Can anyone help me save my smelly dress?!

[JonSnowedUnder]

Last week I did a load of laundry, tumbled half and the other half I put on the airer (I use a dehumidifier next to it). Once it was all dry went to put it away and noticed my dress (my favourite) absolutely stank. It was a similar smell to damp washing if you leave something in the washing machine but not quite the same. Chucked it back in the washing machine and dried it again - same. It's the only item of clothing that smells, I've tried washing it a couple more time on a 60 degree wash, always dry it completely inbetween.

The smell is all over the material so not like I've spilled anything or that it's embedded BO or something.

Has anyone got any tips to try maybe soaking it in something?

Maybe try washing it with some white vinegar and then dry outside if you can.

Can you dry it properly outside and see if the smell goes then. Sun and wind can really help to refresh clothes.

Dettol laundry liquid or equivalent has worked for me in the past

I'll try drying it outside...next week when it's not snowing! @randomsabreuse I've tried the dettol which hasn't made a difference.

It's so strange that it's the only item to be affected.

Actually snow could help. Let it waft out there for a snow day.

Try napisan in the wash.

I would second the white vinegar suggestion in addition to, as has been suggested and you hope to try, then drying it outside.

Prewash with biotex and/or add napisan to your wash.

What’s it made of?

I was just going to ask what fabric is it but MrsSkylerWhite beat me to it!

I'd just put it on the line for a few days then re wash

Napisan contains bleaching agent, I wouldn’t use it on my favourite dress. Sprinkle bicarbonate on it in a carrier bag for a couple of days then hang outdoors.

I think it's just viscose. A few suggestions to try, thank you everyone.

This isn’t a cheap option, but if none of the above work, try soaking it in vodka! That can be effective (but not cheap!)

2 things

check the max temp and wash at that temperature

put white vinegar in the rinse slot of the washing machine - really is very good at shifting damp, nasty smells

Not much help but same happened to me with a dress, again only item out of a washing load. Tried everything and had to bin it in the end.

Definitely wash then hang outside and leave it out as long as possible. I had a pyjama top that did this recently, rest of wash was fine. I left it on the line for a few days. It got rained on and re-dried in the sun and now smells lovely again.

Try stripping it. 1/2 cup of borax, 1/2 cup of bicarbonate and a good squirt of laundry detergent in a bath half full of warm water. Put your dress in there for a couple of hours, then wash it as normal. I’ve had great results with this in a load of towels that got forgotten about in the washer..

Napisan contains bleaching agent, I wouldn’t use it on my favourite dress.

It can be used on colours, just not on wool and silk. I wouldn't soak the dress in it, I just chuck a small amount in with the wash to stop smelliness (my washing machine got smelly once and made all the clothes smell, so it's to prevent that happening). I do it with viscose all the time and it's fine.

Put half a capful of Zoflora in the machine/ drawer and give it another rinse