Can you wash the chemicals from smoking out of clothes???

[helsinkihelen]

Me and DP have been storing DSs 0-12month baby stuff (DS is now 2) in DPs parents house for the past couple of years which was v stoopid as they smoke. We just weren't thinking at the time. At the time we thought it would be ok as we thought that it would be stored in an upstairs room and his dad only smokes in one room downstairs and the door to the room the stuff was stored in would be shut and the window would be open. Not sure how much of this happened as i don't go into their house anymore.

Anyhow, all of the clothes we stored in their house was double bagged. New babba is due in 3 days time. Have been poorly for last couple of months with colds, infections and a bad back and have only just around to bringing the stuff back to our house and sorting it out. Naturally it stinks of smoke. We will automatically chuck out the Moses basket and pram unit for our pushchair (gutted!) but do you think that the clothes will be OK if i boil wash them twice or do you think i should just chuck them out and start again., We don't know what number 2 will be but loads of DS1s stuff was pretty unisex (love red and navy!) I know deep down i should just chuck it all out but the sentimental value attached to it makes that decision hard!!!!!!!!!

Would it be safe to keep and wash or should i buy all new????

Safe to keep and wash I'd say!

All the best

My dad smoked like a chimney, I'm still here so is my sister.
Washing clothes should be fine. Pram may scrub. Moses basket I would chuck. I can't see you getting it clean enough you feel happy.

I think startail has nailed it.

TBH I would have thought one normal wash would do it. Hanging outside might be good.

I think the clothes will be fine if washed and given a good blow outside, if washing them twice makes you feel safer then do that. Obviously we don't know how much the pram smells but maybe store it outside in the garden, when not raining!!! And I'm sure the smell will lift :). I've never thought about the chemicals part but I honestly think that wouldn't be a problem, and it's just the smell! I'm not sure about the wicker basket of the Moses basket, because they tend to hold onto the smell, but worth giving the covers a couple of washes, I'm sure it smells worse to you as you don't smoke, and once you've given it a wash it'll be fine, I doubt your dp's parents have actually smoked in the same room, and didn't mean to make your things smell:(

try not to worry too much, good luck with the birth :)

I would wash everything thats washable and hang it out a bit, cold air is great for killing nasty stuff. I would also put moses basket znd pram outside.

i agree with the people saying wash and then stuck the other stuff out side for a bit of a blow think throwing it away is a bit over zealous but it depends what you are comfortable with. my Moses basket is 30yrs old as it was mine when i was little and i dread to think what it may have absorbed over that time but i always air it out before we use it.

I'd chuck at least the basket mattress and the pram bit you can't wash. Clothes should be fine. Just wash them twice at the highest setting possible.

You're right. It's not just the smell, but the actual smoke particles that sit firmly in fabrics that are the problem with young babies. That's the reason why smokers should always wash their hands and wait for at least 20minutes before going near a baby after a cigarette. It's nothing new. It's been done on here and everywhere else endlessly.

Just because some people who were exposed to 2nd hand-smoke as children are fine, doesn't mean it's good or that everyone will be fine. My grandad smoked around his children, my mum never did and she's only starting to show health problems from it now in her 50s. In fact, a doctor recently didn't believe her that she wasn't a smoker because as she has the same cough.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is, it's your new baby and therefore your decision. You need to know what you feel comfortable with. If that means throwing out the clothes, do it but I think washing them thoroughly will be fine. I wouldn't risk the mattrass though.