I have bought a lovely secondhand trench but it stinks of dry cleaning chemicals.

[franke]

What can I do? I can't wear it until I get rid of the smell.

So far I've put it on a gentle tumble dry to try to evaporate some of the chemicals. It's currently hanging outside in the garden. My other options are to hang it over a hot vinegary bath, put it in a sealed bag with envelopes of fresh coffee for a few days or take it to the dry cleaners but I hate the idea of piling on yet more chemicals.

It's a Burberry Ivybridge trench, so not a £££ Heritage trench. Could I risk a gentle wash?

I'd hang it outside for a bit longer and then see.

Might be a stupid idea but seal it in a big Tupperware box with a pot of bicarb? Works for a smelly fridge!

Actually it might not be dry cleaning chemicals. It might be clothes moth killer you can smell.

I'd put it in a sealed bag in the freezer for a couple of weeks just in case!

Thanks both. I'm pretty sure it's not moth killer. It's just a really strong semi perfumed sickly chemical smell - a sort of cross between chemical and strong fabric softener. According to what I've found out on the net, it's as a result of poor quality cleaning. There was someone on mn who soaked their trench in lukewarm water and then drip dried...

Did the previous owner have it dry cleaned ? It sounds like it's been cleaned in dirty solvent with a particularly strong odoriser . I would get it re dry cleaned and emphasise that you want the smell gone . If you don't want to do that spray it with a Febreze type product and air as much as you can on a windy sunny day .

Thanks imjessie. Yes, definitely cleaned by previous owner - and it does look good but just smells terrible. I think it's a trip to the dry cleaner then since noone on mumsnet will give me permission to wash it

What's it made of wash , I wash most things and I probably would wash it . I'm an ex dry cleaner and have washed most things but the thing about chemicals is you can't really wash out the smell . If it was packed too early and left like that it would be ingrained in the material . The only chance is to attack with more chemicals as water alone is unlikely to get it out .

That was my fear. It's a cotton/polyester 50:50. I would maybe risk a wash but as you say it might not deal with the smell, especially if I only risk a delicates wash. What if I soaked it in a bath with distilled vinegar - do you think that would do anything?

Washing and soaking are very different . I would definitely wash it but not soak it . It will probably survive the wash but will lose some of its crispness ( for want of a better word ) . If you want my advice I would get it d/ cleaned again , if that doesn't solve the problem , air it , again if not solved wash it at 30 with softener , then again if not solved soak in a bath as you will have nothing to lose . ( make sure you spin it ) I've got rid of the smell of ground in petrol by washing and blasting the material with Febreze and airing so it's possible but do it all in that order for the best results . ( hope that makes sense ) rushing !

Thanks so much imjessie - I'll let you know how I get on.