# Machinists, any way to get coolant smell out of clothes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machinists-any-way-to-get-coolant-smell-out-of-clothes/826206>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 15, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machinists-any-way-to-get-coolant-smell-out-of-clothes/826206 "2018-12-15T22:33:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machinists-any-way-to-get-coolant-smell-out-of-clothes/826206/1 "2018-12-15T22:33:03Z")

</div>

First, I should say I realize they’ll never really be free of the smell of coolant. Been doing this too long to dream of that. But it’s there a trick to minimizing the smell after laundering? I was them separate from my regular clothes but would still be nice to put on cleaned clothes for work and not smell like ice already worked a shift. Thanks

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machinists-any-way-to-get-coolant-smell-out-of-clothes/826206/2 "2018-12-16T00:34:56Z")

</div>

Air dry outside when possible. I washed work clothes for many years with this odor. There is no sure cure. Use a detergent like Oxiclean.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machinists-any-way-to-get-coolant-smell-out-of-clothes/826206/3 "2018-12-16T02:41:47Z")

</div>

You might try a cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda (no detergent) tossed in when the washer has filled with hot water. Worked to the mildew odor out of some towels and clothes.