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Author Topic: Musty smelling linen
hauptfrau
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posted 07-26-2000 11:47 AM     Profile for hauptfrau     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I recently purchased a roll of linen for $1 per yard because most of the roll has water/mold damage. I've successfully soaked out most of the mildew stain with Biz, but the fabric still smells musty.

Next step is to try a chlorine bleach soak, but here's the problem- my experience is that the chlorine hangs onto the linen fibers for a long time, making them smell like bleach and degrading the fibers. Some chemistry minded person once told me there was something I could rinse the chlorine bleach washed fabric in to release the chlorine. I think it was peroxide, but am not sure and don't feel like playing Mad Scientist™ in my washer with this fabric.

Anyone out there have any thoughts or facts to share? Any help would be appreciated, as I'd like to get this stuff washed before I leave for Pennsic - it smells horrible!!

Thanks-

Gwen


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Fire Stryker
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posted 07-26-2000 01:41 PM     Profile for Fire Stryker   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Hmmm... not sure. I will go ferret around the net and see what I can dig up.

What about a commercial item like Fabreeze? Don't know if that would work.

I will get back to you if I come up with anything else.

~J


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Fire Stryker
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posted 07-26-2000 01:55 PM     Profile for Fire Stryker   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Hey Gwen,
I know this is a different problem, but the solution might be the same. I found this at a website where someone was asking how to remove waterstains from Linen.

The response was:

quote:
Fill the sink with cool water and add 1 to 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide. Let that set 30 minutes longer if the stain is not gone. Rinse in a vinegar and water solution.

Mary Moppins www.GoClean.com


I also read on this site that says that when using white vinegar not to mix it with chlorine in the same rinse water. Will produce "harmful fumes".

~J

[This message has been edited by Fire Stryker (edited 07-26-2000).]


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hauptfrau
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posted 07-26-2000 03:26 PM     Profile for hauptfrau     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
OK, looks like I'm off to Rite Aid for a gallon of Peroxide- I'll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks for the advice!

Gwen


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Fire Stryker
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posted 08-04-2000 02:53 PM     Profile for Fire Stryker   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Heya Gwen!

did this work for you or not? Inquiring minds want to know.

Jenn


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Caliburnus
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posted 08-22-2000 08:02 PM     Profile for Caliburnus   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Quite a lot of bleaches CONTAIN Peroxide.....

it in its self is a Bleaching agent...

It is also a very strong oxidising agent so be careful with what you mix it with!!!!

They say on the bttles "Do not mix with other house hold chemicals" Well that cos you can make some types of Explosive with the contents of your cleaning Cupboard!!!!!Just thought I'd mention it......

:-)

------------------
For God, King and Lancaster

(Also Known as Ironside)


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hauptfrau
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posted 09-20-2000 01:24 AM     Profile for hauptfrau     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
peroxide produced no visible results on the stains and hardly affected the musty smell at all. I didn't experiment much, so perhaps I just didn't get the mix right.

As it turned out, I soaked the linen for 2 days in one of those enzyme bleaches and then hung it in the sun for about a week. When I finally took it down it was rather dusty (this being California after all) so I washed it again. When it came out it was bright white, most of the stain was gone and it smelled fine.

Exposure to the sun seems to have made the most difference in the smell.

Gwen


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