There are few things I find more satisfying than a really good thrift find. It’s like finding buried treasure. (Sometimes literally!)

Buuuut then you give your new-to-you item a whiff and suddenly it seems… less than enchanting.

Luckily, there are options. Typically, a good ole standard white vinegar rinse will do the trick. Other times you may need to do a full laundry stripping to get the odor completely out. This is often the case for clothes that have been washed in heavily perfumed detergents & fabric softeners or have synthetic dryer sheets practically baked into the fibers. Keep reading to learn how to do both.

Method 1: Vinegar Rinse

When washing thrifted clothes for the first time, your best bet is to wash them on hot. After that, I wash on cold from there on out because A) it’s better for the environment and B) it helps clothes last longer. But check the care label first because some items (like the dress pictured) may have special cold wash only & line dry instructions.

To do the simple vinegar rinse method, just add 1/4-1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse compartment of your washing machine. Then hit ‘start’ & you’re done! (Well, not really because it’s laundry after all, but you know what I mean!)

Method 2: Laundry Stripping

Back in 2020, laundry stripping was all over the web- and for good reason! It’s an effective and safe method (as long as you follow the basic safety rules below) to get smells, stains, and soap buildup out of your laundry. Remember to double check the care labels & adjust temperature if necessary. Do not strip dry clean only clothes. Some people avoid stripping their dark or colored clothes because it can cause colors to bleed. Basic safety for laundry stripping: wash your hands thoroughly after handling/use cleaning gloves, clean the tub before bathing, and keep pets and children away.

How to laundry strip your laundry: Fill a bathtub or other large container with hot water. Add in 1/4 cup of borax, 1/4 cup of washing soda, and 1 T of laundry soap. Let your laundry soak for several hours. Then empty the tub, rinse & wring out the clothes, and wash and dry as usual.

Another safety note: while substances like borax and washing soda aren’t “toxic,” (the term “toxic” is frequently used incorrectly these days, but that’s a can of worms for another day) they are both corrosive and harmful when ingested. Borax in particular is a natural mineral that can be fatal if ingested and can cause severe eye and lung damage if it gets in your eyes or is breathed in. Washing soda is less of a worry, but is still harmful and potentially fatal if ingested. Keep both out of your eyes, mouth, and respiratory system!

I hope all your thrifted clothes smell like a field of roses, but just in case they don’t you have this little post to help out!

Have you tried either method before? What did you think?