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.

[mary lou curry]

Nil Odor brings back memories for me. I was not aware that it was still on the market. We used to carry it on all flights just in case we had a passenger barf and miss the barf bag. It certainly worked well for us. I am sure it would help with the cigarette smell on the threads. Good luck.
mary lou

[Nicola]

Apparently if you put the floss in a large air tight bag with a box of (clean) cat litter, the litter absorbs the smell of smoke. It works with lots of things that have a strong smell like books etc. Failing that, I'd be inclined to hand wash it.

[Susie Turnau]

Irish spring deodorant soap - ONLY the original scent, not the Aloe or anything else - will eliminate odors and also kill mildew if the object is placed in an airtight bag with the bar of soap - still in its box - for a period of time. Depending on the strength of the odor, you can check at various times to see if it is gone yet.

Strangely, hanging boxed bars of this soap near plants that are often eaten by deer, rabbits, moles etc also drives them away.

Doesn't want you to put it on your skin, does it? LOL

[Elizabeth Johnson]

Well, I have just had too many other things going on and really had enough thread anyway. So I gave all the smelly thread to a friend that smoked - problem solved.
Thanks so much for all the valuable ideas. I'll remember them for other times when I have smelly things given to me. :D

[Lenna Green]

My suggestion would be to leave the threads in the sun for a period of time. This is a trick that my mum taught me for removing smoke odor from woolen items and it works a treat. Hope it helps with your dilemma.