Any cleaning geniuses about that can help save a child’s toy!

[Whyismycatanasshat]

As some of you may remember from some of my other threads, my DN is living with me at the moment and yesterday his SW gave us a small carrier bag of DN’s possessions.
I’m not sure how she’s managed to retrieve stuff, I didn’t ask to many questions as DN and my DD were both hovering in the doorway and we were talking across the driveway, obviously I accepted it gratefully only to discover most of it is only fit for the bin sadly, however, in the bag was what I think was his first sleepsuit and soft toy I know he was fond of at about 1 year old.

However both items smell like they’ve been living in a dog basket for months on end (entirely possible they have) and despite 2 washes and good soak both still smell.

I’ve dowsed them both in white vinegar and put them back in the wash again.

If they still come out smelling, what else can I use? I’d sacrifice the sleepsuit to keep the soft toy for him as it’s similar to one of DD’s he’s keen on.

Thank you in advance!

Bicarbonate? It saved a carpet after dd1 was sick. I hope you can rescue it.

I am a foster parent and have received those bags of precious memories for my little ones too, often very smelly sadly and the only thing I have found that works is a good wash then hanging outdoors for as long as possible (think days not hours).

I had tried all the other methods inc. vinegar, Febreeze, bicarb etc, etc and fresh air cured it but you might need to wait until we have a few dry days.

Dettol Laundry cleanser is brilliant. It gets rid of pretty much every smell - wet dog, sick, teenage boy gym gear armpits...

I work with children who can't live with their parents and the smell of clothes and belongings etc is sometimes really important to them. Not matter how awful it smells it's a smell the child sometimes misses. I witnessed a child heartbroken as his favourite teddy had been through the wash and smelt of washing powder rather than "teddy". Maybe if the worst is gone and if it's bearable it's not such a bad thing for your DN?

Did you use Bio washing powder? My old cat used to sometimes pee on my clothes and bio wash powder got the smell out fine.

@bloodywhitecat They can definitely go out on the line, we’re in the windy borders so on a dry day washing gets a good blow through so ideal for this I think!

@iMatter Thanks, I think we have some somewhere!

@nogooddeedgoesunpunished At the moment DN is agreeing with me and saying it’s “yaaaakky” but he’s been enjoying helping wash it (and a multitude of toys!) so that’s something.

@MrsVeryTired unfortunately the Bold Bio hasn’t worked this time - usually sorts the Cat’s bed out no problem!

Something that's being packed away for a memory box needs to be clean and sweet smelling, so the baby grow needs to sit in a bag of bicarb on rainy days, and hang on the line on good days. When it smells clean you can box it up, though you may want to bag it first in case it taints the other items over time.

The toy he'd like now, I'd say, do similar but let him have it when it reaches tolerable levels. It will gradually catch his and your smells.

@picklemewalnuts You’ve just confirmed my thinking for the sleepsuit, I’ll store it in a zip lock bag to make sure it can’t taint anything.

@MrsVeryTired

Did you use Bio washing powder? My old cat used to sometimes pee on my clothes and bio wash powder got the smell out fine.

But that is a 'fresh' smell, these smells can be years old.

The smells from a family whose children I looked after hung in the air for ages, it was almost oily. Sufficiently bad that they were told to shape up or stay away, on a prison visit. I stripped the D.C. and washed them and their clothes after every visit. Didn't spot the headlice fast enough, though . I'm reasonably relaxed, not desperately house proud and very pragmatic. It was gag inducing. I'd use a baby wipe on their head and hair just to get them home.

there is a spray that I use for when the cat/dog has had an accident on the carpet. It is an enzyme spray, and so 'eats' anything biological. Itworks miracles on those sort of smells. I wonder if it would work in this situation?

It is from Pets at Home and is called Simple Solution. It isn't cheap though

@steppemum thanks for the suggestion, M-I-L does small scale pet boarding when not in lockdown and has come up trumps with a half bottle of this stuff and is dropping it on the doorstep later this evening.