Good ideas for removing musty smell from old wool?

**GSF** · 25th January 2013, 09:47

Hey guys, a while back I bought a nice secondhand jacket which is wool and leather. It's pretty old, I'm guessing by the label it's maybe 1960s or 70s.

In great nick, looks hardly worn but stored for a long time. The wool absolutely stinks with that old musty wool smell. I've had it hanging outside airing for a few days but still smells pretty bad.
Are there any magic tricks to help get rid of that? Can't really wear it because it reeks too bad at the moment.

**Stirts** · 25th January 2013, 10:00

If you can't/don't want to wash it...
Bury the jacket in kitty litter - make sure it is completely covered. Leave overnight. Kitty litter is a great odour eater.

If you can wash it...
Fill your bathtub with six inches of water and add 1.5ltrs of White Vinegar. Work the acid water into the jacket. Soak for an hour then air dry outside.

**GSF** · 25th January 2013, 10:03

Originally Posted by Stirts

If you can't/don't want to wash it...
Bury the jacket in kitty litter - make sure it is completely covered. Leave overnight. Kitty litter is a great odour eater.

If you can wash it...
Fill your bathtub with six inches of water and add 1.5ltrs of White Vinegar. Work the acid water into the jacket. Soak for an hour then air dry outside.

Thanks for the info

We have a leftover bag of unopened cat litter from when our cat was a kitten that should work.

The sleeves are leather, they were quite dry when I got it but I gave them a good dose of leather conditioner to soften them up. Would white vinegar fuck leather up or is it safe?

**HenryDorsetCase** · 25th January 2013, 10:07

Originally Posted by GSF

Hey guys, a while back I bought a nice secondhand jacket which is wool and leather. It's pretty old, I'm guessing by the label it's maybe 1960s or 70s.

In great nick, looks hardly worn but stored for a long time. The wool absolutely stinks with that old musty wool smell. I've had it hanging outside airing for a few days but still smells pretty bad.
Are there any magic tricks to help get rid of that? Can't really wear it because it reeks too bad at the moment.

I'm a buyer of old Belstaff jackets which are cotton lined and some of them get very funky indeed.

My suggestion is to turn the thing inside out, then use a good wool wash on it (that eco store one is good): wash and rinse a couple of times, then dry thoroughly. Now you have done that you have wet, and hardened and worked the leather which is not good. So you will have to then turn it right way in, and clean and condition the leather, probably a couple of times. I use stuff that is made for horse tack from the saddlery store. not cheap but absolutely brilliant plus it is beeswax based so the smell is nice. It is German and called domething like "Who doesn't love to subjugate Poland"*

that should get it to a point that it is wearable then you have to wear it to make it smell like you.

*actual name may differ

**yungatart** · 25th January 2013, 10:08

Baking Soda is really good at removing odours. Sprinkle it liberally on the jacket, hang outside in the breeze for a day or two. it might need more than one treatment. Good luck

**Stirts** · 25th January 2013, 10:10

Originally Posted by GSF

The sleeves are leather, they were quite dry when I got it but I gave them a good dose of leather conditioner to soften them up. Would white vinegar fuck leather up or is it safe?

It should be fine. The vinegar is watered down, but if the leather does dry out a bit, just use some leather conditioner.

**willytheekid** · 25th January 2013, 10:14

Ive found that with just a "little" bit of...

...Nope!!! ...scratch that

**GSF** · 25th January 2013, 14:19

Great, thanks for all the advice people. I'm going to leave it out for another day or so and check on it, if it's still got the stank I'll try some of the ideas fielded here.

Much appreciated!

**Indiana_Jones** · 25th January 2013, 14:38

Pour two bottles of Old Spice over it

-Indy

**Lucyloo** · 25th January 2013, 15:51

There is also a commercial product called Febreeze Fabric Refresher - available from the supermarket.
We have used this on occasion when our bike gear has become too whiffy and we haven't wanted to wash it.
We spray it on and then hang outside for a while - seems to work.