How to Remove Smoke Smell from Yarn
If you’ve ever had a house fire, inherited yarn from a smoker, or sat too long by a fire in your handknits, you may have found yourself wondering how to remove smoke smell from yarn. Smoke is a particularly insidious smell that lingers and refuses to budge. But there are ways to get rid of it!
With any smoke-removal method, experiment on a sample ball of yarn to see if it will work for you and the fiber content of your yarn. This will not only save you time if a method doesn’t work, but it will help you avoid further damaging your yarn if it reacts badly to your treatment.
Top Tip for Removing Smoke Smell from Yarn: Mother Nature
Often, Mother Nature has the best solution for tricky problems.
From former Love of Crochet editor Dana Bincer: The first thing I did after buying yarn that smelled like smoke was scour the internet. I tried several different methods that people recommended, but they didn’t work. The main problem was that the solutions I tried often just masked the smell; they didn’t get rid of it completely.
After all of these failed attempts, I made one last-ditch effort to remove the smell from my newly acquired balls of yarn. I was hesitant to try it because I was afraid that it would bleach the color out of my yarn, but after several failed experimentations, I was giving this yarn just one last chance before sending it to the curb.
Method: Place balls of yarn outside in direct sunlight for several days.
After several days in the sun (and rain), the sun had completely burned the smoke smell out of my yarn. And because it was only out in the sun for a few days, the sun did not have time to bleach the color.
Side Note: I did this in the middle of the hot summer, and I confess that the skeins may have been rained on once or twice (because at this point, I thought they were a lost cause). I’m not sure if rain is needed or not; I suspect it’s the sun and fresh air that are the key ingredients.
Other Advice from the Interweave Staff
- Soak the yarn in no-rinse soaking cleaner like Soak or Eucalan.
- Air out the yarn on a shaded porch for a couple of days.
- Soak it in a baking soda and water solution.
- Seal it in a box with activated charcoal.
- Soak yarn for 20 minutes in a solution that’s one good splash of white vinegar to one gallon of water.
- Put it in the freezer for a week and then thaw in fresh air.
- Rent or buy an ozone generator, put all the impacted yarn and garments in a closed room or closet with the ozone generator up on a shelf (ozone is heavier than air and will sink) and let it run for a few hours.
If you try any of these, let us know how they work out for you!
Advice from the Community
These tips were pulled from the comments on this post.
More Advice for Sunning Your Yarn
“I bought an American Girl doll off of eBay that just about killed me when I opened the box. . . . . I washed her hair and clothes, scrubbed her plastic parts with baking soda, but her fabric body and stuffing still emitted such a strong odor that just having her in the same room made me ill. Then I remember my grandmother’s solution: “put it outside in the sun.” Problem: you can’t leave a doll in the direct sun without the face, etc melting into deformity. So, I wrapped the doll in terry cloth towels, put her in a plastic bag from the dry cleaners and put her outside in partial sun. It took several days and lots of towels but the smell was absorbed by the towels. She no longer smells—and I am extremely sensitive to any smells, I even hate the smells left by cleaning liquids and detergents. So, outside in the sun really works, even wrapped in towels stuffed in a bag.” —Tuesday
Oxidize It Away
“My go-to solution to foul odors is 3% hydrogen peroxide. It has worked on everything from cat/ dog stains/ odors to skunk spray. When I have used it on fabrics, it has not bleached them ( but I have never tried it on hand dyed material, so would test it first.) It can also be combined with baking soda, which increases its oxidation capacity.” —Mary G
Choose an Acid
“I don’t recommend a baking soda/water solution for wool and animal fibers, which prefer an acidic instead of alkaline environment. (It will probably be fine in small doses, but if I were deciding between vinegar/acetic acid/citric acid bath and baking soda/ammonia, I’d choose the acid.) Any of the above can affect dyes.” —Anne M
Try Kitty Litter
