Things You'll Need
White distilled vinegar
Water
Spray bottle
Bucket
Baking soda
Rag
Detergent
Fabric softener
Dryer sheet
Stains and odors happen to our clothing on almost a daily basis. Whether it's underarm stains on your favorite shirt or kitten urine on your bedspread, odors are an expected nuisance. For the most part, washing machines do an excellent job of removing odors from laundry. There are instances, though, when odors just don't come out of our clothes -- pet odors are especially tough. Fortunately, pet and other strong odors and are inexpensive to remove.
Step 1
Pour one part white distilled vinegar and two parts water into a spray bottle or bucket and mix it. If you don't have white distilled vinegar, one cup of baking soda works just as well at removing stains and odors. Both white vinegar and baking soda are inexpensive and found in any grocery store.
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Step 2
Spray the mixture onto your clothing or, if using a bucket, dunk your clothing into the bucket and let it absorb the mixture for at least twenty minutes. For fresh pet urine stains or other odors, use a rag to dab the mixture onto the stain before soaking or spraying it. Vinegar and baking soda are also great for removing odors such as mildew and gasoline.
Step 3
Prepare your washing machine as you normally would. Once your laundry is in the washing machine, change the temperature setting to "Warm." Add your regular detergent and softener to the wash. If desired, also add a cup of baking soda or vinegar to your laundry. Begin the washing cycle.
Step 4
Transfer your laundry into your dryer or hang it outside in the fresh air. If using a dryer, place a dryer sheet in with your laundry. The odor should be completely removed. If not, repeat this process.
Warning
Do not use bleach in your laundry when using vinegar, as this will create a toxic gas that is harmful if inhaled.
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