Great dress with a persistent musty smell - any tips?

[BranchingOut]

Hi, a while back I bought a great dress from a charity shop but it has a persistent musty smell. I have washed it at 40 degrees several times, aired it, had it hanging up, but the 'charity shop' smell remains.

The fit is great and it is an attractive dress, so I am loath to let it go.

What would you do? Dry clean, wash at 90, leave it out in the rain... The fabric is 100% cotton - a lightweight denim type weave.

bump

any suggestions?

Febreze? I'm doing the 'leave out in the rain' one at the moment on a white top with a stubborn stain. I think I'll get it in in the Spring.

ime, once the musty smell is there, it's there :(
Worth giving it a wash in really whiffy fabric softener, just to see if that can mask the smell. Or febreeze I suppose

It's so odd isn't it, the way that smell lingers. Seems especially weird that it's all cotton and has been washed several times

What is the charity shop smell, anyway? Why do they all smell the same, across the land?

Maybe try a bio detergent -- I don't really know if that would help, just an idea.

sorry no ideas but just had to say I first read the thread title as Goat dress with a persistent musty smell !!!

try vinegar, soak it in the clear one for 10 minutes.

would not be suprised if it works, works for urine and vomit.

tmi!

Goat dress, lol. I imagine that would be smelly!

I will try:

A hot wash with bio detergent

a vinegar soak

Thanks.

spray with fabreeze and iron @highest temp possible but also second the vinegar soak