Tips for getting cigarette smell out of Wool?

[QueenOfToast]

Does anyone have any tips for getting the smell of cigarettes out of wool?

Someone that I know can no longer knit or crochet owing to pain in her shoulders and fingers and she has very kindly given me a large bag of her stash of wool. However, she's a smoker and it all smells of cigarettes. Can I get rid of the smell before I use it or do I have to make something with it and then wash it and hope for the best?

I suppose I could just the stash to make Christmas presents for all my smoker friends and they won't notice anything untoward

[FaintingGoat]

A couple of things you could try:

Wind it into hanks, dip into lukewarm water with special wool detergent, and hang up somewhere airy to dry.

Chuck a few incense cones into the bag.

Or just tip all the balls out onto the floor, if you have a spare room or somewhere you can leave them for a while. Exposure to the air might make the smell fade a bit.

I suspect the easiest way is just to knit it up and then wash it though.

[QueenOfToast]

Thanks for your suggestions Goat. I've just got some lavender to make up some sachets so I think I'll put some of that in the bag with it for a couple of weeks and see if it improves.

[LatteLady]

The lavender will not make a lot of difference, it will just sit with the cigarette smell. Gentle washing is a great idea but if you cannot be *rsed to do that then pin the balls of wool onto you washing line for a morning which will help.

[Cee3008]

Spray with febreeze?

[HappyTurquoise]

I had some hanks of Patton's cotton from ebay which smelt of smoke a bit. I hung them in a hot conservatory for a few days and the smell evaporated in the heat.