Smelly cashmere - what can be done?

[KillingMeDeftly]

I bought a cashmere jumper on eBay recently and it's in excellent condition but smells of very strong perfume. I've washed it once in wool detergent and it still reeks. I can't hang it outside as it's still too cold. Any idea how I can get rid of the smell?

Why does cold mean you can't hang it outside??

Hi Op
You could put your cashmere jumper on clothes horse rack stand and have window open ajar for a while,

Not wide open so you or room feels cold ,so lose heat of your room,
Just only open a bit /somewhat) just enough open (adjar) open idea

If jumper left like that, it should eventually get rid of smell,

It will not get rid of odour smell straight away through
Need to do for a while

Soak it in the sink with cool water and a bit of a vinegar. Then wash again with wool detergent. Dry indoors then air it outside.

I don't see a problem with your jumper being put out in the cold,
Unless you are just worried not enough breeze so jumper will stay cold and damp

I can see what you mean, your concern ,Op@KillingMeDeftly

You don't want smell of mildew at develop on jumper

@FlounderingFruitcake
Interesting tip never heard of that one

Maybe will try your tip too, if I ever have same or similar kind of issue as @KillingMeDeftly

Just to see how effective it works like a textile experiment 🤔 idea

Allways good to learn something new isn't it

I think you might need to wash your jumper again too

I would hang it outside but dry not wet to give it a good airing as long as no rain forecast. Not sure what the cold point means but it's damp you want to avoid rather than cold. Ideal time of year while the sun isn't so hot it will fade. Then I would give it a good soak in more wool detergent and then another wash with some vinegar in with the wool detergent. It will take a while if you don't give it some air. Is the smell so strong you can't wear it as that would do similar to hanging outside if you don't have outside space

Yes, it's cold but not windy so it wouldn't dry at all outside today. Not sure what I was thinking washing my jumpers on a day like today! I've got them hanging in a room with the windows open so will see if that does the trick, if not I'll try the vinegar tip. I should've thought to put some in the fabric softener compartment really!

Don’t use fabric softener. No idea why but it makes cashmere go a bit weird

Oh sorry just really you said vinegar in the softner compartment! Wouldn’t do that either unless you want the jumper to smell like a chip shop. Vinegar first is your best bet.

Oh I wasn't going to use fabric softener @FlounderingFruitcake, i meant I should've put vinegar in the washing machine compartment for it.

I'd heard of it as a tip for getting rid of smells on sports gear but obviously I don't want to smell like a chippy!

Don't stick it in the washing machine, you will end up shrinking it or felting it. Cashmere should be hand washed. If it is smelling now, put it outside on an airer when it is dry, you do not have to keep washing it. Go for a sunny day with a mild breeze. That should do it.

I wash all mine in the machine on a wool wash, never had a problem with shrinkage

Hang it outside on a breezy day

Try soaking in luke warm water with bicarbonate of soda? I had a jumper that reeked of curry (took to a curry house without thinking) and seemed to do the trick.

Be sure to use distilled white vinegar

I would still hang it outside, even if it doesn't dry, it'll still get aired out which will help with the smell.

Use white vinegar, not malt!

Don't hang wet cashmere as it will stretch. It should be dried flat. I put mine on a towel flat on the heated bathroom floor or on a towel over the side of the bath so it is supported.

Right, so there was a slight breeze and I hung it outside a few hours ago. Just did a sniff test and the smell is much reduced so hopefully another hour will get rid of it altogether. If not then next stop is vinegar or bicarbonate of soda!

(I say hung but I meant draped over a clothes horse so that it's relatively flat)

when it's dry sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on it and pat it in, leave for a couple of hours then shake it off. if it still smells, give it a rinse with some soda water.

Wouldn't it leave bicarbonate residue all over it? I also have a clothes steamer but not sure that would do anything

I suspect it might be dry by Wednesday!