How to Get Rid of “Thrift Store Smell” For Good, According to Pros

If you’re into thrift shopping, you may have noticed that, unfortunately, many items come with a musty “thrift store smell” that can be seemingly difficult to erase. However, it turns out that deodorizing your finds is easier than you may have thought.

Below, cleaning experts share a number of suggestions for making your finds smell good as new.

Air Out the Item

Don’t feel rushed to bring your new thrift store find indoors right away.

“The first thing to do once you’ve thrifted something is to air it out,” says Lily Cameron, cleaning expert at Fantastic Services. “Leave it outside or in a well-ventilated area, such as a porch or balcony, for a few hours or even a day if possible. The fresh air will help eliminate some of the musty smell.”

Prerna Jain, Managing Director at Ministry Of Cleaning, suggests doing this on an especially sunny day since the sun’s UV rays can help kill odor-causing bacteria.

“This method is especially effective for fabrics and upholstery that can be washed, as it can also help remove stains and discoloration.”

Of course, Jain adds, certain fabrics such as silk, wool, cashmere, leather, or wood should not receive direct sunlight for long.

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Use Baking Soda

Baking soda can work wonders in making unpleasant smells disappear. Don’t be afraid to give your thrifted item a liberal sprinkle of baking soda and let it sit overnight, Cameron suggests.

To ensure that this process is effective, you’ll want to sprinkle the baking soda in a thin and even layer—be sure to have your vacuum is handy to clean up any mess.

Try Some Vinegar

No baking soda on hand? Fear not, vinegar works as well.

“Similar to baking soda, vinegar is also an excellent deodorizer,” Cameron says. “Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz it onto the thrifted item.”

Once you’ve done this, let the item sit outside to air dry. If you have both baking soda and vinegar, you can also combine them to create a special solution (the mix will bubble).

“Combine equal parts of the two ingredients together in a bowl and mix it with enough water to make it into a paste,” says Justin Carpenter, CEO of Modern Maids. “Then, apply the solution to any spots on the item that are particularly smelly and let sit for 15 minutes before washing off with water.”

Grab Additional Household Items

The items listed above aren’t the only pantry staples that will help you say goodbye to smells. Cameron says that newspaper, cat litter, activated charcoal, and essential oils can all come in handy as well.

If you have spare newspaper, you can roll it up and place it inside clothing sleeves or pockets then let them sit for up to two days. Cat litter can be placed inside a bag with your thrift find for up to a week. Activated charcoal can go in a container and be placed near your item.

“This method is especially effective for fabrics and upholstery that can’t be washed easily, as it doesn’t involve any moisture or liquid,” Jain says.

Essential oils can simply be sprayed directly onto your find.

Bring Out Your Steam Cleaner

Go ahead and grab that steamer from your closet. Steamers are Camerone’s secret weapon for eliminating bad smells, especially if you add a scent-infused cleaning solution to the mix. This tactic comes with more than one benefit.

“This method will also help remove any wrinkles or napped fabrics,” Cameron says. “Keep in mind that you may need to repeat the process a few times for optimal results.”

If you don’t own a steamer, that’s perfectly okay as well.

“You can also try using a clothes iron with a damp cloth placed over the fabric to help release any odors,” Carpenter says.