“The library I worked at once ad some books returned that smelled like they’d been stored in a fish rendering plant. We took the (expensive art) books and put them in a sealed bag with a container of kitty litter (I can’t remember if it was scented, but I think not) and left to sit on a shelf. It took a few weeks, but the smell was gone by the time we were done. I don’t know if this will work as well on fibre, but it was a low-cost technique, and the kitty litter could be returned to the colleague that ‘loaned’ it to us; it was eventually put to its intended use. If the fibre was loosely arranged around an open container of kitty litter, it may have the same effect. Good luck!” —Sue S
Baking Soda Proximity
“I have a multi-chemical sensitivity especially to fragrances. I spin pet fur for lots of folks and find that fragrance from bathing is a problem. What I have done to remove it enough to spin is put in a closed container with a box of baking soda. Takes a week or more depending on amount. I have also placed it in a mesh curtain tied closed and hung out on my deck to air. Takes a few days and no rain on it. Both worked well for me. I generally soak the yarn in a vinegar rinse for 20-30 minutes before I set the twist.” —Anonymous
Try a Deodorizing Product
“There is a product called Ozium. You can purchase it at auto parts stores or Walmart. My husband’s company uses it to remove odors from the trucks when the change drivers. It works well on removing smoke and other odors (pet smells) . Just spray it into the container of yarn , seal it up and leave it for a day or two. It got the smoke smell out of things that were in a house fire.” —Mary O
Be sure to leave a comment and let us know if you have a tried-and-true method. We also want to hear about methods that didn’t work. Let us know what kind of fiber you used, as that could have an impact.
Unsuccessful Ways to Remove Smoke Smell from Yarn
Do NOT try these at home. They don’t work.
1. Febreze or other air fresheners
Method: Spritz yarn with air fresheners or disinfectant sprays.
Fail: This only masks the smell, and the effect doesn’t last. The fresh scent wears off, and you’re back to smoky-smelling fibers.
2. Newspaper
Method: Place yarn in a garbage bag with a bunch of newspaper, and let it sit for several days.
Fail: This had no effect on my smoky yarn, so it was a total waste of time. I have placed newspaper in my car to remove odor, which works great, but unfortunately, it doesn’t work on a skein of yarn.
3. Fabric Softener
Method: Place yarn in the dryer with a sheet of fabric softener.
Fail: This simply adds one more layer of smells to the yarn . . . and not in a pleasing way. At first you think it smells nice, then there’s an after-smell that makes you want to gag. Perfume and smoke are not a pleasant combination.
I wish you success in getting your yarn smelling as fresh as a daisy or as sweet as cool mountain air. Do write and let me know what methods have worked for you to remove smoke smell from yarn.
Originally published 8/4/2018. Updated 10/25/2022.
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When our house burned down, the workers were able to rescue a drawer full of handknit socks, all black with soot. I placed them in a large plastic bin with a double dose of Eucalan and hot water, then left it out in the sun for a week. When I opened them up I found a heavy layer of black scum (which I scooped out) over a clean bin of water and socks. I rinsed them well and they came out perfect, soft and no smell at all. I still have some of them to this day, over 10 yrs later.
I am not at all surprised by the advice to put the wool out in the sun. We recently bought some wool bed pillows, and the advice for cleaning the wool is to put it in the sun for several hours. I would imagine that the obnoxious smoke smell would take longer to get rid of, but apparently the sun is a great natural cleaner for wool.
I thought about making something with my yarn that has smelled like smoke since a fire in my basement one year ago, then washing the item with laundry detergent and vinegar. The problem is that just being in the same room with the yarn makes me cough so I can’t work with it. Have used Dawn dish detergent on dirty items like dishes, plastic boxes of craft supplies, etc. have great success but haven’t washed many smoky clothes or yarn yet. I’ll try some of your suggestions. Hate to discard my whole stash; have bought new yarn for several projects but I had a large box and basket full of yarn that was in the house during and after the fire. It all stinks. Some pots and pans with food residue and soot have been very hard to clean but I athave done a few. Just got some good ideas on how to make that easier on Wikihow. The first thing I scrubbed (a flat griddle) took a half hour to get clean enough to use.
