Cleaning Thread

[Elizabeth Johnson]

I was given 2 shoe boxes full of embroidery floss. Most is still in the packaging. Here is my problem, it came from the home of a heavy smoker. How can I get the smell out of the thread? I have had them for several months. Just sitting in fresh air has not helped.

[Judy B]

Gentle hand wash maybe? Just a few at a time, no swishing, just gently squeeze water through.
Lay flat to dry. And hope it doesn't get tangled!

[Robbie]

Perhaps storing in a sealed container with some "Nil Odor", vanilla essence or even activated charcoal on an absorbent pad in the box with the thread could help.

"Nil Odor" manages to get rid of many a strong smell....I used it quite successfully to rid a doll I had made from coffee dyed fabric - the coffee smell was so overpowering even a prolonged period hanging out of doors didn't seem to help. The Nil Odor did the trick - but it needs to be bagged or boxed so the smelly item is exposed to the maximum effect!

[Elizabeth Johnson]

Where do I buy Nil Odor?

[Robbie]

In Australia you would find it in the supermarket, generally with the cleaning products and more specifically with the products for shoes, shoe cleaning, inner soles, laces and things like that! It comes in a small brown bottle - don't know whether this packaging picture will help you find it!

[Carmen]

Maybe by tropical fish supplies ( I think it used in fish tanks) May go under a different name in some places Dreaming Quilts: ) Carmen Maybe a fish one hmmmmmmmmmmmm : )

[Robbie]

Tropical fish supply places would be the ideal place for the activated charcoal...but not for Nilodor... its definitely a product designed for treating smelly socks!

[Gadget]

Have you thought about putting the floss in a zip bag and then pouring baking soda into the bag, seal, and let the floss sit while the baking soda picks up the odor? You might want to shake and agitate the floss in the bag so the soda goes all the way through. The soda should then be able to be brushed off/shaken out.

Gadget

[Susie Turnau]

I am in the U.S. When I get any used item which smells musty - books, fabric, whatever - I put it in a sealed plastic bag with a bar of Irish Spring deodorant soap and leave it for a month. Odor gone! I think the soap kills the mildew. Now I don't want to use this on my body! If you can't find this brand look for another brand of deodorant soap and perhaps it will work, though I have used only this one.

[Elizabeth Johnson]

To all that have responded to my original question on this, thank you. Shortly after posting that first one, a close family member had a major crises in his life and I have not even been back on here since then. At that time I had put 1/2 of the thread in a mesh bag and put in on the back porch. Last week I found it again. The smoke smell is less but still present. And, of course, there is the other half of the thread that is still untouched.
So, I haven't tried any of these remedies yet. But thank you for your responses.
I couldn't use the deod. soap because I'm allergic.

[Patti]

Hi Elizabeth, I bought some ribbon for finishing off of eBay and it too came stinking of cigarette smoke. Now I live the the U.K. where the weather can be precarious to say the least and what I did was on every nice day that there was I just put it outside open in the shade and the smell disappeared completely. I wouldn't use anything on it because it might discolor it. I know that leaving it outside worked for me. Hope this helps and I hope that the major crisis is now over an done with and settled happily. Regards Patti the displaced Yank xxx

[Elizabeth Johnson]

the mesh bag on the back porch was quite full. So maybe it was just packed too tight for it to be effective. The thread is still in the paper wrappers - you know, where the thread is loosely looped about 6 inches long and has small paper bands on each end. Perhaps I could hang them outside on a wire by the end loops. We are having a very wet spring - not to complain since we had a draught this winter. But I will probably have to wait a bit for a sunny day to try this. - will let you know.
Thanks

[Susie Turnau]

Forgot to say - leave the soap in the box!