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AIBU?

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Original poster

Whole bundle of smelly, smoky baby clothes from Vinted ☹️

168 replies

CaptainCabinets · 06/03/2025 20:44

I ordered a bundle of BNWT baby clothes from Vinted and they’ve arrived absolutely reeking of cigarette smoke 😩 so many lovely little clothes and they smell bloody awful. Nothing in the seller’s reviews to suggest that they’ve been selling smoky clothes, so no warning. I normally only buy stuff from sellers who explicitly state that they have a ‘smoke free home’ but this is the one time I didn’t bloody check, and I would hardly expect someone with a tiny baby to be smoking indoors anyway!

Two questions, really (one of them is an AIBU!)

  1. AIBU to give negative (but honest) feedback or suck it up because I didn’t check if the seller was smoke-free?

  2. Should I attempt to get the smell out so the clothes can actually be worn, or just bin them? Is it safe for my baby to wear them even after washing them or do the chemicals from the smoke linger in the clothes? They were inexpensive so I don’t mind binning them if need be, but it seems such a waste to throw them away as they are all unworn with tags, they just stink! If I keep them, how can I get rid of the smell and the chemicals?

Please be gentle with me, I’m having a bit of a tough time with PPA and have been making a lot of mountains out of molehills lately 😬

OP posts:
Ophy83 · 06/03/2025 22:00

I wouldn't use them... I think the chemicals can remain in the fabric even if the smell goes away

pregnantpanic · 06/03/2025 22:00

Ohh, poor baby in that smoky environment 😩

ThisFluentBiscuit · 06/03/2025 21:58

I'm sure washing them once would be just fine.

Very annoying though. Definitely mark as smoky on your review.

chickenlettuceunderbacon · 06/03/2025 21:49

Send them back for a refund stating they're damaged. This is what I do when anything from Vinted arrives smelling of smoke/perfume/Febreze. The seller always accepts the return without question because they know the items stink.

Original poster
CaptainCabinets · 06/03/2025 21:48

I left neutral 3-star feedback with an honest description of the clothes, explaining that they were visibly in good condition (true) but that they smelt of smoke (true) and accepting some responsibility in that I hadn’t checked to make sure the seller was smoke-free. The seller replied to my feedback within minutes admitting that it wasn’t a smoke-free home, she was quite gracious about it. I’m not going to raise a complaint as the clothes were technically as described. I will soak them in white vinegar and wash them and see how I feel afterwards.

To the poster that asked, I am getting support with the PPA, thank you for asking Smile it’s not been fun, I’ve been off anxiety meds for a while but have accepted that I may need to go back on them for a bit until my head isn’t so all over the place!

OP posts:
BootballJoy · 06/03/2025 21:47

CaptainCabinets · 06/03/2025 21:04

That’s my feeling too, I would feel like I had put a lit cigarette in his mouth! They just feel dirty and contaminated, not sure if that is just the anxiety talking but that’s why I feel so conflicted over what to do with the clothes.

I hate waste, which is why I use Vinted in the first place, but I don’t feel like I can bring myself to put my beautiful little boy in these clothes even if I’ve washed them to within an inch of their life!

Show quote history

In that case I'd wash and donate somewhere- they will be fine after a good wash or two. Please don't bin, that would be a waste, there will be people who would really need them. But I would also leave a negative review.

CrotchetyQuaver · 06/03/2025 21:44

Just wash them, I would go 30/40 degrees though rather than cold. Air dry outside if you can too. The smell will come out.

I once got something off eBay that absolutely honked of smoke. Never smelt anything like it and I was a smoker at the time. That needed a few days outside on the line to air the smell out of it. Some people must just never open their windows.

Anon501178 · 06/03/2025 21:41

How about washing them then if the smell is gone but you can't bear to use them yourself, popping them in a clothes bank or charity shop? At least they wouldn't go in the bin but you'd not have the worry of whether to use them.

Eldermilleniallyogii · 06/03/2025 21:40

I would have thought they'd be okay if you wash them?

ursuslemonade · 06/03/2025 21:38

I would hang them outside for a few days to air before washing them.

Yellowhammer09 · 06/03/2025 21:37

I'd leave a negative review, wash the clothes a few times with white vinegar, and stick them in a bag with a lot of bicarbonate of soda.