I have used lavender blossoms to clear the musty smell from old luggage and such – effective! perhaps the yarn left in a box with a good quantity of lavender would respond. It’s not an overnight trick – leave it as long as you need to
I have used lavender blossoms to clear the musty smell from old luggage and such – effective! perhaps the yarn left in a box with a good quantity of lavender would respond. It’s not an overnight trick – leave it as long as you need to
I bought an American Girl doll off of eBay that just about killed me when I opened the box. The seller (probably aware of the secondary smoke smell that the doll reeked of) “treated” the doll with what smelled like cheap perfume and fabric softener. It just added to the smell. We are not smokers so opening that box was like a stink bomb went off in the middle of our house. I went on line, tried several things … Outside of the smell the doll was pristine. I washed her hair and clothes, scrubbed her plastic parts with baking soda, but her fabric body and stuffing still emitted such a strong odor that just having her in the same room made me ill. Then I remember my grandmother’s salut ion: “put it outside in the sun.” Problem: you can’t leave a doll in the direct sun without the face, etc melting into deformity. So, I wrapped the doll in terry cloth towels, put her in a plastic bag from the dry cleaners and put her outside in partial sun. It took several days and lots of towels but the smell was absorbed by the towels. She no longer smells – and I am extremely sensitive to any smells, I even hate the smells left by cleaning liquids and detergents. So, outside in the sun really works, even wrapped in towels stuffed in a bag.
I bought an American Girl doll off of eBay that just about killed me when I opened the box. The seller (probably aware of the secondary smoke smell that the doll reeked of) “treated” the doll with what smelled like cheap perfume and fabric softener. It just added to the smell. We are not smokers so opening that box was like a stink bomb went off in the middle of our house. I went on line, tried several things … Outside of the smell the doll was pristine. I washed her hair and clothes, scrubbed her plastic parts with baking soda, but her fabric body and stuffing still emitted such a strong odor that just having her in the same room made me ill. Then I remember my grandmother’s salut ion: “put it outside in the sun.” Problem: you can’t leave a doll in the direct sun without the face, etc melting into deformity. So, I wrapped the doll in terry cloth towels, put her in a plastic bag from the dry cleaners and put her outside in partial sun. It took several days and lots of towels but the smell was absorbed by the towels. She no longer smells – and I am extremely sensitive to any smells, I even hate the smells left by cleaning liquids and detergents. So, outside in the sun really works, even wrapped in towels stuffed in a bag.
My go-to solution to foul odors is 3% hydrogen peroxide. It has worked on everything from cat/ dog stains/ odors to skunk spray. When I have used it on fabrics, it has not bleached them ( but I have never tried it on hand dyed msterial, so would test it first.) It can also be combined with baking soda, which increases its oxidation capacity.
My go-to solution to foul odors is 3% hydrogen peroxide. It has worked on everything from cat/ dog stains/ odors to skunk spray. When I have used it on fabrics, it has not bleached them ( but I have never tried it on hand dyed msterial, so would test it first.) It can also be combined with baking soda, which increases its oxidation capacity.
I don’t recommend a baking soda/water solution for wool and animal fibers, which prefer an acidic instead of alkaline environment. (It will probably be fine in small doses, but if I were deciding between vinegar/acetic acid/citric acid bath and baking soda/ammonia, I’d choose the acid.) Any of the above can affect dyes.
I don’t recommend a baking soda/water solution for wool and animal fibers, which prefer an acidic instead of alkaline environment. (It will probably be fine in small doses, but if I were deciding between vinegar/acetic acid/citric acid bath and baking soda/ammonia, I’d choose the acid.) Any of the above can affect dyes.
