# How do you get a really, really bad smell out of clothing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2013, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107 "2013-04-19T05:34:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107/21 "2013-04-20T01:12:53Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Pet store: enzyme solution “Nature’s Miracle”. Gets out pee smell and many others. Came in here to say this. My cat used to have some urinary tract issues (but fortunately nothing $3,500 worth of kitty intensive care and surgery couldn’t fix) and Nature’s Miracle really did work better than anything else I could find. They market a “Puppy” and a “Cat” version, but I don’t know if there’s actually any functional difference between the two. It works on just about any organic stench I’ve come across: I’ve used it on human and animal vomit, animal poop, the inside of our trashcans (which had the remains of a few bushels of blue crabs festering in them over the summer), all over our kitchen, etc. You can buy a gallon jug of it and put it in your own spray bottle and you’ll have a lifetime supply. ---
**Author:** ![wombattver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@wombattver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wombattver)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107/22 "2013-04-20T04:58:28Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > I’ve gotten cat pee (worst smell ever) out of clothing by soaking for a few hours in oxyclean and HOT water. FWIW, I think the Dollar Tree oxyclean is the exact same thing as the national brand. I must disagree - often-used hockey gear just might be the worst smell ever and VERY tough to remove! (and my kids are only 7 and 9 - imagine teenage hockey gear!!) We were finally told to soak everything in the pool for 2 days and then air-dry. Preferably in summer, in the hot AZ sun where it easily reaches over 100 degrees. Only thing that has EVER worked IME. I’ve also heard tales that putting yoga/exercise clothes in the freezer after washing kills the bacteria. Haven’t tried that one. ---
**Author:** ![FuzzyOgre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@FuzzyOgre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuzzyOgre)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107/23 "2013-04-20T05:29:38Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Nothing wrong with that. But condition _separately_. I protest all these “proper” use conditions. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107/24 "2013-05-03T05:25:32Z")
I think this requires an update. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107/25 "2013-05-03T10:11:43Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > I think this requires an update. Sadly **brujaja** was set upon and devoured by a pack of feral cats, two days after posting the OP. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107/26 "2013-05-03T11:53:09Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Sadly **brujaja** was set upon and devoured by a pack of feral cats, two days after posting the OP. :eek: I’ll always remember where I was when I heard the news. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107/27 "2013-05-03T21:30:01Z")
Vinegar added to the wash, and preferably allowed to soak, can remove some really strong odors. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107/28 "2013-05-03T21:38:22Z")
I agree with wombattver, hockey smell is the worst. We would was using soap, washing soda and a vinegar rinse, and then hang in the sun. It may fade your clothes if you do this too often, but it should help with the smell. I’m guessing there won’t be a second time, though. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107/29 "2013-05-04T23:47:54Z")
I don’t know how well it works n an oily smell, but when I do my mom’s laundry, the addition of borax to the was cycle takes care of urine odors. You can buy the 20 Mule Team Borax in the laundry aisle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-really-really-bad-smell-out-of-clothing/656107.md?page=1)