit of fluff and thread caught up in it - my OH says I am mad and that people wont bother but I have a little brush that I use to get all the fluff out :o

OP posts:
amck5700 · 30/11/2012 12:54

I use Surcare - Ecover does contain a perfume - at least it did the last time i looked - albeit not a strong one.

I go into panics every time the supermarket runs out as there is really nothing else we can use, not even the Surcare liquid.

He can't buy any of his clothes used or actually not many things new either - he is allergic to the dyes/bleaches etc.

OP posts:
amck5700 · 30/11/2012 12:55

beanbagz - yes, I think I will just to be on the safe side - it might actually be a good selling point?!

OP posts:
LauriesFairyonthetreeeatsCake · 30/11/2012 12:56

Everything I sell stinks of wood smoke as we have a stove - there is no way I'm febreezing stuff as I hate unnatural smells - I do warn people on the listings though.

gwenniebee · 30/11/2012 12:58

When I buy things that smell really strongly I always suspect that they have been doused in febreeze or something, which I don't associate with being clean. (I associate it with pre-smoking ban days, actually...) So I think I'd prefer a neutral odour!

Mirage · 30/11/2012 16:26

I sell a lot of vintage clothing and linen,because it has been in storage for some time before it comes to me,it quite often smells mothbally.I'm fanatical about not sending anything remotely smelly out,so have left stuff on the line to air for up to a month sometimes,before washing and listing it.If I'm in any doubt,back outside it goes.I always put in my listing that it has been line dried too,because it is true and a lot of people prefer line dried stuff anyway.I don't use fabric conditioner as it coats fabric in a slimy substance which can't do it any good long term.

fergoose · 30/11/2012 16:51

I would rather something smelt of washing powder than dirt to be honest. I know strong smelling items can be offputting, or not nice if asthmatic or sensitive.

I hate it when something has been sprayed with cheap perfume which does little to disguise the smell of dirt and fags :(

stargirl1701 · 30/11/2012 16:54

I hate the smell of washing dried outside. It just smells damp to me, like the ground. Ugh!

expatinscotland · 30/11/2012 16:55

I buy my childrens' clothes on Ebay by the bundle and they always smell of perfumed laundry powders and fabric conditioners.

I agree with the suggestion of writing that you use unperfumed soaps in your listing.

LegArmpits · 30/11/2012 16:57

I defluff Velcro before selling!

missnevermind · 30/11/2012 17:00

I hate it when something has been sprayed with cheap perfume which does little to disguise the smell of dirt and fags - He He Now I know you mean my Mother Grin

I have to wash everything that comes into my house 2nd hand even if it is off my friend straight out of the tumble dryer, I just thought every body did the same.

BertieBotts · 30/11/2012 17:02

Woodsmoke is lovely :) cigarette smoke less so, especially on baby clothes - yuck.

PurpleFrog · 30/11/2012 17:04

I always mention if I have cleaned them using a special type of powder etc.. When I last sold baby clothes I said they had been washed with non-Bio, when I have sold waterproofs I have listed that they have been washed with pure soap flakes. I would hate to buy an almost new waterproof jacket that had to be re-proofed because it had been washed in detergent!

pickledparsnip · 30/11/2012 17:07

As long as they don't arrive dirty I am happy. I absolutely hate the strong smelling powder and conditioner people use, bleurgh!

pickledparsnip · 30/11/2012 17:09

I started a thread earlier about a vintage coat I received from eBay today. It arrived stinking of BO. That is not ok. I sell a lot & go to a lot of effort to make sure everything is washed, ironed & smells ok.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 30/11/2012 17:11

Tell me more about this Velcro brush...

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amck5700 · 30/11/2012 17:48

lol TheDoctrineOfSnatch it's not a specialist velcro brush - i have a little wire brush - i think it is for brushing suede shoes - does an excellent job!

OP posts:
MrsCampbellBlack · 30/11/2012 17:51

Not smelling fine - stinking of cigarette smoke - vile. I mean seriously why do people do it - can they not smell it themselves if they smoke?

HipHopToDude · 30/11/2012 17:53

I would LOVE to buy from you OP. the worst thing about buying clothes on eBay is they smell absolutely rank. Can't believe people actually like overly scented washing powder and conditioner. Sometimes they even spray with fe breeze Confused

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