The SUN!! I bought an American Girl doll online (eBay). She was in perfect condition but smelled like she’d been kept in a Smokers’ Lounge. These dolls have stuffed cloth bodies with soft rubber arms, legs and a wigged head. No one smokes in my house so pulling her out of the box was really a shock to my senses (my eyes, nose and throat burned and I got this instant headache). I soaked her clothes in a cleaning solution (Twin Pines of Maine’s D-Stinker and Woolite). The doll was a challenge because unless you are willing to take her completely apart, clean her and re-stuff her, you are stuck. (You are not supposed to get the body wet – water “stains” the fabric.) I cleaned her hair with the Twin Pines of Maine Shampoo and Conditioner and set it. Washed her body with a solution of Baking Soda. Then I covered her head, arms and legs with thick towels to keep her rubber parts as cool as possible and put her in the sun on the porch during the day. At night, while she was still warm, I closed her up in a plastic bag with “dry cleaning sheets” (the kind you use to “Dry Clean” your clothes in a drier) – I covered her in a light cotton towel so the sheets weren’t right up against her but were in the bag to absorb the odors that were emanating out of the stuffing and cloth. I did this switch from outside in the sun to inside in a bag every day for a week. It probably took less than a week but I kept thinking that I smelled something. Presently: You would never know that she smelled at all. I believe the sun made the difference. Note: Twin Pines of Maine sell cleaning solutions for all kinds of fabric heirlooms; like wedding dresses, etc. I’ve found them extremely helpful with various challenges. (FYI: I don’t work for them or get any compensation for saying so. But if you have a problem, I recommend calling them.)
The SUN!! I bought an American Girl doll online (eBay). She was in perfect condition but smelled like she’d been kept in a Smokers’ Lounge. These dolls have stuffed cloth bodies with soft rubber arms, legs and a wigged head. No one smokes in my house so pulling her out of the box was really a shock to my senses (my eyes, nose and throat burned and I got this instant headache). I soaked her clothes in a cleaning solution (Twin Pines of Maine’s D-Stinker and Woolite). The doll was a challenge because unless you are willing to take her completely apart, clean her and re-stuff her, you are stuck. (You are not supposed to get the body wet – water “stains” the fabric.) I cleaned her hair with the Twin Pines of Maine Shampoo and Conditioner and set it. Washed her body with a solution of Baking Soda. Then I covered her head, arms and legs with thick towels to keep her rubber parts as cool as possible and put her in the sun on the porch during the day. At night, while she was still warm, I closed her up in a plastic bag with “dry cleaning sheets” (the kind you use to “Dry Clean” your clothes in a drier) – I covered her in a light cotton towel so the sheets weren’t right up against her but were in the bag to absorb the odors that were emanating out of the stuffing and cloth. I did this switch from outside in the sun to inside in a bag every day for a week. It probably took less than a week but I kept thinking that I smelled something. Presently: You would never know that she smelled at all. I believe the sun made the difference. Note: Twin Pines of Maine sell cleaning solutions for all kinds of fabric heirlooms; like wedding dresses, etc. I’ve found them extremely helpful with various challenges. (FYI: I don’t work for them or get any compensation for saying so. But if you have a problem, I recommend calling them.)
The library I worked at once ad some books returned that smelled like they’d been stored in a fish rendering plant. We took the (expensive art) books and put them in a sealed bag with a container of kitty litter (I can’t remember if it was scented, but I think not) and left to sit on a shelf. It took a few weeks, but the smell was gone by the time we were done. I don’t know if this will work as well on fibre, but it was a low-cost technique, and the kitty litter could be returned to the colleague that ‘loaned’ it to us; it was eventually put to its intended use. If the fibre was loosely arranged around an open container of kitty litter, it may have the same effect. Good luck!
The library I worked at once ad some books returned that smelled like they’d been stored in a fish rendering plant. We took the (expensive art) books and put them in a sealed bag with a container of kitty litter (I can’t remember if it was scented, but I think not) and left to sit on a shelf. It took a few weeks, but the smell was gone by the time we were done. I don’t know if this will work as well on fibre, but it was a low-cost technique, and the kitty litter could be returned to the colleague that ‘loaned’ it to us; it was eventually put to its intended use. If the fibre was loosely arranged around an open container of kitty litter, it may have the same effect. Good luck!
