How can you keep your clothes smelling smoke free in a smoker's home?

Question

I'm a college student heading heading home for a weekend, and my mother and step-dad are pack-a-day + smokers. I just moved into a new apartment by campus and have a lot of laundry to do, but if I wash them in their house I either need to invest in a bunch of febreeze or leave them here and spend the money to wash them at my apartment. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Most definitely do your laundry at your apartment.

It's not worth reeking like cigarettes or hurting the feeling of your mom and step dad.  Don't make it an issue with them.

Answer 2

Wish I had a great answer for you on this one, but here's a thought:

I have a similar problem in that I go to a friends house to play cards each week, and of the 6 regulars there, 4 of them smoke like chimneys. Rather than ruin some of my favorite clothes by wearing them there, I just wear old clothes that I have set aside and only wear those to the game. Then when I come home I wash them with baking soda added to the detergent so they are ready for next week.

Since you are just going for the weekend, you might consider having a small collection of clothes that you only wear there and stick to doing your laundry back at school. It's truly the only way to keep that foul smelling, stale, smoke off of the clothes you wear regularly.

If you have to bring clothes you like to your parents house I would keep them in a sealed plastic bag of some sort. Good luck. Smoking sucks!

Answer 3

maybe before you wear them spray the un-scented febreeze on them and then steam them?

Answer 4

Buy a garment bag ($ 5.00) at Wal Mart and keep it zipped up. You might add a small fragrance bag in the bottom of the garment bag too.

<edits> You might concider purchasing your folks a couple smokeless ashtrays also. They're pretty effective and about

$ 10.00 - 20.00 each.

Answer 5

Both of my parents smoke at least a pack a day each.  When I lived with them I tried everything to keep the smell off of me and my clothes, but smoke clings to the hair, body, and clothes.  It is hard to get rid of.  If you really want them clean without smelling like smoke the best way is to either spend the money at your apartment to do them or else see if a friend lives nearby your parents that you could do them at.  When you factor in the money you spend for Febreeze and/or whatever else you would get to try to take the smell out it will end up not being as expensive going to laundromat.  Plus, only time and fresh air will get the smell out completely.

Answer 6

I think if you wash and dry your clothes and then maybe put the clothes in a garbage bag and tie it up and then put each bag in your car each time you finish a load, that might help avoid them getting completely odored by smoke. I have a roommate that smokes and sometimes my clothes smell like smoke, but they aren't really dirty so I don't want to waste the time to wash them, so I use a Refresh'n dryer towel to get the smell out. (It steams clothes in the dryer and gets rid of odors and revives clothes) Febreeze seems to wear off pretty quickly.

Answer 7

Tell them to smoke outside, if they won't then wash them and put them into trash bags and keep them in your trunk or something cause if you leave them in the house whether or not they are washed, your just going to have to rewash them when you get to your appt.

Answer 8

My father smokes and the only way I can keep my clothes smoke free is to keep them in my closet away from the smoke as far as possible. I also asked my father not to smoke near my room.

But if this is impossible for you I would suggest doing laundry the day you need the outfit. Or tossing what your going to wear in the dryer with a few fabric sheets for a bit.