TheEllisGreyMethod · 06/03/2025 21:34

I'm sure they would be fine, but no, I couldn't bring myself to put baby in them, and it's ok if you decide that.
I would leave honest feedback, smoke free home is the norm with babies, seller should specify if it isn't. And as another potential buyer, I would want to know. The next one might not be able to afford to bin the clothes.

40weeksmummy · 06/03/2025 21:32

I'm non smoker - you can smell cigarettes on clothes even if they are washed millions of times. I would return them.

NameChanges123 · 06/03/2025 21:30

Growlybear83 · 06/03/2025 21:28

I think it would be extremely unreasonable to leave negative feedback without contacting the seller first to point out that the clothes smell of smoke and to see how they react. If they refuse to accept a return, then leave appropriate feedback, but it's very unfair if you don't give the seller the chance to put things right.

I've no idea how they were packed, but If the clothes came in a grey mailing bag, they are notorious for having a smokey smell which gets into fabric if they're used for clothes, so do bear that in mind if that's what was used.

^ I agree with this.

Contact the seller and see if you can negotiate a return...

TheUsualChaos · 06/03/2025 21:28

If you like the clothes give them a couple of washes and line dry on a nice breezy day, they will be absolutely fine.
I would definitely leave a negative review to the seller though as that's really not on. Baby clothes especially!

Also makes me feel sad for the poor child who is clearly being exposed to a lot of second hand smoke 😞

Growlybear83 · 06/03/2025 21:28

I think it would be extremely unreasonable to leave negative feedback without contacting the seller first to point out that the clothes smell of smoke and to see how they react. If they refuse to accept a return, then leave appropriate feedback, but it's very unfair if you don't give the seller the chance to put things right.

I've no idea how they were packed, but If the clothes came in a grey mailing bag, they are notorious for having a smokey smell which gets into fabric if they're used for clothes, so do bear that in mind if that's what was used.

PrimitivePerson · 06/03/2025 21:23

Just stick it in the wash with a generous dose of fabric softener and everything will be absolutely fine.

BellissimoGecko · 06/03/2025 21:22

They will be fine. Wash them and hang to dry outside, then see how they smell and how you feel.

Justsewsew · 06/03/2025 21:22

BeSharpBee · 06/03/2025 20:54

Did they come in a parcel bag? Only there have been a lot of reports of items in parcel bags smelling of smoke for some years now. It's something to do with the recycled materials it's made from.

If it's proper smoke I guess you either raise a complaint and send back or wash and air. Whatever you're more comfortable with.

I had this with a jacket off Ebay. The seller was adamant they didn't smoke but I was convinced it smelt of smoke. It turned out to be the bag

Wish44 · 06/03/2025 21:21

This happened to me and i complained. Seller said they were a non smoker and that it must have been the delivery driver smoking in the van 🙄

Ellie56 · 06/03/2025 21:19

Yes it is the anxiety talking. The clothes will be perfectly safe to wear once they've been washed and hung out in the fresh air to dry. In fact they will smell lovely.

Then leave a negative review.

Are you getting help with your anxiety?

herbygarden · 06/03/2025 21:19

That's so annoying OP. Truthfully I would wash a couple of times, maybe with Dettol laundry cleanser too and line dry. I don't think there is any danger in them but very disappointing. I would leave negative feedback or if you prefer to return them do so, Vinted should back your X

m00rfarm · 06/03/2025 21:19

Just wash them. They will be fine. Cannot believe people are telling you to throw them away. If you wash them, they can't hurt your baby. If you really don't want them, then wash them and take them to a charity that needs baby clothes.

WickWood · 06/03/2025 21:16

I couldn't use them, I'd just throw them. That poor baby arouse cigarette smoke 😞

MakkaPakkasCave · 06/03/2025 21:15

Mark them as not OK and don’t worry about choosing the exact reason. Pick one close enough and once the case is opened you’ll be able to write the reason why. Baby clothes smelling of cig smoke is unacceptable and gross. See if they will take a return (they should pay return postage) and leave a bad review to warn other mothers. If they refund you but don’t want the clothes back just wash a couple of times and line dry as PP have suggested.