Thank you for your article on removing cigarette smell from yarn, I’ve had a similar problem, an elderly lady who lived down the road from me was down sizing her stash and and she asked me if I would like it, and I replied woo hoo! Does a wallaby poo in the paddock! Which put a smile on her dial. Well, I got it home and opened the containers, and…well….oooh noooo! The smell of mothballs wafted out! Oh dear! So after trying a number of washes which were futile, disheartened, thinking I won’t have all this wonderful yarn to boost my stash, I hung it all out on the line, now it’s winter here transitioning into spring so there’s not a lot of sun especially where my home is. But Tasmania at this time of year has plenty of wind and rain, and for a while I forgot all about it, when I did bring it in nature had done a great job of clearing the mothball smell, and so far so good not even a hint! I reckon the wallabies were wondering what it was all about, they’d give it all a bit of a sniff as they passed by. Hope my story helps someone else too and maybe put a smile on their dial as well. Cheers everyone happy spinning, weaving, and stashing, etc!
Thank you for your article on removing cigarette smell from yarn, I’ve had a similar problem, an elderly lady who lived down the road from me was down sizing her stash and and she asked me if I would like it, and I replied woo hoo! Does a wallaby poo in the paddock! Which put a smile on her dial. Well, I got it home and opened the containers, and…well….oooh noooo! The smell of mothballs wafted out! Oh dear! So after trying a number of washes which were futile, disheartened, thinking I won’t have all this wonderful yarn to boost my stash, I hung it all out on the line, now it’s winter here transitioning into spring so there’s not a lot of sun especially where my home is. But Tasmania at this time of year has plenty of wind and rain, and for a while I forgot all about it, when I did bring it in nature had done a great job of clearing the mothball smell, and so far so good not even a hint! I reckon the wallabies were wondering what it was all about, they’d give it all a bit of a sniff as they passed by. Hope my story helps someone else too and maybe put a smile on their dial as well. Cheers everyone happy spinning, weaving, and stashing, etc!
Thank you for your article on removing cigarette smell from yarn, I’ve had a similar problem, an elderly lady who lived down the road from me was down sizing her stash and and she asked me if I would like it, and I replied woo hoo! Does a wallaby pop in the paddock! Which put a smile on her dial. Well, I got it home and opened the containers, and…well….oooh noooo! The smell of mothballs wafted out! Oh dear! So after trying a number of washes which were futile, disheartened, thinking I won’t have all this wonderful yarn to boost my stash, I hung it all out on the line, now it’s winter here transitioning into spring so there’s not a lot of sun especially where my home is. But Tasmania at this time of year has plenty of wind and rain, and for a while I forgot all about it, when I did bring it in nature had done a great job of clearing the mothball smell, and so far so good not even a hint! I reckon the wallabies were wondering what it was all about, they’d give it all a bit of a sniff as they passed by. Hope my story helps someone else too and maybe put a smile on their dial as well. Cheers everyone happy spinning, weaving, and stashing, etc!
Thank you for your article on removing cigarette smell from yarn, I’ve had a similar problem, an elderly lady who lived down the road from me was down sizing her stash and and she asked me if I would like it, and I replied woo hoo! Does a wallaby pop in the paddock! Which put a smile on her dial. Well, I got it home and opened the containers, and…well….oooh noooo! The smell of mothballs wafted out! Oh dear! So after trying a number of washes which were futile, disheartened, thinking I won’t have all this wonderful yarn to boost my stash, I hung it all out on the line, now it’s winter here transitioning into spring so there’s not a lot of sun especially where my home is. But Tasmania at this time of year has plenty of wind and rain, and for a while I forgot all about it, when I did bring it in nature had done a great job of clearing the mothball smell, and so far so good not even a hint! I reckon the wallabies were wondering what it was all about, they’d give it all a bit of a sniff as they passed by. Hope my story helps someone else too and maybe put a smile on their dial as well. Cheers everyone happy spinning, weaving, and stashing, etc!
