OT washing out motor oil smell?

I bought inexpensive flannel pajama bottoms at a close-out store that's
famous in these parts for selling sub-perfect merchandise at
next-to-nothing prices. I figured that if they fell apart as pajama
bottoms, they'd still be good for cutting up and using as quilting
fabric. If there was a motor oil smell in that part of the store, I
didn't give it another thought since the store sells odd car parts as
well as restaurant size bowls and dishes, near-expiration date gourmet
food items, soils and fertilizers in the spring, dog beds, seconds on
sheets and table cloths, everything from school supplies to brand name
soaps and shampoos. (I should mention that I adore this store. It is
like the best of all garage sales and flea markets. I never know what
I'm going to find.) But back to the topic. I've washed these pajama
bottoms twice, and they still smell like motor oil. I can't see an oil
stain anywhere on them, but they smell of it. With that odor, they're
useless for quilts too. I don't want to put too much effort into
getting rid of the smell since that could easily send me over the price
I spent for them originally. Any ideas for laundry detergents that
attack oil smells?


--Lia

Hi Julia, my husband has hauled fuel oil for 45 years and the best thing to
remove that oily stain and smell is sudy ammonia or household ammonia. I
love to wash his hats in real hot strong ammonia water as the oily junk just
disappear in seconds. Hope this helps. Alice

"Julia Altshuler" wrote in message
news:c7Fxd.294975$R05.130035@attbi_s53...
I bought inexpensive flannel pajama bottoms at a close-out store that's
famous in these parts for selling sub-perfect merchandise at
next-to-nothing prices. I figured that if they fell apart as pajama
bottoms, they'd still be good for cutting up and using as quilting
fabric. If there was a motor oil smell in that part of the store, I
didn't give it another thought since the store sells odd car parts as
well as restaurant size bowls and dishes, near-expiration date gourmet
food items, soils and fertilizers in the spring, dog beds, seconds on
sheets and table cloths, everything from school supplies to brand name
soaps and shampoos. (I should mention that I adore this store. It is
like the best of all garage sales and flea markets. I never know what
I'm going to find.) But back to the topic. I've washed these pajama
bottoms twice, and they still smell like motor oil. I can't see an oil
stain anywhere on them, but they smell of it. With that odor, they're
useless for quilts too. I don't want to put too much effort into
getting rid of the smell since that could easily send me over the price
I spent for them originally. Any ideas for laundry detergents that
attack oil smells?


--Lia

a massage therapist friend of mine uses a 1/4 cup of dawn dishwashing liquid
(the blue one, not the clear one) to get the 'oil' smell out of her sheets. she
learned this trick from one of her teachers. i also know that (blue) dawn is
used to clean oil off of the water fowl that get caught in oil slicks. it
doesn't take away the natural oil in their feathers but does remove the 'crude'
oil. seems to me nothing bad will happen if you give this is try: if it doesn't
work, you can still use the detergent on the dishes ;-)

When DH did lots of work on cars, I regularly dealt with motor oil in
clothes. Best thing I found was adding about a cup of T.S.P. to the
laundry, along with the regular soap, and washing in warm water.

--
Kathy A. (Woodland, CA)
Queen of Fabric Tramps
http://www.kayneyquilting.com ,
remove the obvious to reply


"Julia Altshuler" wrote in message
news:c7Fxd.294975$R05.130035@attbi_s53...
I bought inexpensive flannel pajama bottoms at a close-out store that's
famous in these parts for selling sub-perfect merchandise at
next-to-nothing prices. I figured that if they fell apart as pajama
bottoms, they'd still be good for cutting up and using as quilting fabric.
If there was a motor oil smell in that part of the store, I didn't give it
another thought since the store sells odd car parts as well as restaurant
size bowls and dishes, near-expiration date gourmet food items, soils and
fertilizers in the spring, dog beds, seconds on sheets and table cloths,
everything from school supplies to brand name soaps and shampoos. (I
should mention that I adore this store. It is like the best of all garage
sales and flea markets. I never know what I'm going to find.) But back to
the topic. I've washed these pajama bottoms twice, and they still smell
like motor oil. I can't see an oil stain anywhere on them, but they smell
of it. With that odor, they're useless for quilts too. I don't want to
put too much effort into getting rid of the smell since that could easily
send me over the price I spent for them originally. Any ideas for laundry
detergents that attack oil smells?


--Lia

try vinegar it's really good at de-odorising

--
Jessamy
www.geocities.com/jess_ayad
In The Netherlands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Julia Altshuler" schreef in bericht
news:c7Fxd.294975$R05.130035@attbi_s53...
I bought inexpensive flannel pajama bottoms at a close-out store that's
famous in these parts for selling sub-perfect merchandise at
next-to-nothing prices. I figured that if they fell apart as pajama
bottoms, they'd still be good for cutting up and using as quilting
fabric. If there was a motor oil smell in that part of the store, I
didn't give it another thought since the store sells odd car parts as
well as restaurant size bowls and dishes, near-expiration date gourmet
food items, soils and fertilizers in the spring, dog beds, seconds on
sheets and table cloths, everything from school supplies to brand name
soaps and shampoos. (I should mention that I adore this store. It is
like the best of all garage sales and flea markets. I never know what
I'm going to find.) But back to the topic. I've washed these pajama
bottoms twice, and they still smell like motor oil. I can't see an oil
stain anywhere on them, but they smell of it. With that odor, they're
useless for quilts too. I don't want to put too much effort into
getting rid of the smell since that could easily send me over the price
I spent for them originally. Any ideas for laundry detergents that
attack oil smells?


