How can I remove the smell of Febreze?

[FiftyNotNifty]

I hate it! Got a second hand sports bag and it's in lovely condition but it reeks of Febreze! There doesn't seem to be a hint of any other smell; you can normally spot when it's been used to cover up the smell of smoke for example. I've given it a quick machine wash with sports wash and it looks great but still stinks!
Any advice gratefully received

I would give it a good airing outside or wash it again, maybe both?

Maybe put it outside in the sunshine?

If it will stand up to it, stick it out in one of the downpours we've been having then thoroughly dry it out again.

Or try white vinegar - good at neutralising smells.

Air it outside for a few days

I started a thread about this previously and got absolutely flamed for daring to suggest that not everyone likes the smell of Febreze, and maybe eBay sellers shouldn’t spritz it all over everything before sending, particularly when some people are severely allergic to the ingredients.

I tend to leave things in the garage for a while to let the smell dissipate. I’ve also had some success with using activated charcoal sachets (buy activated charcoal from fish tank suppliers, make little bags from coffee filters, stuff the smelly items with the little bags of charcoal, leave for a while in a sealed plastic bag). Also works with musty/mouldy smelling things.

I wish people would just let things smell natural. I’m currently trying to de-stink a lovely secondhand suede bag that reeks of Febreze. Gross.

Thank you! I've had it outside overnight, hopefully the smell will start to fade. What a stink!

A 1 part vodka/2 parts water solution in a spray bottle is great for removing smells from fabric. You could try it on your bag and see if it works.

I loooooathe the stink of Febreze.

Febreze smell like vomit to me.

I'm so tired of this issue, I completely understand where you're coming from.

An eBay seller sent me a dress that had been absolutely doused in the stuff. The dress was awful anyway (turned out to be oversized which wasn't mentioned in the listing), I left it on my chair in my bedroom. The Febreeze then "infected" other clothes that were on the chair 😒

A handwash in washing up liquid sometimes works, but be aware that the reason it works is that washing up liquid is a bit harsher so it can affect some fabrics.

It might be fabric conditioner, if it is there'll be slightly slimy feel to the fabric. Nothing gets the smell out but it will lessen.
I bought something recently. Soaking it in a stinky Zoflora solution then washing it twice, hanging it out in sunshine each time, seemed to help. The smell is still there but slightly toned down.

Before that I didn't even want to be in the same room as it because the smell was so horrible.

Fake perfume is a lot of things these days, it is foul, headache inducing muck.

I soak stinky stuff in vinegar, but if it is not soakable I wipe it all over the item. Putting it in a sealed plastic bag with vinegar on might help. I often try a sealed bag or plastic box of cat littter for bags. Bicarb sometimes works. It takes a long time to reduce the stench regardless of what you use.

Depending on what it is made of I put things in the washing machine with a lot fo vinegar and leave them overnight, hang outside for a couple of weeks (seriously) and it removes a fair bit of the stink.

I have also returned items as not as described if they reek and I can't open the packaging because it smells from the outside.

Dryer sheets are worse I think, they seem oily and don't wash out. Someone once sent me something part of one in the package, it was absolutely disgusting.

*something with

I'm not typing sense this afternoon :-(

I bought a load of teddies for my dogs. They had been absolutely doused in the stuff to hide the smoke smell. There was no way I could let them chew on them stinking like that. I washed them twice and left them on the line for about 3 days. After another long wash the smell had gone.

I just don't know what's wrong with the people who do this. Do they really think it smells good?

Leave in the sunshine. It is great for getting smells out (if you have any sunshine that is!)

Fresh air, preferably on a line so that there is a breeze.

Febreeze comes in lots of different fragrances, I haven't seen the original one in years.

It is definitely Febreze, it's disgusting! And no smoke / pet / damp smell underneath needing hidden either so what was the point?!

I returned a dress because it stank of fabric conditioner. It would have faded if I'd soaked it, washed it and hung it on the line.