I have found that murphy’s oil soap works on everything leather, head liner of my truck, carpet, paint and every Surface i have used it on
I have found that murphy’s oil soap works on everything leather, head liner of my truck, carpet, paint and every Surface i have used it on
I buy yarn at yard sales and thrift stores also, I always try to smell it to see if there is an odor. Sometimes because of surroundings I might miss that it has a musty/moldy/cellar smell. I have tried to air them out but there is still a sent and I end up getting rid of them. Anyone try these methods on this problem? I’ve also gotten a material and furniture like this. Washing the material did nothing or just making it worse. Thanks in advanced
I buy yarn at yard sales and thrift stores also, I always try to smell it to see if there is an odor. Sometimes because of surroundings I might miss that it has a musty/moldy/cellar smell. I have tried to air them out but there is still a sent and I end up getting rid of them. Anyone try these methods on this problem? I’ve also gotten a material and furniture like this. Washing the material did nothing or just making it worse. Thanks in advanced
Foolproof method: throw it out and know that you have to ask if yarn is coming from a smoke free environment in future.
Foolproof method: throw it out and know that you have to ask if yarn is coming from a smoke free environment in future.
I have a multi-chemical sensitivity especially to fragrances. I spin pet fur for lots of folks and find that fragrance from bathing is a problem. What I have done to remove it enough to spin is put in a closed container with a box of baking soda. Takes a week or more depending on amount. I have also placed it in a mesh curtain tied closed and hung out on my deck to air. Takes a few days and no rain on it. Both worked well for me. I generally soak the yarn in a vinegar rinse for 20-30 minutes before I set the twist.
I have a multi-chemical sensitivity especially to fragrances. I spin pet fur for lots of folks and find that fragrance from bathing is a problem. What I have done to remove it enough to spin is put in a closed container with a box of baking soda. Takes a week or more depending on amount. I have also placed it in a mesh curtain tied closed and hung out on my deck to air. Takes a few days and no rain on it. Both worked well for me. I generally soak the yarn in a vinegar rinse for 20-30 minutes before I set the twist.
There is a product called Ozium. You can purchase it at auto parts stores or Walmart. My husband’s company uses it to remove odors from the trucks when the change drivers. It works well on removing smoke and other odors (pet smells) . Just spray it into the container of yarn , seal it up and leave it for a day or two. It got the smoke smell out of things that were in a house fire.
It doesn’t work if you have a high sensitivity.
I agree.
I have a nose like a bloodhound.
People give me old, dirty donated yarn (expecting me to knit a masterpiece) full of cat hair, baby puke and cigarette smoke. Then, they try to disguise by putting it in a plastic bag with dryer sheets. I gag just thinking about it. My advice…buy new yarn from a reputable seller.
There is a product called Ozium. You can purchase it at auto parts stores or Walmart. My husband’s company uses it to remove odors from the trucks when the change drivers. It works well on removing smoke and other odors (pet smells) . Just spray it into the container of yarn , seal it up and leave it for a day or two. It got the smoke smell out of things that were in a house fire.
It doesn’t work if you have a high sensitivity.
I did this same thing with an upholstered chair that had pick up on the side of the road. When I got it home, it wreaked of smoke. So I set it outside on my patio to air it out. We then had a five-day rainstorm, which I was sure would ruin my chair. But when the sun reappeared, it dried out the chair, and the smoke smell was completely gone. This article is a good reminder that mother nature can be better than chemicals when it comes to fiber.
I did this same thing with an upholstered chair that had pick up on the side of the road. When I got it home, it wreaked of smoke. So I set it outside on my patio to air it out. We then had a five-day rainstorm, which I was sure would ruin my chair. But when the sun reappeared, it dried out the chair, and the smoke smell was completely gone. This article is a good reminder that mother nature can be better than chemicals when it comes to fiber.