--Lia

I drove dump trucks hauling asphalt for years. I used to toss a cup of Spic
N Span into the wash with my work clothes. Took out the diesel and grease
and oil and always left everything smelling fresh.

Val


"Julia Altshuler" wrote in message
news:c7Fxd.294975$R05.130035@attbi_s53...
I bought inexpensive flannel pajama bottoms at a close-out store that's
famous in these parts for selling sub-perfect merchandise at
next-to-nothing prices. I figured that if they fell apart as pajama
bottoms, they'd still be good for cutting up and using as quilting fabric.
If there was a motor oil smell in that part of the store, I didn't give it
another thought since the store sells odd car parts as well as restaurant
size bowls and dishes, near-expiration date gourmet food items, soils and
fertilizers in the spring, dog beds, seconds on sheets and table cloths,
everything from school supplies to brand name soaps and shampoos. (I
should mention that I adore this store. It is like the best of all garage
sales and flea markets. I never know what I'm going to find.) But back to
the topic. I've washed these pajama bottoms twice, and they still smell
like motor oil. I can't see an oil stain anywhere on them, but they smell
of it. With that odor, they're useless for quilts too. I don't want to
put too much effort into getting rid of the smell since that could easily
send me over the price I spent for them originally. Any ideas for laundry
detergents that attack oil smells?


--Lia






-----------== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Uncensored Usenet News ==----------
http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----= Over 100,000 Newsgroups - Unlimited Fast Downloads - 19 Servers =-----

I just took the pajamas out of the drier for the 3rd time. The smell is
still there, but I've now realized the source of the problem. It isn't
the cotton flannel. It is the elastic in the waistband. I'm guessing
the manufacturer used some sort of cheap petroleum product in the
original production. With that in mind, dipping the waists in household
ammonia, T.S.P. or washing in Spic 'N' Span do the trick? Maybe I
should experiment and get back to you.


Thanks to all who wrote.


--Lia

Think Spic N Span is TSP. So that is 2 suggestions for that.
Taria

Valkyrie wrote:

I drove dump trucks hauling asphalt for years. I used to toss a cup of Spic
N Span into the wash with my work clothes. Took out the diesel and grease
and oil and always left everything smelling fresh.

Val


"Julia Altshuler" wrote in message
news:c7Fxd.294975$R05.130035@attbi_s53...

I bought inexpensive flannel pajama bottoms at a close-out store that's
famous in these parts for selling sub-perfect merchandise at
next-to-nothing prices. I figured that if they fell apart as pajama
bottoms, they'd still be good for cutting up and using as quilting fabric.
If there was a motor oil smell in that part of the store, I didn't give it
another thought since the store sells odd car parts as well as restaurant
size bowls and dishes, near-expiration date gourmet food items, soils and
fertilizers in the spring, dog beds, seconds on sheets and table cloths,
everything from school supplies to brand name soaps and shampoos. (I
should mention that I adore this store. It is like the best of all garage
sales and flea markets. I never know what I'm going to find.) But back to
the topic. I've washed these pajama bottoms twice, and they still smell
like motor oil. I can't see an oil stain anywhere on them, but they smell
of it. With that odor, they're useless for quilts too. I don't want to
put too much effort into getting rid of the smell since that could easily
send me over the price I spent for them originally. Any ideas for laundry
detergents that attack oil smells?


--Lia







-----------== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Uncensored Usenet News ==----------
http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----= Over 100,000 Newsgroups - Unlimited Fast Downloads - 19 Servers =-----

Lestoil is quite good at getting out odors....It is strong smelling
itself...but
it does seem to work...


"Julia Altshuler" wrote in message
news:qiIxd.216028$5K2.173379@attbi_s03...
I just took the pajamas out of the drier for the 3rd time. The smell is
still there, but I've now realized the source of the problem. It isn't
the cotton flannel. It is the elastic in the waistband. I'm guessing
the manufacturer used some sort of cheap petroleum product in the
original production. With that in mind, dipping the waists in household
ammonia, T.S.P. or washing in Spic 'N' Span do the trick? Maybe I
should experiment and get back to you.


Thanks to all who wrote.


--Lia

Thinking about this more, the suggested detergents are all for removing
the oil smell from fabric. I'm looking at removing the oil smell from
the oil product itself-- the elastic waistband. That makes me think my
best bet might be removing the elastic and replacing it with new. I'm
not much on garment making or clothing repairs, but I'll bet I'm up to
this. It will mean ripping out the stitching around the waist (lots of
practice with a seam ripper from quilting), cutting a hole through which
I can remove the elastic, measuring said elastic, poking it through,
restitching and repairing the hole.


--Lia