First post, I'll try to keep it brief and not muck it up. Elderly relative has been living in, well, fairly squalid conditions (long story, nobody knew, they avoided intervention). Think, hoarding, moths (lots), a bit damp, very musty, not clean at all. Has now moved to new accomodation.
Clothes have been salvaged where possible. The problem is they stink. We don't know what of. It's not urine (some of it might be) it's a sweetish, slightly oily smell, with an underlying sourness. It mings.
I've been trying to launder some clothes (live moth larvae notwithstanding, blee), but the smell won't go. I have tried -
Soaking in vinegar & water. Doesn't work.
Soaking in soda bicarbonate. Doesn't work.
Soaking in bio liquid. Doesn't really work.
Soaking in washing soda. Works a bit, but not totally.
Soaking in Dettol. Made it smell of Dettol and terribleness.
Just washing. I thought this had worked, but then the things dried and it hadn't.
I'm tempted to ditch the lot, but it's all pretty good (Hobbs and that) and would be a shame. I'd appreciate any other ideas anyone has, to stop me forlornly wandering the laundry section of the supermarket.
Thanks in advance.