Received unworn clothing that smells

[allergyupset]

I bought an item of clothing from a Facebook group, sold as brand new with tags. It's arrived, but my god, the stench of washing powder is horrendous. I only use scent-free products, and I no longer buy worn clothing because people's detergent often won't wash out at all. It's actually giving me a headache.

Can a piece of unworn clothing really smell that bad just from being hung next to other clothing in someone's wardrobe? I know there are some unscrupulous people out there who wear stuff and then reattach the labels, but I really don't think this is the case here, as the item looks like it's in pristine condition and all the labels etc look brand new. But on the other hand, the smell. How can it be so strong?

Yes! Some washing powder scents can really transfer. I bought some 2nd hand maternity clothes and they had been washed in persil 😨😨😨 and I absolutely hate the smell of it, put them in the bottom of the wardrobe in the bag until I could wash them and a few days later my own clothes smelled of it too. 😪😪

Febreezed it probably or squirted it with air freshener.

If it's unworn, it might be a combination of fungicide, pesticides, flame retardants whatever Febreze scent the person who sold it to you used.

@Spied

Febreezed it probably or squirted it with air freshener.

This was my thought too

I've bought things off ebay that absolutely stank of washing powder or conditioner or something. One item was a pair of trainers. I washed them a couple of times, drenched them in tea tree oil as it is stinky, left them for days and washed them again and the bastards still skink of the washing powder or whatever it is. DPet won't go anywhere near them.

The other item was a dress and it stank the house out, I returned it as I wasn't prepared to wash it many times in the hope that the smell would go.

The condiioner leaves a greasy film on the clothes. Vile.

Just wash it, sling some Epsom salts straight into the drum along with whatever you use.

Yes it could be air freshener, that's a good point. I wish people would stop doing this!

I've actually had to hang it out of the window as it was giving me a headache. I wish I had a garden.

I would rather it smelt of washing liquid than smoke and wet dog. Get it in the washer.

I bought a "new" dress off eBay. It smelled of fags and had a tissue in the pocket. They took it back without any problems but still! It had clearly been worn!